International Space Station: National Laboratory Development

1. International Space Station: National Laboratory Development Brad Carpenter Space Operations Mission Directorate NASA Headquarters

2. Remember the ISS? • Approaching completion • European and Japanese laboratories are on orbit • ESA Automated Transfer Vehicle is currently docked to the ISS • Next step is six crew • U.S. science focus is mission-enabling human research • Limited resources are available for U.S. “non-exploration” research

3. Remember the ISS? • Continued Interest in Effective Utilization • 2005 NASA Authorization - the ISS National Laboratory • 2008 Appropriation Act - Decadal Survey & ISS National Lab Education Plan • 2008 NASA Authorization - ISS Research Management • ISS is Human Space Flight until 2020 • Culmination of years of international cooperation and investment • First requirement for Ares I and Orion • Will represent space exploration throughout a difficult era

4. ISS National Laboratory Objective • Develop non-NASA users for ISS accommodations and resources capacity available during the post-assembly period. • Establish partnerships with government, • academic and industrial participants. • Produce diversified portfolio of productive • projects contributing to US scientific and • technological advancement, and sustained economic • growth.

5. Constraints • NASA exploration mission uses of the ISS must command top priority for ISS payload resources and accommodations. • Funds necessary for non-NASA uses of ISS National Laboratory must be appropriated outside of NASA appropriations. • No impact to NASA’s primary missions. • NASA will continue to cover cost of ISS maintenance and operations.

6. Strategy • Pursue non-NASA uses of ISS through NASA HQ Space Operations Mission Directorate • Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with other government agencies… • Space Act Agreements (SAAs) with private firms… • Coordinated with ISS Program and Office of General Counsel. • In parallel, determine pros/cons and most effective approach to creating an authority that could take responsibility for further non-government program development in next decade. • Study of potential legal frameworks by Office of General Counsel. • “Form follows function” approach at this early stage. • NASA will continue to be “executive agent” for other government uses

7. NASA Actions to Date:Report to Congress • Three Tactical Initiatives: • Public/Private Initiative in Education • Public Initiative in Research • Private Initiative in Applications • Perception of Risk Remains High • ISS Assembly Completion by 2010 • Commercial Transportation Availability

8. Conclusion • The National Laboratory concept is an opportunity to enlist new stakeholders in space-based research, applications and operations. • The International Space Station represents a unique and highly visible asset with surplus capacity available for a spectrum of applications. • NASA will continue to cover cost of operating and maintaining ISS, and is highly motivated to work with other agencies and organizations on scientific, technological and commercial uses.