FYI,

"Seven Questions for Gary Martin: NASA's Space Architect"
Space Equity
http://www.spaceequity.com/tools/showarticle.php?
serial=45&section=features

: Q: What is your Role as NASA Space Architect? And what can you
: tell us about the status of the Space Architect's Team study?

: A: The Space Architect represents a new role at NASA. It was
: developed primarily to create a long-term plan for activities in
: space across the different organizations at NASA. The long-term
: plan is used to ensure that the Agency is able to make strategic
: investments now that will enable the plan's goals in the future.
: The team is made up of senior members from the Headquarters
: organizations and the NASA Field Centers. We are currently working
: toward the development NASA's first Integrated Space Plan, which
: should be out next winter.

: Q: The vulnerability of human being to various forms of radiation
: outside of LEO is something NASA has been working on with a new
: intensity since the establishment of the Office of Biological and
: Physical Research(OBPR) . What new approaches are being developed
: and how do they fit in with the more traditional ideas crew-
: inhabited parts of a spacecraft or creating a single bunker‚ where
: astronauts can hide from a major radiation event?

: A: There are a number of promising approaches that need further
: study. We are actively seeking out new materials or combinations of
: materials that will provide the required protection. Along with
: passive protection, we have studied active systems such as systems
: that can create a plasma field around the spacecraft. Also, there
: are other approaches that look promising such as potential
: pharmaceutical approaches that could lessen or mitigate the effects
: of radiation on the body.

: Q: The L-1 Gateway proposal for a man tended Space Station at the
: L-1 Lagrange Point was presented as part of the NexT plan at the
: World Space Conference in Houston last year. Then it was rumored
: that the project had been canceled. Can you tell us what the
: current status of this project is?

: A: The L-1 Gateway was only one of many concepts studied by the
: NASA Exploration Team. It was highlighted as an example because it
: offered a non-traditional destination toward a potential next step
: for human exploration. It is a legitimate destination for science-
: driven human missions to service and construct science platforms.
: Most people are more familiar with traditional `back to the Moon'
: or `On to Mars' approaches. Missions to the Lagrange Points are
: still under study and are an important part of the trade space for
: human and robotic mission above low-Earth orbit.

: Q: The L-1 Gateway concept used an inflatable element for its
: inhabitable space. The Transhab concept for the International Space
: Station also used the inflatable concept. What role do you foresee
: for this technology and if so will there be a technology
: demonstration mission?

: A: Our studies have shown that aluminum shells may not be the best
: way to protect humans in deep space. There are many secondary
: particles within the habitable areas caused by radiation particle
: impacts to the outer shell. Many new materials are being studied
: and new construction methods, like inflatables. There are some nice
: characteristics to inflatable spacecraft that may make it a good
: candidate structure for future spacecraft. Inflatables can be made
: of materials that offer better radiation protection and can provide
: more volume per mass launched into space.

: Q: The phrase "... as only NASA can.? in the new Agency mission
: statement seems to have attracted more controversy and caused more
: confusion that anything else the new leadership has done since
: taking over last year. Why do you think this is? What makes NASA in
: its present form and configuration such a unique organization?

: A: I'm not aware of any controversy or confusion regarding the
: phrase, but it implies that NASA will do only things that are
: within its mission and that it will not duplicate capabilities that
: other organizations have already.

Mark Reiff