NASA’s assessment for Next Generation Microgravity National Laboratory

NASA has released its initial assessment of models for a next generation microgravity national laboratory. In September 2022, the National …
NASA’s assessment for Next Generation Microgravity National Laboratory
The international space station (ISS) due to be decommissioned in 2031. Credit NASA

London, 28 December 2023.- NASA has released its initial assessment of models for a next generation microgravity national laboratory. In September 2022, the National Space Council directed NASA to develop a plan led by the Space Operations Mission Directorate (SOMD) and the Office for Technology, Policy, and Strategy (OTPS). 

NASA’s OTPS conducted a study of various candidate models of future operations between a National Laboratory and various Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD). Six models were identified ranging from high to low levels of government oversight with three different economic models. 

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Outlined in the National LEO R&D Strategy released in March 2023, were the goals that a national laboratory should achieve: 1. Maintaining US leadership in space for research, technology, and innovation; 2. Coalescing additional US government efforts to utilise space to achieve national objectives; 3. Supporting additional government funded scientists and engineers with access to expertise and in-space research facilities; 4. Enabling international cooperation, and 5. Creating opportunities for STEM and diverse workforce development. 

The future construct will aim to represent all US Government-sponsored research by NASA and non-NASA users collaborating more. This approach aims to enhance the user experience, reduce overhead, encourage collaboration, and allow resource sharing between agencies. 

The report titled ‘Models for Facilitating Government-Funded Activities in the Post-International Space Station (ISS) Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) Ecosystem” can be found here.

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