The International Space Station is a national resource, a laboratory orbiting 220 miles above the Earth. Currently the International Space Station has about 425 cubic meters or 15,000 cubic feet of living space. There are nine research racks on board, two of which are dedicated to human research. When the station is complete there will be more than 120 telephone-booth-size rack facilities. The completely assembled station will have 935 cubic meters or 33,023 cubic feet of habitable space. This is larger than a five-bedroom house.
The International Space Station Medical Project provides access to space for Human Research Program activities. They maximize the use of the space station to solve human health and performance problems and the risks of associated with exploration missions. Those working on the International Space Station Medical Project support human research projects that need to use the ISS. In addition, they enable access to the research communities wanting to use the International Space Station. The multitude of activities within this group includes
planning and integrating research activities
validating equipment and procedures for exploration missions
training crews
sustaining engineering of flight hardware for the Human Research Program
The ISSMP also provides an integration mechanism to share resources, both scientific and physical, with NASA's international partners.
The International Space Station Medical Project operates the two International Standard Payload Racks onboard the Station which are collectively called the Human Research Facility. The racks provide a source of utilities, such as electrical power, data handling, cooling air and water, pressurized gases, and a vacuum supply, to support science instruments. Some of these instruments include a refrigerated centrifuge, a pulmonary function system, ultrasound, mass measurement device, and onboard computers for use by researchers. Very soon researchers and crewmembers will have access to the facilities of the European Physiology Module in the European Space Agency's Columbus segment after its launch in late 2007.
