U.S. Non-Profit Organization Established for Practical Applications of the International Space Station
- Paper number
IAC-11,B3,3,1,x10149
- Author
Mr. Mark Uhran, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), United States
- Coauthor
Ms. Marybeth Edeen, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Ames Research Center, United States
- Year
2011
- Abstract
The International Space Station (ISS) assembly phase has been completed and the United States has acted decisively to shift future mission emphasis toward scientific and technological applications. In response to White House direction and Congressional legislation, NASA has competitively established an independent, non-profit organization (NPO) to stimulate, develop and manage uses of up to 50\% of the U.S. capacity on ISS by organizations other than NASA. The NPO will focus on science and technology applications that meet the mission needs of other U.S. government agencies, academic institutions and private firms. As a mission-driven Agency, NASA will continue to manage its own mission needs for biomedical research necessary to extend human duration in the space environment, and for development of next generation spacecraft technologies needed to conduct such expeditions. The new NASA-NPO public-private partnership is designed to both continue basic research and maximize the productivity of the ISS by applying value-based principles to selection and prioritization of research & development projects that offer tangible benefits in the form of value-added products and services. Intangible benefits, such as producing new scientific knowledge and stimulating science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education are also included in the NPO’s mission. Although the NPO has been founded as a U.S. domestic initiative, the organization is designed to be upward compatible to a global scale of operations as benefits become evident across the international partnership.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)