Space Life Sciences Research: the Importance of Long-term Space Experiments

This report focuses on the scientific importance of long-term space experiments for the advancement of biological science and the benefit of humankind. It includes a collection of papers that explore the scientific potential provided by the capability to manipulate organisms by removing a force that has been instrumental in the evolution and development of all organisms. Further, it provides the scientific justification for why the long-term space exposure that can be provided by a space station is essential to conduct significant research. While past history has shown that new frontiers of research offer the greatest benefits along with the greatest challenge, it does not lessen the task to justify the merits of a new and poorly understood science. Fortunately, early research results, limited as they have been, provide strong support for a vision of future scientific benefits to humankind resulting from life science research conducted in space.