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NASA Headquarters oversees the
Agency's multifaceted mission of ongoing scientific research,
investigating the reaches of outer space, and developing new
and innovative technology. NASA has developed five Strategic
Enterprises, as outlined in the Agency's Strategic Plan, to coordinate
these activities in pursuit of its mission. Each Enterprise covers
a key area of NASA's research and development efforts. The five
Strategic Enterprises are: Aerospace Technology, Biological and
Physical Research, Earth Science, Human Exploration and Development
of Space, and Space Science.
Aerospace Technology
NASA's charter is to pioneer
advanced technologies that will meet the challenges facing air
and space transportation, to maintain U.S. national security
and preeminence in aerospace technology, and to extend the benefit
of its innovations throughout society.
A modern air and space transportation
system is fundamental to the national economy, quality of life,
and security of the United States. For 75 years, a strong base
of aerospace technology research and development has provided
enormous contributions to this system--contributions that have
fostered the economic growth of the Nation and provided unprecedented
mobility for U.S. citizens. In the past 30 years, aircraft noise
was reduced by a factor of 10, fuel consumption was cut in half,
and a notably low accident rate was maintained despite a threefold
increase in flight operations. Although major technical advances
have made the Nation's air and space transportation system the
largest and best of its kind, the future holds critical challenges
to its continued growth and performance.
Because the U.S. air and space
transportation system serves both critical national security
needs and the public good, ensuring the continued health and
preeminence of that system is a key issue for the future of this
Nation. NASA is the Nation's leading government agency for providing
technological leadership and advancements for the aerospace industry
and the traveling public.
In addition to its role in advancing
air and space transportation, the Enterprise has a role in developing
basic technology for a broad range of space applications, such
as aerospace communications, power and propulsion systems, micro
devices and instruments, information technology, nanotechnology,
and biotechnology. These advances will expand our knowledge of
the Earth and the universe through space missions.
Historically, transportation
and communication have always been integrally linked. Today,
tourism, ecommerce, and other factors such as economic growth
and changing demographics are fueling demand for access to high-speed,
highly distributed transportation systems.
For the U.S. commercial space
launch industry, however, 1998 and 1999 were disappointing years,
due to a string of failures that restricted the launch rate and
slowed the development of new vehicles. A number of entrepreneurs
have announced plans for commercial launch vehicles in hopes
of capturing some of the strong market for launch services of
commercial satellites.
As the 21st century
begins, NASA seeks to forge a "Highway to Space" that
will enable citizens to travel, work, and live in space as a
matter of routine. Because of NASA research, it will be possible
for the private sector to make space transportation economical.
This, in turn, will create enormous opportunities for commercial
endeavors, new services, scientific and medical research, and
other uses not yet imagined.
The space industry is changing
dramatically as it transitions from government-driven needs to
market-driven growth. However, this industry is less mature than
the aviation industry and the technologies are more complex.
Technology has a significant
role in meeting these challenges. Advanced physics-based modeling,
simulation, new materials and structural concepts, and other
technologies will enable quieter, more efficient aircraft and
more robust and affordable spacecraft. As the space transportation
system grows, it will be, in the future, linked increasingly
with the aviation system.
The main challenges for the space
industry continue to be reliability and cost. New technologies
that enable simplified space transportation operations, robust
design and operating margins, and near complete reuse of hardware
have the potential to reduce costs dramatically. Safe, lowcost
space transportation will make space commercially accessible
for both passenger and cargo operations. Equally important are
new propulsion technologies that will enable new in-space operations,
such as economical travel between low Earth orbit and geo-stationary
orbits, faster travel to other planets, and ultimately, the stars.
It will also allow the continued expansion of human and robotic
exploration throughout our solar system.
Biological and Physical Research
Space Shuttle flight has been
synonymous with science research in biology, physics, chemistry,
and engineering since the Shuttle program's inception. In the
year 2000, NASA's Biological and Physical Research Enterprise
began focusing its scientific research on biological sciences
in preparation for full scientific utilization of the International
Space Station in the coming decade. This focus adds cutting-edge
interdisciplinary sciences of the 21st century to
the space program, such as space genomics, biomolecular physics,
macromolecular biotechnology, and nanotechnology.
