Current Areas of Opportunity NASA Authorization Act of 2005 designated the International Space Station (ISS) a National Laboratory. Major policy initiatives in both branches of Federal government may include fiscal resources for use of ISS by other government agencies: –Congressional PACE Bills (“Protecting America’s Competitive Edge”) –Presidential ACI (“American Competitiveness Initiative”) Due to FY ‘07 continuing resolutions, PACE Act(s) may not be passed until FY ‘08. Schedule is consistent with ISS post-assembly, full-up utilization period commencing in FY ‘11. Presenter: Mark Uhran Agency/Organization: NASA, International Space Station Program

Promising Areas for Space-Related Health Research Collaborations The microgravity environment of space is an extraordinarily unique resource enabling the study of motion at the molecular level. –Eliminates masking effect of gravity. –Allows insight into mass transfer mechanisms. –Suggests potential for control of mass transfer with applications to macromolecular crystallization, tissue culturing… Inter-Agency MOU’s enable NASA to commit physical resources for strategic alliances to advance research in biomedicine and biotechnology. –Application to NASA mission needs is a benefit, but not an essential ingredient.

Existing Resources to Facilitate Space-Related Health Research ISS accommodations are currently in surplus during post- assembly timeframe. –Laboratory space –Power/thermal –Data processing –Crew-time NASA is investing $500 million to ensure transportation capacity is available. Commitments of ISS resources will be made on a first come, first serve basis via strategic alliances. Other government agencies have “first rights” to surplus accommodations on ISS. The window-of-opportunity is opening.