MITRE’s data-driven responses to a White House inquiry requesting input into the development of a microgravity research strategy.
MITRE’s Response to the OSTP RFI on Sustainability of Microgravity R&D During and Beyond ISS Transition
What’s the issue? The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), is developing a National Strategy for Microgravity Research and Development (R&D) to ensure sustainability of space-based research during and beyond microgravity platform transition—from the International Space Station (ISS) to future commercial platforms.
What did we do? The Center for Data-Driven Policy led a cross-MITRE analysis of OSTP’s posed questions, seeking to uncover data and evidence (from our work in the public interest) that would help the Office develop the strategy so that it will be evidence-based, actionable, and will lead to their desired outcomes.
What did we find? We first recommended an aspirational vision for future microgravity research and then performed a systems analysis to reveal five categories of critical activities that need to be addressed to enable this vision to become reality: health, sustainment, materials science, mining, and infrastructure.