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An MBSE Approach for Developing an Autonomous Rover Platform

The proliferation of increasingly autonomous systems calls for new ways to address how safety is assured. As these systems become more advanced and complex, it becomes more important to model and prototype autonomous functions at the systems level and the functions that assure they are operating safely and as expected. To that effect, researchers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 's Robust Software Engineering (RSE) group are working on prototyping a Research Autonomous Vehicle, commonly referred to as R-RAV. The R-RAV is an autonomous rover platform designed to act as a case study for assured autonomy research. Moreover, an overarching goal is for the R-RAV to serve as a training ground for other mission projects. In this paper, we will detail how we have used a Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) approach to model a prototype of the R-RAV and test and verify its different functionalities.

MBSE↗

Forward for the new edition of: “What Every Engineer Should Know About Risk Engineering and Management"

In aerospace and engineering in general, the major metrics are capability, cost, and safety/risk. With the increasingly rapid emergence and utilization of new technologies and systems of increasing complexity, ensuring safety becomes more difficult. The technology and practice/applications of safety/risk technologies require updating in concert with capability and systems technology changes. Hence the new, updated edition of this risk engineering book. Major changes in technology and applications, now and going forward, increasingly involve artificial intelligence (AI)/autonomy and complex systems, which are rapidly developing and moving targets when it comes to risk/safety analysis. These introduce both new risks and safety issues, and they alter more usual ones. The current reality is that often the best AI is when it is “Black Boxed”, developed “independently”, without detailed human understanding of how and by what processes decisions and results are produced. There are ongoing efforts to make the AI processes more understandable by humans, with results to be determined. Also, trusted and true autonomy is free of human intervention, which would require machines to ideate to solve in real time issues that arise due to unknown unknowns and even known unknowns. Machines using generative adversarial network (GANs) and other approaches are beginning to ideate. Overall, the capabilities and practice of AI/autonomy utilization is a work in progress with the rate of progress substantial and the impacts upon system risk/safety major.

Dennis M. Bushnell↗

Gateway Implementation of Cybersecurity Requirements

Cybersecurity threats are a constant present-day reality for any type of business -- Space exploration is not excluded from these threats either. The Gateway Program is one of NASA’s latest initiatives that extend space exploration beyond low earth orbit. Gateway allows for NASA to prove technologies and mature systems necessary to live and work on another celestial body before embarking on multi-year missions to Mars. The Gateway is a small, human-tended space station in orbit around the Moon. With the increased autonomy, distance and criticality of systems, cybersecurity is a critical discipline that touches and integrates with most if not all subsystems of the Gateway. Building a gateway to the lunar orbit is no simple task. In this presentation, we outline an approach that the Gateway team adopted in creating a cyber safe and robust vehicle to support operations and assure protection of the critical functions. Gateway Program is required to implement National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidelines to adhere to the Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA). NIST provides a framework for managing and controlling cybersecurity risks by defining cybersecurity controls and methodologies for implementation. The NIST framework is based upon the system, data within the system, integrations with external systems, and risk assessments to determine impacts for each of those systems. The goals and objectives are to identify appropriate security controls that fulfil and map to the NIST 800-53 framework. The implementation process involves developing an organizational understanding to manage cybersecurity risk to systems, people, assets, data, and capabilities. NIST Security controls are interpreted and defined within the Gateway vehicle requirements subsystems specifications. This paper details the approach, implementation, and challenges faced during the development and design phases to address cyber threats during the Gateway vehicle operations.

Cybersecurity↗

Comparing Human Input in RViz and Virtual Reality Interfaces for 3D Object Manipulation Tasks

Effective human-in-the-loop robot control requires intuitive and easy to use interfaces. We present a within-subjects user study design to compare the ease of use of interfaces for human-robot teleoperation, specifically the ROS 3D visualization tool RViz and a virtual reality interface. Our proposed study will determine which interface is easiest to use and minimizes operator cognitive load in shared autonomy tasks.

