International Space Station National Laboratory Workshop | SpaceRef - Space News as it Happens

By Benjamin Corb, AIAA; Richard Mains, Mains Associates, Posted 01/25/09

Link: http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=25397

On March 31, 2006, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) held its first in a series of 2006 Congressional forums on the Hill to help educate Congress on important aerospace issues facing the industry today. The Forum focused on the rapidly diminishing federal funding for space life science research within NASA and options forrestoring and sustaining this essential National capability.

The Forum facilitated an open dialogue between industry, academia, Congress and the Administration on life science research issues facing the U.S. and the need for action to ensure future competitiveness in a widening international space life science community. Panelists discussed the precarious state of this research and its criticality to successfully meeting President Bush’s challenge to NASA to conduct a human mission to the Moon by 2018 as a precursor to a subsequent years long mission to Mars.