National Research Council Releases Space Station Biotechnology Research Report

“Future Biotechnology Research on the International Space Station”, by the Task Group for the Evaluation of NASA’s Biotechnology Facility for the International Space Station, National Research Council, 1 March 2000. is online in a web-only browsable format at the NRC.

Background and Scientific Scope of NASA Programs

“The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) manages research programs in two areas of the rapidly expanding field of biotechnology: protein crystal growth and cell science. The protein crystal growth work focuses on using microgravity to produce higher quality macromolecular crystals for structure determination and on improving understanding of the crystal growth process. The cell science work focuses on basic research that contributes to understanding how the microgravity environment affects the fundamental behavior of cells. Particularly in relation to tissue formation and the effects, of space exploration on living organisms. The National Research Council’s Task Group for the Evaluation of NASA’s Biotechnology Facility for the International Space Station was formed to examine and evaluate the use of the International Space Station (ISS) as a platform for research in these two areas. In this report, the task group offers a variety of recommendations and suggestions for improving the NASA biotechnology research program. It believes these changes are necessary if the NASA program is to fulfill the potential for scientific discovery and impact that is also outlined in this report.”

• NRC Task Group for the Evaluation of NASA’s Biotechnology Facility for the International Space Station

• International Space Station, SpaceRef Directory

• Microgravity Science, SpaceRef Directory

• NASA Microgravity Research Activities, SpaceRef Directory