Emily Sheetz↗

NASA’s Moon-to-Mars Planetary Autonomous Construction Technology Project: Overview and Status

NASA plans to land the first woman and next man on the Moon by 2025 through the initial Artemis missions. NASA and its international partners plan to establish a sustainable long-term presence on the lunar surface and build up infrastructure in the subsequent Artemis missions. The Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative (LSII), within NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, aims to spur the creation of novel technologies needed for lunar surface exploration and accelerate the technology readiness of key systems and components. The primary thrust areas of LSII include sustainable power; dust mitigation; in-situ resource utilization; surface excavation, construction, and outfitting; and extreme access/extreme environments. The Moon-to-Mars Planetary Autonomous Construction Technology (MMPACT) projectwas initiated to address the lunar surface construction thrust area of LSII. The goal of the MMPACT project is to develop, deliver, and demonstrate on-demand capabilities to protect astronauts and create infrastructure on the lunar surface via construction of landing pads, habitats, shelters, roadways, berms and blast shields using lunar regolith-based materials. The MMPACT project is leveraging technology derived from NASA’s 3D Printed Mars Habitat Challenge along with contributions from other Government agencies, and multiple partners within industry and academia. The MMPACT project is comprised of three interrelated elements, construction hardware and process development; feedstock materials development; and microwave structure construction capabilities. These elements are working together to address the multiple challenges of infrastructure construction on the surface of the Moon including increased autonomy of operations, hardware operation and manufacturing under lunar environmental conditions, long-duration operation of mechanisms and parts, scale of construction activities, and material and construction requirements and standards. This presentation will summarize the status of development activities in each of the three elements, including testing of the various candidate materials, preliminary design concepts for future lunar infrastructure elements, and the vision for future technology demonstrations on the lunar surface. These demonstrations, targeting the mid-to-late 2020’s, are expected to enable landing pad construction and habitat construction resulting in commercial capabilities early in the next decade.

lunar infrastructure↗

NASA’s Moon-to-Mars Planetary Autonomous Construction Technology Project: Overview and Status

NASA plans to land the first woman and next man on the Moon by 2025 through the initial Artemis missions. NASA and its international partners plan to establish a sustainable long-term presence on the lunar surface and build up infrastructure in the subsequent Artemis missions. The Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative (LSII), within NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, aims to spur the creation of novel technologies needed for lunar surface exploration and accelerate the technology readiness of key systems and components. The primary thrust areas of LSII include sustainable power; dust mitigation; in-situ resource utilization; surface excavation, construction, and outfitting; and extreme access/extreme environments. The Moon-to-Mars Planetary Autonomous Construction Technology (MMPACT) project was initiated to address the lunar surface construction thrust area of LSII. The goal of the MMPACT project is to develop, deliver, and demonstrate on-demand capabilities to protect astronauts and create infrastructure on the lunar surface via construction of landing pads, habitats, shelters, roadways, berms and blast shields using lunar regolith-based materials. The MMPACT project is leveraging technology derived from NASA’s 3D Printed Mars Habitat Challenge along with contributions from other Government agencies, and multiple partners within industry and academia. The MMPACT project is comprised of three interrelated elements, construction hardware and process development; feedstock materials development; and microwave structure construction capabilities. These elements are working together to address the multiple challenges of infrastructure construction on the surface of the Moon including increased autonomy of operations, hardware operation and manufacturing under lunar environmental conditions, long-duration operation of mechanisms and parts, scale of construction activities, and material and construction requirements and standards. This presentation will summarize the status of development activities in each of the three elements, including testing of the various candidate materials, preliminary design concepts for future lunar infrastructure elements, and the vision for future technology demonstrations on the lunar surface. These demonstrations, targeting the mid-to-late 2020’s, are expected to enable landing pad construction and habitat construction resulting in commercial capabilities early in the next decade.

Additive construction, regolith processing, lunar ↗

Enabling Evaluation of In-Situ Regolith-Based Construction Materials with Modified Methods for Testing Compressive Strength of Non-Cement Mortar Specimens Using Simulants & Analog Site Soils

Objectives for Phase II of NASA’s Artemis Program include establishment of lunar surface infrastructure to support a sustainable, long-term human presence on the Moon. Terrestrially, awareness of climate impacts from cement and concrete production has led to renewed interest in traditional building materials using earthen and pozzolanic binders with locally sourced aggregates [1, 2, 3]. In remote, austere,and resource-constrained environments, use of site-sourced materials is often an economic necessity in addition to being valuable for local autonomy and self-sufficiency. This study evaluates modifications to ASTM cement mortar testing methods, incorporating details from European standards for earthen plasters and lime-based mortars. Development of consistent, simplified methods for evaluating in-situ materials will be essential not only for meeting future climate goals and sustainable construction needs, but also for conducting autonomous robotic manipulation and evaluation of regolith construction materials.

