2. Findings and Recommendations 



This section is the central part of the Life Sciences Strategic Planning Study 

 Committee (LSSPSC) report, for it highlights the Committee's overarching 

 recommendations, strategic milestones for achieving those recommenda- 

 tions and findings and recommendations related to particular subject areas. The 

 material emerged from the LSSPSC Study Group reports given in section 3, which 

 present corresponding and more detailed findings and recommendations. It is 

 organized in the categories itemized below, incorporating the subjects explored by 

 the Study Groups: 



• Human Space Flight focuses on the physiological and psychological challenges to 

 humans in space and on the research and facilities necessary to overcome factors 

 that may limit the success of manned missions, especially of extended duration. 



• Gravitational Biology is concerned with the influence of gravity on the structure, 

 development, and function of plants and animals. 



• Planetary Biosciences Research concentrates on scientific issues pertinent to the 

 origin, evolution, and distribution of life in the universe and the relationship of a 

 planet's biota to its biosphere. 



• Flight Programs emphasizes the need for flight opportunities for life sciences 

 research, including dedication of Space Station laboratories for clinical and basic 

 biological research. 



• Program Administration itemizes administrative and organizational issues impor- 

 tant to strengthening the work of NASA in the life sciences. 



Overarching Recommendations and Strategies 



In developing their summary papers, the LSSPSC Study Groups came to a number 

 of parallel conclusions about life sciences at NASA and devised several similar 

 recommendations. The LSSPSC determined that these recommendations were 

 basic to the success of the Life Sciences program and, by extension, to the achieve- 

 ment of NASA's overall goals and long-range strategies, particularly as they affect 

 human exploration of the solar system. The Committee presents these recommen- 

 dations in the box on the next page. 



The LSSPSC devised strategic milestones for fulfilling the requirements that are 

 part of the overarching recommendations. These milestones, itemized according to 

 3-, 5-, and 15-year periods, emphasize the need to initiate work immediately, in the 

 1989 fiscal year. 



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