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<p>NASA's recent emphasis on human exploration of the Moon and, ultimately, Mars necessitates a transition from a focus of its research in the biological sciences from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to platforms beyond LEO. Fundamental research questions need to be addressed to enable humans to thrive in deep space. Work beyond LEO necessitates a shift in technology and the utilization of organisms in autonomous experiments, especially in the near term. The Beyond LEO Instrumentation &amp; Science Series Science Working Group (BLISS-SWG) was established to provide NASA's Space Biology Program input on its strategy for developing research priorities and tools for exploration beyond LEO. Here, we present an abridged version of the first annual report of the BLISS-SWG, which is publicly available on the NASA Technical Reports Server. Seven priority areas and pertinent research questions were identified for research beyond LEO in the coming 2–5 years. Appropriate experimental organisms and technology development needs for research addressing these questions are summarized. The BLISS-SWG aims for this review to serve as a resource for the space biology and science and engineering communities as they develop research to understand risks and mitigation strategies for deep-space stressors on human crew, plants, and their microbiomes.</p>
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NASA's recent emphasis on human exploration of the Moon and, ultimately, Mars necessitates a transition from a focus of its research in the biological sciences from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to platforms beyond LEO. Fundamental research questions need to be addressed to enable humans to thrive in deep space. Work beyond LEO necessitates a shift in technology and the utilization of organisms in autonomous experiments, especially in the near term. The Beyond LEO Instrumentation & Science Series Science Working Group (BLISS-SWG) was established to provide NASA's Space Biology Program input on its strategy for developing research priorities and tools for exploration beyond LEO. Here, we present an abridged version of the first annual report of the BLISS-SWG, which is publicly available on the NASA Technical Reports Server. Seven priority areas and pertinent research questions were identified for research beyond LEO in the coming 2–5 years. Appropriate experimental organisms and technology development needs for research addressing these questions are summarized. The BLISS-SWG aims for this review to serve as a resource for the space biology and science and engineering communities as they develop research to understand risks and mitigation strategies for deep-space stressors on human crew, plants, and their microbiomes.

Strategies, Research Priorities, and Challenges for the Exploration of Space Beyond Low Earth Orbit

Department of Microbiology and Cell Science

Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate

Department of Plant and Microbial Biology

Department of Electrical Engineering, Center for Integrated Systems

Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center

Gravitational and Space Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

NASA's recent emphasis on human exploration of the Moon and, ultimately, Mars necessitates a transition from a focus of its research in the biological sciences...

Strategies, Research Priorities, and Challenges for the Exploration of Space Beyond Low Earth Orbit

Article Category: Research Note

Published Online: Mar 05, 2024

Page range: 18 - 40

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2024-0001

Keywords
beyond low Earth orbit, gravity, space radiation

© 2024 R. Craig Everroad et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Strategies, Research Priorities, and Challenges for the Exploration of Space Beyond Low Earth Orbit

Article Category: Research Note

Published Online: Mar 05, 2024

Page range: 18 - 40

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2024-0001

Keywordsbeyond low Earth orbit, gravity, space radiation

© 2024 R. Craig Everroad et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
beyond low Earth orbit, gravity, space radiation