ISRU↗

Autonomous Medical Officer Support (AMOS) ISS Technology Demonstration: Enabling Earth-Independnt Procedure Guidance

Successful performance of medical procedures during missions beyond low Earth orbit requires novel solutions to replace real-time support from the ground since the communication delay will be longer as the crew travels farther from Earth. The Autonomous Medical Officer Support software Technology Demonstration project (AMOS Tech Demo) on the International Space Station (ISS) evaluates a novel software tool that shifts the emphasis from preflight training and real-time guidance (current ISS paradigm) to in-flight just-in-time (JIT) instruction (a new paradigm for crew medical autonomy). The AMOS platform introduces a novel, streamlined, skill-management archetype for exploration missions; the current AMOS version features comprehensive training and guidance modules for urinary bladder and kidney ultrasound examinations. The primary goal of the AMOS Tech Demo was to confirm telemedical proof-of-concept through initial use of the platform for autonomous imaging activities in an operational setting. Success metrics encompassed 1) successful software deployment, 2) collection of click tracking data, and 3) recording of ultrasound images. Additional aims included collecting crew feedback on a) AMOS implementation, and b) integrated training and procedure support concepts, as well as c) evaluation of AMOS use in an operational setting.

D. Ebert↗

Extended Duration: The SIRIUS 21 Crew Perspective

The SIRIUS (Scientific International Research In a Unique terrestrial Station) missions represent a collaborative effort between NASA and Russia’s Institute for Biomedical Problems (IBMP) to conduct a series of long duration isolation and confinement spaceflight analog missions. Three missions of 17-day, 4-month, and 8-month duration (SIRIUS 17, 19, and 21) have been completed at IBMP’s Ground-Based Experimental Complex / Nazemnyy eksperimental'nyy kompleks (NEK) in Moscow, Russia. The international SIRIUS 21 crew comprising representatives from the United States, United Arab Emirates and Russia recently completed the 8-month analog lunar mission. The extended duration mission included simulated lunar transit, orbital, and surface operations with corresponding deep space communication delay, during which the crew participated in nearly 70 studies, eight of which were sponsored by NASA’s Human Research Program. The studies examined the effect of isolation and confinement on the behavioral health of research subjects, and investigated medical countermeasures, team performance, crew dynamics, crew autonomy, food system risks, consequences of confinement and associated physiological stressors. SIRIUS 21 crewmembers also participated in operational tasks such as Rover and CubeSat assembly, simulated lunar sample assessment, VR activities, robotic arm training, environmental systems monitoring, exercise, greenhouse maintenance and 3D printing. Communication with Mission Control was limited to 30-minute periods every two hours. Since access to the internet and email was restricted, simulated ground support provided the Crew’s primary source of daily news and mission information. This panel discussion will include presentations from the US SIRIUS 21 crewmembers – William Brown and Ashley Kowalski – about their experience participating in the mission and science. A facilitated question and answer session will follow with attendees encouraged to ask questions and join in discussion with the SIRIUS 21 crewmembers about their experiences. William Brown came to SIRIUS 21 with experience spread across multiple industries, including the military, defense contracting, healthcare consulting, software engineering, and logistics. He has lived in the Middle East, Central Asia, and Russia. A former Boren Scholar, Brown is fluent in Russian. He holds a Master of International Business degree from the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business. Prior to that, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Russian language, literature, and culture from the University of South Carolina. There, he also completed additional undergraduate coursework in computer science. Ashley Kowalski is a Project Leader in The Aerospace Corporation’s International Partnerships Department, where she works with, represents, and provides technical support to the the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command International Affairs (SSC/IA) office. Through her numerous national and international assignments (Russia, China, and Germany), she has worked on topics related to international space systems, national security space systems, civil systems (including human spaceflight and civil launch projects), space policy, satellite industry analysis, and satellite manufacturing start-ups. She is proficient in Russian and German, and fluent in Polish. Kowalski received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in mechanical and aerospace engineering from George Washington University in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

