What is the OBPR?

Throughout most of history, human beings have viewed gravity as an inescapable constant. Gravity has also profoundly affected the way life on Earth has evolved. But new access to the space environment is now allowing scientists to conduct unprecedented research in low gravity, opening a new window on long-standing questions of science and technology. Space also poses physical challenges to space explorers, who must find ways to withstand space environment hazards for which humanity's evolution on Earth never prepared them.

NASA's Office of Biological and Physical Research (OBPR) conducts interdisciplinary, peer reviewed, fundamental and applied research to address the opportunities and challenges to NASA that are provided by the space environment and the human exploration of space.

OBPR works to answer these simple, yet compelling questions:

1. How can we assure the survival of humans traveling far from Earth?
2. How does life respond to gravity and space environments?
3. What new opportunities can research bring to expand understanding of the laws of nature and enrich lives on Earth?
4. What technology must we create to enable the next explorers to go beyond where we have been?
5. How can we educate and inspire the next generation to take the journey?

The answers to these questions determine our research strategy, the platforms or programs to execute the science, applications for the research, and the metrics to measure progress. As we fulfill our Enterprise strategy, we contribute in an integral way to realizing the NASA Vision: to improve life here, to extend life to there, and to find life beyond. In doing so, the Enterprise helps not only our scientific, educational, and industrial partners, but also citizens around the globe.

OBPR's research which seeks to answer these questions is organized around three main thrusts, Strategic Research, Fundamental Research and Research Partnerships.