Here is the final report of the President’s Commission on Implementation of United States Space Exploration Policy, issued in June 2004, titled "A Journey to Inspire, Innovate, and Discover". The commission, headed by Pete Aldridge, was formed by President Bush to examine and make recommendations on the implementation of the Vision for Space Exploration announced in January. The executive summary of the report states: "On January 14, 2004, President George W. Bush announced a new vision for America’s civil space program that calls for human and robotic missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. This vision set forth goals of: returning the Space Shuttle safely to flight; completing the International Space Station (ISS); phasing out the Space Shuttle when the ISS is complete (about 2010); sending a robotic orbiter and lander to the Moon; sending a human expedition to the Moon as early as 2015, but no later than 2020; conducting robotic missions to Mars in preparation for a future human expedition; and conducting robotic exploration across the solar system. Such a focus for the American space program has not existed since the Apollo era and establishes a much-needed direction and purpose for our national space efforts. While discovery is the goal of space exploration, the Commission is certain that the benefits here on Earth will make the journey at least as important as the destination. The long-term, ambitious space agenda advanced by the President for robotic and human exploration will significantly help the United States protect its technological leadership, economic vitality, and security. This ambitious path of exploration and the achievements made along the way will inspire the nation’s youth, yield scientific breakthroughs, create high technology jobs, improve our industrial competitiveness, demonstrate America’s leadership, and improve prosperity and the quality of life for all Americans."
In addition to the Aldridge report, we have a complete reproduction of an important NASA document, the Bioastronautics Critical Path Roadmap (BCPR) Baseline Document, Revision D for 2003, which outlines 55 major risks to long-duration human missions. The BCPR is a systematic approach to the goal of reducing and managing risks to crew health, safety, and performance during, and following, all human space flight missions. It offers a guide for the prioritization of research and technology efforts aimed toward that goal.
Categories covered in this detailed report include:
* Advanced Life Support;
* Bone Loss;
* Cardiovascular Alterations;
* Environmental Health;
* Food & Nutrition;
* Human Behavior & Performance;
* Immunology,
* Infection & Hematology;
* Muscle Alterations & Atrophy;
* Neurovestibular Adaptation;
* Radiation Effects; and
* Clinical Capabilities.