Continual research on Earth and
in space provides fascinating opportunities to improve life on
Earth. For example, industry has planned to invest over $6 million
to develop a bone replacement ceramic-metal composite that is
highly porous, allowing blood vessels, nerves, and even bone
to grow through and around it. By optimizing the pore size, distribution,
and strength of a composite material, industry hopes to perfect
materials for more durable bone replacements. Eventually research
could lead to products that could dissolve into the body as natural
bone cells grow into an implant.
In addition, conducting scientific
research in space, where gravity is one-millionth that of Earth,
allows researchers to observe properties of solids, liquids,
and gases that could potentially change industrial practices
and products in ways that are unimaginable today.
While perfecting research that
will enable humans to exist off the planet, ground research and
flight opportunities on the Space Shuttle and International Space
Station will use the unique characteristics of space for research
to improve most facets of life on Earth in the coming decade--your
health, home, environment, transportation, and commerce.
Earth Science
NASA's Earth Science Enterprise
(ESE) is dedicated to understanding the total Earth system and
the effects of natural and human-induced changes on the global
environment. NASA's commitment to share the benefits of Earth
Science discoveries with the broad public is evidenced in the
Enterprise's commitment to translate NASA-funded Earth Science
and technology research results to the development of remote
sensing applications for practical, everyday use.
NASA spearheaded efforts to share
Earth Science discoveries and applications through a federation
of Earth Science Information Partners (ESIPs). The federation
is comprised of partners from government agencies, national laboratories,
universities, nonprofit organizations, and commercial providers
of data and information services. The partners work together
to ensure that quality scientific data and information are made
available to a wide community of scientists and non-scientists
alike.
Under ESIP, NASA's Earth Science
Enterprise partnered with the National Broadcasting Company (NBC)
and General Electric Corporate Research & Development to
utilize ESE data in operational weather forecasting. By integrating
NASA's remotely sensed data into daily weathercasts, NBC became
the first television network to offer high-resolution imagery
to the public on a routine basis. The public benefited by receiving
better information and an increased awareness of the practicality
of NASA's remote sensing applications.
Dave Jones, a meteorologist and
President-CEO of StormCenter.com, LLC, first piloted the television
weathercasts on NBC 4 in Washington, D.C., on January 1, 2001.
Through StormCenter.com, the partnership with NBC continues and
allows each of the 13 NBC-owned and operated television stations
to use advanced remote sensing imagery in their local newscasts.
| Using NASA-gathered imagery,
StormWatch viewers receive a side-by-side comparison of the Pamlico
River at various points during the summer of 1999. |
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"This
capability translates into a much better product for viewers
of local NBC newscasts in major markets nationwide," says
Jones. "Utilizing more advanced visuals and graphics developed
from high-tech satellites will engage the public to learn more
about their environment and how their behavior affects our weather
and climate. People really do want to understand what is happening
with our planet and what they can do to make sure the Earth remains
healthy for future generations. Providing this type of information
on network news will allow for greater local awareness for communities
and individuals to participate in this high-interest area."
StormCenter.com will be expanding
its reach into other types of media by attracting media partners
across the nation. These partners will use StormCenter.com content
for newspapers, radio and television web sites, and wireless
applications.
This partnership serves as a
successful model for translating NASA's Earth science into new
and innovative information products that extend the social and
economic benefits of NASA's Earth science research to a broad
user community.
Human Exploration and Development
of Space
NASA's Human Exploration and
Development of Space (HEDS) Enterprise includes the International
Space Station (ISS), Space Shuttle, Space Communications, and
Space Access offices. The mission of HEDS is to open the space
frontier by exploring, using, and enabling space development,
and to expand the human experience into the far reaches of the
universe.
The ISS, a key HEDS program,
is capable of performing unique, long duration, space-based research
in a variety of disciplines, while providing a unique platform
for observations of the Earth, Sun, and other astronomical objects.
The ISS is crucial to fulfilling NASA's mission to explore, use,
and enable the development of space for human enterprise.
The past year has seen a tremendous
surge of program activity, as the ISS grew from the Unity and
Zarya modules to become a permanently inhabited and premier research
laboratory in space. Since May 2000, NASA and its partners at
the Russian Aviation and Space Agency executed 11 successful
launches and dockings to the space station. Among the elements
now on orbit are the Zvezda Service Module, Russia's keystone
contribution, and the U.S. laboratory, Destiny.
Permanent human habitation began
aboard the space station in November 2000. The ISS commercialization
efforts include opportunities for investors to develop new capabilities
for the station through submission of Entrepreneurial Offers.