S. E. Whiting↗

Development of a Sensorimotor Ground Analog from Astronaut Postflight Experience

Exploration class missions including Artemis, Gateway, and beyond will require a new level of autonomy around periods of gravitational transition, where sensorimotor disturbances are great. Because of this, there is a need to define sensorimotor assessment thresholds that indicate when performance in operational tasks might be impacted or unsafe. To define these thresholds, a Sensorimotor Adaptation Analog (SAA) was proposed that could induce varying levels of sensorimotor disorientation through combined vestibular, visual, and proprioceptive disruptions. The purpose of this study was to gather subjective feedback on the SAA from previously flown astronauts that would mimic their post-flight experience and functional performance immediately after landing (R+0-4hrs; high level) and post-landing (R+24-48hrs; low level). The SAA consisted of galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS), visual disorientation goggles, and a weighted suit to alter proprioceptive feedback and replicate subjective heaviness. A random sum-of-sines profile between 0-1Hz was used for the GVS with peak amplitudes ranging from 1-4mA. The GVS was applied first at the low (2mA) and high (3mA) levels, followed by the weighted suit alone, then combined with the GVS at the low (20% body weight) and high levels (40% body weight). Last, the disorientation goggles were applied alongside both the GVS and weighted suit at the low (0.07-0.10+ blood alcohol content (BAC)) and high (0.12-0.15+ BAC) levels. Each element of the SAA could be increased or decreased depending on crew feedback to find the disorientation levels that best matched their experience. Five USOS astronauts (1 male, 4 female) who had previously flown (average time since flight: 377 days) participated. Crewmembers reported that GVS alone replicated ~80-90% of their post-flight performance with the weighted suit fine-tuning the experience to replicate an additional 5-10% of their experience. Crewmembers did not believe the disorientation goggles represented either the visual disruptions or illusory sensations that they experienced, nor did they impact performance in post-flight tasks similarly. The final SAA, resulting from crewmember feedback, includes the GVS at the levels described above and the weighted suit at 15% and 30% body weight. The disorientation goggles were removed from SAA. These results provided a more realistic SAA that can be used to define the sensorimotor assessment thresholds through ground subjects and potentially expanded for use in countermeasure testing and as a pre-flight training tool.

S. C. Moudy↗

Helmet-Mounted Display Technology for Eva Training in NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Lab

Currently, during extravehicular activity (EVA) on the International Space Station (ISS), astronauts are in constant communication with mission control; however, this paradigm will significantly change during future NASA exploration missions due to limited and time-delayed communications. As exploration missions will thereby require an increase in crew autonomy, it is hypothesized that heads-up display (HUD) technology can supplement communications with mission control. Before introducing novel display technology to EVA operations, it must first be demonstrated and evaluated in an EVA training environment. The UC Davis Center for Spaceflight Research, in collaboration with NASA Johnson Space Center’s Human Physiology, Performance, Protection, and Operations (H-3PO) Lab has developed a low-cost and rapid development helmet-mounted display (HMD) for EVA training at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Lab (NBL). The first two phases of HMD testing (Phase I and II) at the NBL focused on technology and capability development and demonstration. Crew member feedback was obtained that evaluated aspects of HMD including its user satisfaction, visibility, readability, and usefulness. Overall, feedback indicated HMD was readable, un-obtrusive, and the available display modes had potential to be useful and enhance EVA training. HMD display modes currently available include: real-time biofeedback (metabolic rate), phase elapsed time (PET), ability to set timers, task procedural aids (e.g. Pistol Grip Tool settings) and custom messages. The goal for Phase III, which is currently underway, is to evaluate the effects that access to bioinformatics through HMD has on astronaut training and performance at the NBL. For this phase of testing, crewmembers will be asked to perform a go/no-go task while wearing HMD throughout the NBL run to characterize crew member state of situational awareness with respect to HMD. This information could be used to inform how best to display relatively important or supplemental, but not critical, data in the future.

