The International Microgravity Laboratory 1 (IML-1) was the first in a series of NASA STS flights dedicated primarily to microgravity and life sciences research. Through six international space science research organizations, more than 220 scientists from around the world collaborated on the IML-1 mission. This mission, under NASA leadership, provided the international science community with a variety of complementary facilities and experiments dedicated to microgravity and life sciences research. The agency participants included the following: 1) NASA manages the IML program, selects the payload elements, and provides transportation for the experiments on the Space Shuttle and Spacelab. The agency s headquarters are located in Washington, D.C., USA. 2) The European Space Agency (ESA) is a consortium of 14 European countries formed to sponsor space research and technology. The agency is engaged in all facets of aerospace experimentation and development. ESA is headquartered in Paris, France. 3) The Canadian Space Agency (GSA) was established in 1989 to oversee the Canadian Space Program, which was formerly covered by several departments including the National Research Council and the Department of Communications. Through this new agency, Canada will continue its research and development activities in space science, technology, and operations. CSA Headquarters are in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 4) The French National Center for Space Studies (CNES) supports a comprehensive space science program carried out by the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), universities, and other organizations in France. CNES Headquarters are located in Paris, France. 5) The German Space Agency (DARA) is the central organization for coordinating all space activities for the Federal Republic of Germany. DARA Headquarters are located in Bonn, Germany. The German Aerospace Research Establishment (DLR) is responsible for research and hardware development with headquarters in Cologne, Germany. 6) The National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) is responsible for many of Japan s space activities. The organization explores the practical applications of the space environment and is primarily involved in microgravity research and satellite development. NASDA Headquarters are in Tokyo, Japan. The IML-1 life science investigations studied how conditions in space affect terrestrial life forms; including humans, insects, plants and cells. Results of these investigations will expand the knowledge of how life forms adapt to weightlessness and respond to cosmic radiation. These results will be used to develop measures that enhance the quality of life on Earth, in space and to counter potentially harmful physiological responses to microgravity.
First International Microgravity Laboratory (IML-1) Post Launch Mission Operation Report
1992
38 pages
Report
No indication
English
Magellan Post Launch Mission Operation Report
NTRS | 1982
Mission science on the first international microgravity laboratory
Elsevier | 1993
|