Life Sciences in the Space Program 



Soviet Biocosmos satellite missions, NASA cannot currently conduct life sciences 

 research in space. As presently envisioned, planned resources will not support all 

 required life sciences research. Therefore, an alternate means of gaining access to 

 space is mandatory. 



In the aftermath of the Challenger accident, NASA conducted a study aimed at 

 developing a mixed fleet of launch vehicles. Out of this study came the impetus 

 for the Life Sciences Division's proposal for a free-flying satellite dedicated solely 

 to life sciences research. Such a vehicle has proved a useful research tool in the 

 past: NASA flew three similar satellites during the Biosatellite Program in the 

 1960's. While the first satellite was lost during the recovery phase, the other two 

 missions were successful and yielded important data. The Soviet Union has been 

 flying its own version of this concept, the Biocosmos series (which is based upon 

 a modified Vostok spacecraft), for over a decade with similar success. American 

 participation in the Soviet program has provided significant information on the 

 effects of space flight on the musculoskeletal system and on radiation effects at 

 high inclinations. 



As currently envisioned, this new satellite program would use an expendable 

 launch vehicle (ELV) with an autonomous return capability very similar to that 

 used for Biosatellite and Biocosmos. Such an autonomous system would offer a 

 number of capabilities unavailable or unfeasible with the STS: a flexible, 

 independent launch schedule; mission durations of 30 days or more; unique 

 orbital altitudes and higher orbital inclinations, including polar orbits (of special 

 interest in determining radiation effects); simplified and standardized hardware 

 design; and rapid turnaround, with two or more flights per year. This system also 

 affords the possibility of international participation: Several other spacefaring 

 nations and international space agencies have expressed interest in this concept. 



Since flight opportunities and payload space will continue to be limited, it is 

 imperative that NASA make best use of available resources. Significant preparation 

 must be done on the ground, including the design, development, testing, and 

 evaluation of equipment; development and testing of experimental protocols; and 

 computer simulations. Ground-based research is also essential to develop models 

 that replicate all or some of the phenomena observed in space. 



Many opportunities to conduct experiments are possible if NASA gives sufficient 

 priority to the life sciences. Experiments may be accommodated on Shuttle 

 middeck lockers and on Spacelab, on international missions, such as Biocosmos 

 and the reusable SPAS (West Germany), and on future missions, such as 

 Spacehab and the Commercially Developed Space Facility. As previously noted, a 

 free-flying life sciences satellite is also a realizable asset. 



Findings 



• A large backlog of approved life sciences experiments has yet to fly. The time 

 between announcement, selection, and flight can exceed a decade. These 