Heads up display↗

A Strategy for Advancing Earth Independent Medical Operations

Exploration medical operations to the Moon and Mars present unprecedented challenges for providing in-mission medical care. The greater distance from Earth is the primary hazard that drives the need for a medical operations paradigm shift from low earth orbit mission. Increasingly complex long duration and long distance missions will have resource constraints (ex: mass, power, volume, data), a paucity of resupply or evacuation opportunities, and disruptions in real-time communications. In order to advance a more autonomous medical approach, a multi-faceted strategy will need to optimize all aspects of human health and performance in space. This strategy will include: increasing onboard medical autonomy through the development of novel crew health and performance systems; decision support capabilities to augment astronauts’ abilities in preventing, diagnosing, and treating medical conditions; creating new procedures and training tools for skill maintenance and just-in-time training; and enabling rapid crew access to data from all on-board systems, leading to better-informed, real-time, autonomous decisions. Collectively, this approach can be referred to as “Earth Independent Medical Operations” (EIMO). The Exploration Medical Capability Element of NASA’s Human Research Program has undertaken a longitudinal planning process to consensus around EIMO. Technical interchange meetings will occur with key constituents in late 2022 and again in early 2023 to define EIMO in practical terms and identify key elements of an EIMO system, with greater conceptual articulation and dissemination planned for the second half of 2023. We will share insights into the strategy for internal and external consensus building around EIMO, with a particular focus on the approach to partner stakeholders within NASA as well as commercial agencies.

Jay Lemery↗

NASA’s Moon to Mars (M2M) Transit Habitat Refinement Point of Departure Design

As NASA prepares for the next human footsteps on the lunar surface, the Agency is already looking ahead to systems that will enable a sustained human presence on the lunar surface and mission to Mars, including a lunar Surface Habitat (SH) and Mars Transit Habitat (TH). This paper describes the latest NASA government reference design for the TH and how it will support NASA's Moon to Mars human exploration architecture. First, it will serve as a test and demonstration platform in lunar orbit, demonstrating capabilities required for long-duration microgravity human spaceflight as part of the lunar-Mars analog missions. Then, the TH will serve as a major Mars exploration element to support crew habitation during their transit from the Earth’s orbit to Mars and returning safely before TH’s return to a lunar orbit. This paper will cover several considerations contributing to the latest habitat design refinement, including the TH's concept of operations, system functional definition, subsystem assumptions, notional interior layouts, a detailed mass and volume breakdown, and identify future trade studies and analyses required to close identified technology/ development/architecture gaps. In addition to a technical description of the TH, this paper describes how the current TH government reference design will achieve many of the current lunar and Mars mission goals. Additionally, there are many assumed technological advances needed to support the prescribed mission phases leading up to the crewed mission to Mars in the late 2030s. The paper will describe many of the TH systems requiring further technology development and identify architectural solutions to achieve these mass, reliability, autonomy, and crew health targets. As a whole, the data shows the government reference TH design meeting the 26.4 metric ton launch /trans-Mars injection burn control mass limit outlined within NASA’s Moon to Mars Campaign. This is achievable near the desired timeframe with moderate strategic investments including maintainable life support systems, innovative structures configuration and materials, and system/ logistics packaging. The resulting design detail and data contained in this paper are intended to help teams across NASA and potential commercial, academic, or international partners understand the current performance targets of the Transit Habitat and vehicle interface considerations imposed by the latest Moon to Mars mission scope.

Habitation Systems↗

An Overview of Advanced Air Mobility Research at NASA

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) will enable new types of aircraft to operate more cleanly, efficiently, and quietly, complemented by higher levels of autonomy and automation, and supported by air traffic management systems and infrastructure. The operations that these aircraft and systems are intended to conduct are designed to support missions that cover a varied set of use cases. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been helping to lead the way in its AAM research through a broad portfolio of efforts that leverages multiple internal activities and external collaborations with industry and government. As the AAM concept has continued to advance, it has also become clear that there are very likely great benefits in its application to disaster response and the challenges posed by such complex events. In this application, NASA is leveraging its foundational work performed in partnership with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on integrated unmanned and manned aircraft operations in disaster response situations. The joint NASA and JAXA work, along with the ongoing AAM efforts, have contributed to the formulation of a new project that will expand the scope of technology integration with an initial focus on wildland firefighting.

advanced air mobility↗

UAM Research – X4: Introduction to Community Based Rules (CBRs)

