Life Sciences in the Space Program 



An Augmented Program (8). Similarly, the National Academy of Sciences' (NAS) 

 report of the Astronomy Survey Committee, Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 

 1980s (10), recognized the scientific value of astronomical studies of the organic 

 chemistry of the galaxy and the existence of extrasolar planets, and it recom- 

 mended that the SETI be initiated. 



Findings for Relationships Between Exobiology and Other Research Programs 



• The Exobiology Program is unique to NASA, and it has broad public appeal. 



• Sound scientific interrelationships between the Exobiology Program and other 

 research programs in OSSA form a strong basis for ongoing cooperation 

 between the Life Sciences, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics 

 Divisions. 



• Space missions conducted by the Solar System Exploration Division are 

 essential for carrying out exobiological investigations into the rest of the solar 

 system. The great observatories in space provided by the Astronomy and 

 Astrophysics Division afford platforms for astronomical studies of the nature, 

 abundance, and distribution of biogenic elements and compounds throughout 

 the galaxy. 



Recommendations 



• OSSA should foster the unique character of the Exobiology Program by 

 supporting its scientific goals and objectives across the Agency and 

 continuing to provide a balance of opportunities to conduct mission-oriented 

 and ground-based fundamental research within NASA. 



• OSSA should develop cooperative plans for using space missions to pursue 

 scientific objectives pertinent to Exobiology whenever interests in the 

 objectives are shared among the Life Sciences, Solar System Exploration, and 

 Astrophysics Divisions of OSSA. 



• The Life Sciences Division should expand coordination between the NASA 

 Exobiology Program and related NSF programs to explore areas of mutual 

 scientific interest that may prove fruitful to pursue cooperatively. 



Program Management and Administration 



The Exobiology Program addresses fundamental questions about the origin and 

 evolution of life and intelligence that can be controversial in nature and profound 

 in their significance. Therefore, it is necessary to uphold the high scientific quality 

 and credibility of the program by maintaining high standards of excellence and 

 scientific rigor in the peer-review process for all funded research proposals. 



I [istorically in the Exobiology Program, the concepts for experiments and 

 measurements to be made on projects or space missions originated in the ground- 

 based research. In that milieu, measurement requirements are defined and the 

 concepts are tested for feasibility. The next phase involves the advanced 



ISO 



