Volume 11, Number 1 • Spring 2003 • Cover Story

The Enterprises That Guide NASA

Balancing in space requires new ways of thinking, which was discovered by researchers at NASA's Office of Biological and Physical Research.

The six NASA strategic Enterprises are outlined in the Agency’s strategic plan. The role of the Enterprises is to coordinate the activities in pursuit of NASA’s mission — To improve life here, to extend life to there, to find life beyond. Each Enterprise is responsible for a key area of NASA’s research and development efforts. The six Enterprises are: Space Science, Earth Science, Biological and Physical Research, Aerospace Technology, Space Flight and Education.

The Space Science Enterprise seeks to answer fundamental questions about life in the universe — how it arose, where in the solar system life may have originated or may exist today, and whether there are similar planetary environments around other stars where the signature of life can be found. The Space Science Enterprise is made up of five themes — Solar System Exploration, Mars Exploration, Astronomical Search for Origins, Structure and Evolution of the Universe, and Sun-Earth Connection.

The Solar System Exploration theme seeks to understand how our own solar system formed and evolved. The Mars Exploration theme investigates the mysteries of the history of and present conditions on Mars. The Astronomical Search for Origins theme strives to answer two questions — where did we come from, and are we alone? This theme seeks to observe the birth of the earliest galaxies and the formation of stars, find all the planetary systems in our solar neighborhood, and learn whether life exists beyond our solar system. The Structure and Evolution of the Universe theme seeks to understand the nature and phenomena of the universe and the fundamental laws of space, time and energy, and to trace the cycles that have created the conditions for our own existence. The Sun-Earth Connection theme investigates our Sun and how its structure and behavior affect Earth.

NASA’s vision to improve life here starts with the Earth Science Enterprise’s study of planet Earth from space. The Enterprise is composed of two themes — Earth System Science and Earth Science Applications.

Within the Earth System Science theme, we are deploying and operating the first comprehensive constellation of Earth-observing research satellites designed to reveal interactions among Earth’s continents, atmosphere, oceans, ice and life. Within the Earth Science Applications theme, NASA works with other federal agencies to apply our research results and Earth-observation information products to applications of national priority.

The Biological and Physical Research Enterprise supports direct student participation in space research from the graduate level down through the primary school level. The Enterprise is composed of three themes — Physical Sciences Research, Biological Sciences Research and Research Partnerships and Flight Support.

The Physical Sciences Research theme supports research that takes advantage of the special environment of space to expand our understanding of the fundamental laws of nature. We also support applied physical science research to improve the safety and performance of human exploration and research efforts that have applications in terrestrial industry.

Through NASA’s Biological Sciences Research theme, we investigate ways to support a safe human presence in space. This includes a basic biological research component that seeks to pursue fundamental biological research questions and produce results that can support advanced methods for controlling the human health risks of space flight.

NASA’s Research Partnerships and Flight Support theme establishes policies and allocates space resources to encourage and develop commercial partners’ access to space research. This research supports product development on Earth and leverages industry resources to accelerate the commercial development of space. Ultimately, research partnerships may support the development of an infrastructure that can be leveraged for human exploration.

The Aerospace Technology Enterprise contributes to the NASA vision by pioneering and developing advanced technologies. These technologies, in turn, improve the air-transportation system, access to space and science missions.

The Aerospace Technology Enterprise helps others use NASA technology for non-aerospace commercial purposes and develops technology partnerships with those in industry and academia that are outside of traditional aerospace fields. This enterprise is made up of four themes — Aeronautics Technology, Space Launch Initiative, Mission and Science Measurement Technology, and Innovative Technology Transfer Partnerships.

The Aeronautics Technology theme holds a unique role within NASA as the sole administrator of the Agency’s aeronautics investments. Technology developed through NASA investment plays a role in making a safer, more environmentally friendly, more secure life here on Earth.

New space transportation capabilities are needed to ensure that America continues its leadership in space. The Space Launch Initiative theme ensures safe, affordable, and reliable access to space.

The Mission and Science Measurement Technologies theme is responsible for developing crosscutting technology for a variety of aviation and space applications, such as communications, power and propulsion systems, microdevices and instruments, information technology, nanotechnology and biotechnology.

Under the Innovative Technology Transfer Partnerships theme, we work to form partnerships with industry and academia to develop new technology that supports Enterprise programs. We transfer NASA technology to US industry and enhance NASA’s commercial objectives through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.

Education, our newest Enterprise, was established in 2002 to inspire more students to pursue the study of science and engineering, with the ultimate goal of having them choose careers in aeronautics and space at NASA. It is comprised of two programs specifically designed to motivate students to pursue careers in science and engineering — the Educator Astronaut Program (EAP) and the NASA Explorer Schools Program. EAP will select teachers and transport them into space to inspire and motivate students. The NASA Explorer Schools program will engage teachers, students, parents and the community by providing a customized and sustained learning environment.

The Space Flight Enterprise provides many critical enabling capabilities that make possible much of the science, research and exploration achievements of the rest of the Agency. The Space Flight Enterprise does this through three themes — International Space Station, Space Shuttle and Space and Flight Support.

The International Space Station theme supports activities for establishing a permanent human presence in Earth orbit. The space station provides a long-duration, habitable laboratory for science and research activities investigating the limits of human performance, expanding human experience in living and working in space, and enabling the commercial development of space.

The Space Shuttle theme builds on the shuttle’s versatile launch system. The shuttle, first launched in 1981, provides the one capability in the US for human access to space. In addition to transporting people, materials and equipment, the space shuttle allows astronauts to service and repair satellites and build the space station.

The Space and Flight Support theme encompasses several programs — Space Communications, Launch Services, Rocket Propulsion Testing and Advanced Systems. Space Communications consists of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS), which supports the space shuttle, expendable launch vehicles and research aircraft and the NASA Integrated Services Network (NISN), which provides telecommunications services at facilities such as the flight support networks, mission control centers, science facilities and administrative communications networks for NASA Centers. The Launch Services program focuses on meeting the Agency’s launch and payload-processing requirements by ensuring safe, cost-effective access to space via the space shuttle. The Rocket Propulsion Testing Program supports a core of highly trained test and engineering crews and test facilities. Finally, the Advanced Systems Program conducts studies, identifies and develops technology, and pursues transformational new capabilities that work to promote the future of human and robotic exploration of space.

The NASA Enterprises, though diverse in nature, work together to reach NASA’s goals and fulfill the NASA vision. Q

For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov and http://www.hq.nasa.gov

NASA Official: Jonathan Root • Web Design: Printing & Design Office, NASA Headquarters • Credits