American Society for Gravitational and Space Biology

Founded in 1984, ASGSB fosters research, education, training,

and outreach in gravitational and space biology. Society
members are drawn from across the United States and
throughout the world and represent a multidisciplinary
community of university, government, and industry personnel
bonded by their interest in biology, gravity, and space
exploration.

ASGSB members are drawn from across the United States No. of members, 2004–05
and throughout the world.
1 to 5 11 to 15
6 to 10 16+

ASGSB has the following objectives:

• Promote research, education, and outreach in gravitational and space biology.
• Apply the knowledge gained to the goal of human space exploration.
• Disseminate information and work towards solutions to space and terrestrial
biological problems.
• Provide a forum for communication among professionals involved in
gravitational and space biology research and application.
• Facilitate the training of future leaders, researchers, and educators in
gravitational and space biology.

www.asgsb.org
 “To improve life here, to extend life to there, to find life beyond.”
NASA’s statement of purpose contains but 13 words, and three of them are life. This speaks to the central role
that space life sciences must play if NASA’s ambitious plans for the future are to be realized.
NASA’s Vision for Space Exploration calls for the extension of humanity’s presence across the solar system in
a practical, safe, and sustainable manner. The American Society for Gravitational and Space Biology completely
supports the Vision.
We know that biological research is critical for successful human space exploration and will aid in the
understanding of phenomena such as bone and muscle loss, fracture and wound healing, suppression of the
immune system, change in virulence of pathogens, and effectiveness of drugs. Biological research will also
lead us towards the enabling technologies for ecologically based life support systems. Space Biology research
and training must remain a priority.
Although the President’s FY05 budget request for Human Health and Performance of $423M reflected a slight
rise from the FY04 budget, the budget request drops in FY06 to $299M and remains low for FY07 through
FY10 ($303M, $320M, $328M, $340M). These projections are inconsistent with the critical role that biology
plays in space exploration.

Therefore, ASGSB recommends the following:

Utilize the International Space Station to conduct the full spectrum of exploration-driven biological research.
Research on the ISS is now aimed primarily at reducing risks that affect human health and enhancing performance
via countermeasure development and sustainable life support system design. At risk, however, is the ability
to explore the scientific questions that provide the foundation for understanding how living systems respond
to space flight and offer insight into reducing mission risk factors. Without this research funding mechanism
in place, participation by academia also is severely curtailed, and opportunities for making major discoveries
in space (on a par with penicillin) are all but eliminated. In the ISS, we have a unique facility that opens the
door to innumerable research opportunities; it would truly be a loss not to capitalize on this capability.
Consider alternative platforms for supplementing research access to space. Explore options to utilize unmanned
research satellites to conduct mission-critical research not possible on the ISS — e.g., research requiring the
use of hazardous materials, such as biological pathogens, or studies combining microgravity exposure with
high radiation fields such as will be encountered by astronauts en route to the moon or Mars. NASA had success
in the 1960s with the similar BioSat program and striking success with collaborations on the Russian Biocosmos
(or Bion) flights in the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s. Reinvigorating this approach may offer a cost-feasible, complementary
option for enhancing research on the ISS.
Encourage biological education and training of future generations of scientists and engineers. Half of NASA’s
employees are in science and engineering jobs. Much of the expertise developed over the past decades will
be lost through retirement well before the milestone dates outlined in the Vision for Space Exploration. Without
continuing support of research involving higher education, as was typical with the NRA-era grants, the agency
risks losing the interest of those younger students who were nurtured in outreach programs aimed at the K–12
population.

ASGSB requests that Congress take these actions:

Convene an informational hearing with respect to the impact of the imminent phaseout of Space Biological
Research and related science and technological capabilities on the Vision for Space Exploration, national
capabilities, security, and benefits to society.
Require that NASA halt the elimination and de-funding of space biological research on cells, animals, and
plants in the FY 06 budget request until such time as the National Research Council, the Congressional Budget
Office, and/or other entities independent of NASA conduct a full study on the impact of its elimination.
Consider the value of promoting interagency support (involving, e.g., NSF or USDA) for conducting a robust
program of ground-based space-related research.