Biotechnology Opportunities on Space Station

Using the microgravity environment. Space Biotechnology investigations and applications will present new opportunities for advancing earth-based biological and biomedical product development and ultimately improve man's quality of life. The potential assets and benefits of Biotechnology to NASA's Space Program are increasing daily as are the converse benefits of space to a developing biotechnology program. Through the synergy of engineering principles, biological science phenomena, and the microgravity environments of space, a number of opportunities exist to improve and develop new medical or biological products, processes, and/or services. NASA is investigating the possibility of establishing a Biotechnology Project Task Force with the responsibility of: identifying Space Station Biotechnology applications, defining and cultivating commercial interest in Space Biotechnology applications, and defining potential Biotechnology payloads including their design, development, application, test, integration, and operations. This paper discusses elements of biotechnology applications to be implemented on board the Space Station. Additionally, this paper will identify the potential Biotechnology opportunities within NASA and the Space Station Program relative to basic research and commercial utilization.