NASA Human Space Flight five reasons : To extend the search for our origins . . . and for life in the solar system - To improve our understanding of the past and future of Earth’s systems by improving our knowledge of the past and future of other planets - To expand our existence in the solar system . . . learning to live and work on another planet - To fulfill the basic human quest for knowledge and experience... and to realize an age-old vision - To open opportunities for commercial development.

" NASA's Life Sciences Data Archive (LSDA) contains information and data from space flight experiments funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). These experiments were conducted from 1961 to the present time, and include human, animal and plant studies. Our goal is to not only provide life sciences data from the last 40 years via this Web site, but to also archive life sciences experiments from future Shuttle missions and the International Space Station. The intended audience for the LSDA Web site encompasses all individuals, ranging from scientists and teachers to the general space enthusiast. This project is a work in progress. New information will be added on a regular basis. We welcome your input and feedback.

NRA RESEARCH - SEARCH DATABASE - PHOTO GALLERY- JUST FOR FUN (This section of the LSDA is for the young and young at heart) ..." more

" The goal of the Human Exploration and Development of Space (HEDS) Enterprise is to open the space frontier by exploring, using and enabling the development of space. Our programs provide safe, assured transportation to and from space for people and payloads, and develop and operate habitable space facilities in order to enhance scientific knowledge, support technology development, and enable commercial activity.

The four major goals of the HEDS are the following:
- Explore the space frontier
- Enable humans to live and work permanently in space
- Enable the commercial development of space
- Share the experience and benefits of discovery... " more

" Throughout most of history, human beings have viewed gravity as an inescapable constant. Gravity has also profoundly affected the way life on Earth has evolved. But new access to the space environment is now allowing scientists to conduct unprecedented research in low gravity, opening a new window on long-standing questions of science and technology. Space also poses physical challenges to space explorers, who must find ways to withstand space environment hazards for which humanity's evolution on Earth never prepared them.

NASA's Office of Biological and Physical Research (OBPR) conducts interdisciplinary, peer reviewed, fundamental and applied research to address the opportunities and challenges to NASA that are provided by the space environment and the human exploration of space.
OBPR works to answer these simple, yet compelling questions: How can we assure the survival of humans traveling far from Earth? How does life respond to gravity and space environments? What new opportunities can research bring to expand understanding of the laws of nature and enrich lives on Earth? What technology must we create to enable the next explorers to go beyond where we have been? How can we educate and inspire the next generation to take the journey? " more

" Established in 1997 through a NASA competition, the National Space Biomedical Research Institute is a consortium of 12 institutions working to prevent or solve health problems related to long-duration space travel and prolonged exposure to microgravity. The group's primary mission objective is to ensure safe and productive human space flight.

NSBRI discoveries and research will lead to countermeasures to the harmful effects of microgravity and space radiation, and, at the same time, bring discoveries and products of clinical benefit to mankind on Earth enhancing treatments for conditions such as osteoporosis, muscle wasting, shift-related sleep disorders and radiation-related conditions. The Institute also is researching ways to deliver medical care on these missions through new technologies and remote-treatment advances.
The NSBRI also worked with NASA to revise the NASA Bioastronautics Roadmap that identifies and prioritizes the most critical risks confronting extended space flight. " more

" When humans embark on long duration missions such as the establishment of bases on the Lunar surface or travel to Mars for exploration, they will continue to need food, water and air. For these long duration missions it may not be economical or practical to resupply basic life support elements from Earth. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the space community will need to develop systems to purify their water supply, regenerate oxygen and remove undesirable components of the air. A life support system that would perform these regenerative functions is included in the goals of the NASA Advanced Life Support Program. Such a system would be a closed loop system in which the growth of crop plants would contribute to the life support functions. The natural function of plants would provide food and contribute to water purification, air revitalization and even the processing of waste materials. All systems would have to operate under the restrictions of minimizing volume, mass, energy, and labor.
Research on human life support began in the 1950's with oxygen regeneration using algae. NASA's interest in such systems became more focused in the late 1970's in order to support long-term space missions. Since that time, the Advanced Life Support Program at NASA has examined growing plants for food and oxygen regeneration, and the use of physico-chemical and biological methods to process waste into usable resources. " more

" The Universities Space Research Association's Division of Space Life Sciences (DSLS) supports NASA's needs for understanding and counteracting the physiological changes that accompany space flight. Based at the Center for Advanced Space Studies in Houston, Texas, the DSLS manages extramural research programs, administers educational programs, coordinates a visiting/staff scientist program, and enhances collaboration between NASA and academic institutions through an extensive series of conferences, workshops, and seminars. This USRA division was established in 1983 as the Division of Space Biomedicine and facilitates participation of the university community in biomedical research programs at the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC).
This site includes a video archive of talks presented at the UTMB/JSC Aerospace Medicine Residency Program Space Medicine Grand Rounds seminar series. These streaming video presentations require RealPlayer. " more