Recent advances in technology have enabled industry development of new and innovative vehicle types, offering lower operating costs and highly automated functionality that facilitates the introduction of new types of operations. These include low-altitude airspace operations with small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs), short distance urban and intercity operations, and high- altitude Upper Class E operations. These and other new operations are expected to result in a much higher operational tempo than is currently experienced across the National Airspace System (NAS). The projected increase in operations, as well as the introduction of new aircraft form factors and supporting technologies—including increasing autonomy—will present challenges to the existing Air Traffic Management (ATM) system, which is currently unable to cost-effectively scale and deliver needed services. In response to these challenges and opportunities, a highly automated, cooperative environment incorporating a federated network has been envisioned and described through multiple operational concepts, depicting the future operating environment as part of the NAS. Foundational to the success of this future operating environment is the establishment of common business rules and understandings across relevant stakeholders, referred to as Community Based Rules (CBRs). Development, adoption, and implementation of CBRs will require collaboration across multiple stakeholders, including operators, support services (industry), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), to identify and resolve a broad range of questions and challenges. Examples of these questions include “what rules are needed?”, “how are they expressed?”, and “how will they be managed?” This document identifies and describes an initial set of questions and considerations to be examined as efforts begin to create the innovative, automated, cooperative operating environment of the future. The goal is to establish a common frame of reference to support discussions and decisions regarding the future implementation of CBRs as part of the NAS.

Community Based Rules↗

Assured Vehicle Automation 1 Sim - Results Outbrief

In early 2022, the Human Autonomy Teaming Lab (NASA Ames Research Center) conducted a manned, human-in-the-loop (HITL) simulation. This part-task HITL began the lab’s Hazard Perception and Avoidance (HPA) technical work under NASA’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), Automated Flight and Contingency Management (AFCM) Sub-Project. The results of that sim guided the objectives of the current study, which were to examine pilots’ use of the Airborne Collision Avoidance System (ACAS) rotorcraft variant (Xr) v2 in multiple phases of flight with two separate Xr Modes, fully leverage Xr v2 features (e.g., use radar altimeter data to inform low altitude Resolution Advisory [RA] behavior, utilize the ability to designate “terminal-area intruders,” and display airspeed-based Detect and Avoid [DAA] guidance), emulate a “Traffic Advisory” (TA), and present Xr in a higher-fidelity environment. Therefore, this study was conducted in the Vertical Motion Simulator, and the variables included Phase of Flight (En-route, Hover, and Approach) as well as ACAS Xr Mode (TA/RA and DAA). The data collected included response times, losses of well clear, and maneuver sizes and durations as well as subjective ratings like acceptability and usability. Additional details and future anticipations are also discussed.

air taxis↗

Sky for All: Ushering in a New Era of Aviation

Today’s aviation system will be unable to keep pace with increasing market demand for new operations that capitalize on advancements in autonomy and other emerging technologies. Paradigm shifts are necessary to maintain U.S. leadership in the global aviation market, enhance the sustainability of operations, increase mobility, and provide publicly beneficial services. The Sky for All Vision provides an R&D framework that will support national strategic planning for a holistic airspace ecosystem to usher in a new era of aviation. NASA is in a unique position to tackle the most difficult R&D challenges and to convene the aerospace community towards a common vision.

Jeanne Yu↗

Coordinated NASA Development of Medical Capabilities and Technologies for Deep Space Exploration

Building upon the success of the last two decades of human spaceflight medical operations onboard the International Space Station (ISS), NASA now must start to evolve to a deep space medical operations paradigm. This new paradigm will include myriad challenges including communication delays and blackouts, infrequent or unavailable resupply, potentially significant vehicle resource constraints, and delayed or non-existent evacuation options. To overcome these challenges, two separate but highly coordinated NASA groups are working together to develop and test solutions to these problems: the Exploration Medical Capability (ExMC) Element of the NASA Human Research Program and the Exploration Medical Integrated Product Team (XMIPT) of the Environmental Control and Life Support System – Crew Health and Performance Systems Capability Leadership Team. Although the work of these two groups is very complementary, ExMC generally focuses more on research and early technology development work while the XMIPT works on maturing and integrating new medical capabilities for exploration. During this panel, these two groups together will present details on how medical capability gaps are defined and addressed, a new work plan in development to increase medical autonomy in spaceflight, a technology maturation effort to generate intravenous fluids from potable water onboard a spacecraft, multiple new technology demonstrations of in-situ laboratory analysis capabilities, and new onboard tools to advance medical care for deep space missions.

Kris Lehnhardt↗