NASA Advisory Council Recommendation 

Decadal Survey on Biological and Physical Sciences in Space 

2011-02-05 (EC-04) 

Recommendation: 

NASA should appoint an Associate Administrator for the Life and Physical Sciences, charged 


with appropriate responsibilities and authority to ensure that integrated, coordinated, and 


sufficient approaches to these areas are achieved in order to support the needs for future human 


space exploration and to foster science developments that further the Nation's role as a leader in 


space-related science. 


Major Reasons for the Recommendation: 


The budgetary consequences ofthe Exploration Systems Architecture Study (ESAS) process had 


major negative consequences on the physical and life sciences, both within NASA and in the 


external research community, yet advances in these areas are essential for the future ofhuman 


space exploration. The Council endorses the content ofthe decadal report and wishes to 


specifically endorse the need for an integrated approach to research in the life and physical 


sciences within NASA, one that is supported by stable and sufficient funding that fosters 


advances not only within the Agency but also within the external research community. In order 


to foster the necessary integration and emphasis within NASA, the Council believes that a senior 


level administrator (i.e., Associate Administrator) is needed to manage and represent the life and 


physical sciences initiatives within NASA. 


Consequences of No Action on the Recommendation: 


We will not have an integrated, coordinated approach to support human space exploration. In 


addition, we will not maintain the Nation's role as a leader in space-related science. 


NASA Response: 

NASA agrees that "the need for an integrated approach to research in the life and physical 

sciences within NASA" is essential. In the planned merger ofthe Space Operations Mission 

Directorate and the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, which will result in the Human 

Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, all research will be managed under the auspices 

of a single research division (See Figure 1). The Space Life and Physical Sciences Research and 

Applications Division will be headed by a person ofhigh academic standing and will coordinate 

the research portfolio development with the Agency's Chief Scientist. Additionally, the nonprofit organization that will coordinate non-NASA research with the external community will 

also work in close coordination with this division and the Chief Scientist to avoid unplanned 

redundancies in the research portfolio. 

Enclosure 
Office of Communications ___ _ 

Legislative & Intergovernmental Affairs------, 

International & Interagency Relations------, 

General Counsel­ nn -, 

Organizational Structure: 


Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate 


Associate Administrator 


Deputy Associate Administrator 


Deputy AA for Policy & Plans 


Deputy AA for Program Strategy 


, 

r 

Strategic Analysis & Integration [ Mission SUpport S-erv-ic-e-sl .--------~ • Human Resources 

• Education & Public 

• Architecture studies and Outreach 

analysis - Information 

• Mission analysis Technology 

• Risk and requirements • Mgt processes & 

coordination internal controls 

Chief Technologist 

Chief Scientist - - - --- ---- - ----- - - - - - - - -­

Chief Engineer 

Safety & Mission Assurance 

Chief Health & Medical Officer 

r---R~~u-r-ce-s-M-a-~'~~;;~nt-'--"­ Space 

Communication ~--------------­ & Navigation 

Space 

Shuttle 

I 

Exploration 

Systems 

Development 

SLS 

-MPCV 

• 21st Century 

Ground 

Systems 

7/26/2011 

Human Spaceflight ISS Commercial Advanced 

Capabilities • SystemO&M Spaceflight Exploration 

• Core Capabilities • Crew & Cargo Development Systems 

(MAF, MOD Transportation • Commercial ·AES 

SFCO, EVA) Services Crew - Robotic 

·RPT • COTS precursor 

measurements 

Acronym Key: 

AES =Advanced Exploration Systems 

COTS = Commercial Orbital Transportation Services 

MAF = Michoud Assembly Facility 

MOD = Mission Operations Directorate 

RPT = Rocket Propulsion Test 

SLS =Space Launch System 

Figure 1 

CHS :;;; Crew Health & Safety 

EVA = Extravehicular Activity 

MPCV =Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle 

O&M :;;; Operations & Maintenance 

SFCO = Space Flight Crew Operations 

T 
 l 


Launch 


Services 


r-----­

Space Life & 


Physical Sciences 


Research & 


Applications 


• HRP, CHS 

• Fund. Space Bio 

• Physical Sciences 

ISS Nat'l Lab Mgt.