Space Exploration at Risk: Underfunding Jeopardize NASA's Biological, Physical Sciences

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's newly published decadal study emphasizes the urgent need for more financing for NASA's Division of Biological and Physical Sciences (BPS). The paper warns that underfunding this sector might imperil humanity's capacity to colonize space.

Following the publication of earlier surveys in 2021 and 2022, the 351-page study highlights the significance of scientific research in the area of space exploration, according to Gizmodo. In particular, the BPS division is essential in tackling issues like defense against hazardous environments, food production, and power generation that are relevant to human life and sustainability in space.

Space Exploration Should Be Prioritized

The study draws attention to a critical issue: in order to achieve its scientific goals during the next 10 years, the money allotted to BPS research must rise significantly, by a factor of ten. This large increase in financing is thought to be required to bring the division's objectives into line with national priorities.

Krystyn Van Vliet, a survey steering committee co-chair and Cornell University vice president for research and innovation was quoted in the National Academies news release saying: "Research in the space environment has taken remarkable steps over the last decade, but NASA, the US government, and the wider space community globally have bold exploration plans that require commensurate investments in biological and physical science research."

The recent study lists 11 scientific issues under three themes: "Adapting to Space," "Living and Traveling in Space," and "Probing Phenomena Hidden by Gravity or Terrestrial Limitations. Both scientific questions about the universe and concerns about the viability of human existence in space are included in these queries. Topics covered include genetic variety, physiological space adaptation, and the cross-generational impacts of space on development and reproduction.

Funding Suggestions

According to Space.com, the authors of the study suggest that NASA launch focused research initiatives to assist in the development of key fields for space exploration. These efforts involve studies of gravitational fields, space-time, radiation impacts, and how different living forms respond to microgravity.

The study also emphasizes the significance of research on bioregenerative life support systems (BliSS). The objective of BliSS is to create fully operational biological support systems that can sustain missions that last longer than three years. This includes the synthesis of new materials, the processing of waste, the production of food, and the replenishment of the air. BliSS may be able to alleviate issues with food on Earth brought on by climate change and harsh settings.

Through the Manufacturing Materials and Processes for Sustainability in Space (MATRICES) program, the study also promotes the creation of sustainable space settings. With possible applicability to problems on Earth, MATRICES envisions circular lifecycles for materials and equipment in space to cut down on resource use and waste production.

Given the evolving nature of space exploration, the study acknowledges that NASA's role now differs from that of the Apollo mission. With the rise of commercial launch capabilities and ambitions for commercial space stations, the space industry is fast developing.

Moreover, the poll also takes into account NASA's reaction to the ISS's planned departure in 2030, which would affect a significant amount of BPS study and testing. The paper comes to the conclusion that, in order to create space infrastructure and guarantee access to space-based platforms, NASA will need to work more closely with commercial organizations and space agencies from other nations.