SCIENCE FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF FUTURE SPACE EXPLORATION (ISS EXPLORATION)
Research Area: Technology Development and Demonstration: Life Support
Systems and Habitation
Expedition(s): 1-ongoing
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Constructing and operating the International Space Station (ISS) serves as a testbed for new
technologies and techniques in support of future crew exploration vehicle hardware design and
development. Lessons learned from the operation of life support technologies on station are
directly applicable to the selection and operation of systems for future exploration vehicles. ISS
Exploration encompasses these publications.
EARTH BENEFITS
New knowledge is expected to be the major benefit of ISS Exploration.
SPACE BENEFITS
ISS Exploration investigates new knowledge to advance space exploration.
RESULTS
The mission of the ISS Program is to
advance science and technology
research, expand human knowledge,
inspire and educate the next
generation, foster the commercial
development of space, and
demonstrate capabilities to enable
future exploration missions beyond
low-Earth orbit (LEO).
To execute this mission, the ISS
Program utilized the space station as
a test bed to demonstrate
operational techniques and
capabilities, and demonstrate
technologies and advanced systems that benefit space science capabilities and human and
robotic exploration beyond LEO. Working with the international exploration community,
capabilities are defined that will be needed for future exploration.
ISS037E006296 – The first Cygnus commercial cargo
spacecraft built by Orbital Sciences Corp., seen here attached
to the International Space Station's Harmony node. NASA
image.