These are private investment proposals to NASA.
In addition, HEDS Technology
and Commercialization Initiative advances several strategic goals
and objectives that enable the commercial development of space.
Activities include 1) systems analysis, concepts and modeling,
2) enabling research and technology, and 3) technology flight
demonstrations. In fiscal year 2001, a competitive cooperative
agreement notice was released to solicit proposals, and it is
anticipated that initial awards will be announced as early as
May 2001.
The HEDS Enterprise also provides
support for Space Shuttle payload buildup, test and checkout,
integration, servicing, transportation and installation, as well
as support for NASA missions launched on Expendable Launch Vehicles.
HEDS also provides command, tracking, and telemetry data services
between ground facilities and flight mission vehicles.
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In the grasp of the
Shuttle's remote manipulator system robot arm, the Destiny laboratory
was moved from the cargo bay of the Space Shuttle and attached
to the International Space Station in February 2001. Destiny
is the first of six international research laboratories. |
Space
Science
The Space Science Enterprise
is poised to enter the new millennium with a solid foundation
upon which to build, as well as expand new capabilities to explore
the farthest reaches of the universe and the solar system.
The Office of Space Science is
looking for answers to questions such as: How did the universe,
galaxies, stars, and planets form and evolve? How can exploration
of the universe and our solar system revolutionize our understanding
of physics, chemistry, and biology? Are there Earth-like planets
beyond our solar system? Does life in any form, however simple
or complex, carbon-based or other, exist elsewhere than on planet
Earth?
Long-term goals of the Space
Science Enterprise are to establish a virtual presence throughout
the solar system and probe deeper into the mysteries of the universe
and life on Earth and beyond; to pursue space science programs
that enable future human exploration beyond low Earth orbit;
to develop and utilize revolutionary technologies for missions
impossible in prior decades; and to contribute measurably to
achieving the science, mathematics, and technology education
goals of our nation.
To better study solar variability
and understand its effects on humanity, NASA is starting a program
called "Living With A Star," a set of missions and
enhancements to current programs which will eventually encompass
a number of spacecraft and systems. "Living With A Star"
will also pursue partnerships with other Federal agencies that
are concerned with the effects of the Sun on the Earth. The goal
is to provide an exciting new capability for understanding, and
ultimately predicting "solar weather," which affects
Earth.
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The "Living
with A Star" initiative will: 1) observe the entire Sun
simultaneously using a few well-positioned spacecraft, including
Solar Sentinel spacecraft, which will observe the side of the
Sun away from the Earth, the first spacecraft capable of doing
so; 2) track solar storm regions both above and below the solar
surface for the first time, using an advanced spacecraft called
the Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO), which will also probe the
interior of the Sun to help us understand the source of solar
variability; 3) use the Sentinels, the SDO, and dozens of low
cost microsatellites in critical regions around Earth to track
Earth-directed solar mass ejections and their impact on the Earth's
space environment; 4) use one of the most intriguing and far-reaching
technologies currently under development, the large Solar sails,
which will use the energy in sunlight to reach their stationary
positions above the poles of the Earth and in polar orbit about
the Sun; 5) miniaturize spacecraft and instruments in order to
orbit numerous "space buoys" similar to ocean buoys,
which will probe the Earth's upper atmosphere and space environment,
and their response to solar storms.
NASA's Space Science Enterprise
has experienced a number of tremendous successes. Some of the
top highlights include Hubble scientists' measurements of how
fast the universe is expanding, and astronomers' searches of
the galaxy that led to the discovery of six new planets, bringing
the total to 28 of known planets outside the solar system. The
Mars Global Surveyor provided the first global 3-D map of Mars,
which includes an impact basin deep enough to swallow Mount Everest.
NASA's Compton Gamma Ray Observatory alerted astronomers of one
of the most powerful explosions in the universe, enabling them
to take the first optical images of the gamma ray burst explosion
that occurred on January 23, 1999. The deployment of the Chandra
X-ray Observatory into orbit provided a stunning image of the
Crab Nebula. Several NASA spacecraft observed that the solar
wind and auroral display at the North Pole virtually disappeared
from May 10-12, 1999, the most drastic and longest-lasting decrease
ever seen. The crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery replaced Hubble's
gyros, made numerous improvements to battery power and guidance
systems, and replaced the outer layers of thermal protection,
making it better than new.
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