In 1989 NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) began development of the life Support Database system. This work has progressed through initial requirements analysis, data relationships modeling, and documentation of a detailed conceptual design during the first nine months of the project, followed by a year of database development activity. A Beta-Test version of the system has just completed testing by a number of users at NASA ARC, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Johnson Space Center, and Marshall Space Flight Center. Formal release of the operational system is planned for May 1991.
This paper describes the design and implementation of the database system, provides an overview of it's operation from a typical user's perspective, and cites examples of data currently accessible in the Build 1 version. Plans for future enhancement of the database architecture, operation, and content to increase it's utility to the life support community are summarized.