Advanced Technology for Human Support in Space (1997)
Chapter: A STATEMENT OF TASK
Appendix A Statement of Task
National Research Council
Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems
Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board
Advanced Technology for Human Support in Space
Statement of Task
To evaluate the NASA Office of Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications (OLMSA) programs in Human Support, the NRC will convene a committee to:
- Review the current OLMSA programs in Advanced Life Support, Extravehicular Activity Systems, Space Human Factors Engineering, and Space Environmental Factors and Technologies.
- Assess whether these programs reflect effective strategic and programmatic approaches for accomplishing (1) OLMSA goals in human support and (2) the agency's stated long-term goals for orbital research and the human exploration of space. To achieve this objective, the committee will:
- assess the apparent likelihood that the programs will lead to technologies that will contribute to the success of NASA's future missions;
- assess the overall scientific and technical quality of each of the four programs;
- identify areas of highest priority within each of the four program areas;
- identify important gaps or omissions, if any, in the programs;
- identify research areas where NASA's requirements are unique and unlikely to be addressed by other entities;
- determine whether the programs possess focused objectives and verifiable milestones and deliverables; and
- determine if any programs clearly involve inappropriate duplication of effort or facilities.
C. Suggest, as appropriate, methods by which the programs might be improved within existing financial constraints. If additional funding is recommended, identify specific areas for such increases and the expected benefits.
D. Attempt to identify:
- possibilities for synergism among the four programs;
- methods for increasing the transfer of promising technologies from industry and other sources into the programs and for fostering cooperation with non-NASA entities to increase the return and effectiveness of the programs;
- improved procedures whereby requirements can be regularly identified and transmitted to the programs; and
- dual-use technologies (i.e., technologies that offer utility to both NASA and industry or another government agency) that are being developed by the programs.
The committee will provide its findings in a single published report at the end of its study. The committee will meet about four times and subgroups of the committee will visit NASA and other research centers to examine specific research projects as appropriate. Efforts will be made to coordinate the committee's work with periodic OLMSA reviews of the projects it funds at universities, and some members may attend internal NASA reviews to gather information on these smaller projects.
