A Risk Reduction Strategy for Human Exploration of Space

A Risk Reduction Strategy for Human Exploration of Space

A Review of NASA's Bioastronautics Roadmap

  • Author: Molins, Ricardo A.; Longnecker, David E.
  • Publisher: National Academies Press
  • ISBN: 9780309099486
  • eISBN Pdf: 9780309653046
  • eISBN Epub: 9780309180344
  • Place of publication:  United States
  • Year of digital publication: 2006
  • Month: March
  • Pages: 163
  • Language: English

Extending the spatial and temporal boundaries of human space flight is an important goal for the nation and for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). However, human space flight remains an endeavor with substantial risks, and these risks must be identified, managed, and mitigated appropriately to achieve the nation's goals in space. The Bioastronautics Roadmap (BR) is the result of extensive, commendable efforts on the part of NASA to prioritize research efforts to meet these challenges.

In 2003, NASA asked the Institute of Medicine (IOM), in collaboration with the Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences of the National Academies, to conduct a review of the BR. Specifically, NASA asked the committee to (1) conduct a comprehensive assessment and report of the strengths and weaknesses of the content and processes of the Bioastronautics Roadmap as applied to the missions described in the President's exploration initiative and (2) identify the unique challenges for accomplishing its goals and objectives.

In September 2004, the committee released its preliminary report to NASA entitled Preliminary Considerations Regarding NASA's Bioastronautics Critical Path Roadmap. That document presented the committee's preliminary conclusions about the strengths and weaknesses of the April 2004 version of the BR. This report, A Risk Reductions Strategy for Human Exploration of Space, builds on those preliminary conclusions and provides recommendations to NASA about how to address the issues identified by the committee.

  • FrontMatter
  • Independent Report Reviewers
  • Contents
  • List of Tables, Figures, and Boxes
  • Executive Summary
  • 1 Introduction
  • 2 Considerations Regarding the BR Content
  • 3 Considerations Regarding the BR Process
  • 4 Considerations Regarding the BR Context
  • APPENDIXES
  • A Bibliography of Related National Academies Reports
  • B Methods
  • C Status of Countermeasure and Technology Readiness Levels
  • D Bone Fracture Risk Associated with Prolonged Exposure to Microgravity
  • E Integration of Data-Based Evidence and Expert Opinion in Decision Making
  • F Biographical Sketches of Committee Members and Staff
  • Index

Subjects

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