Dolores Beasley Headquarters, Washington Nov. 22, 2002 (Phone: 202/358-1753) RELEASE: 02-227 NASA AWARDS RESEARCH GRANTS NASA's Office of Biological and Physical Research selected 17 scientists to receive grants to conduct research in advanced human support technologies. These technologies could have a significant impact on the ability of humans to safely conduct long-duration space flight missions, improve environmental technologies, and may also improve quality of life on Earth. Grants are awarded for one to three year efforts and are worth up to $8.8 million over three years. Research under these grants will enhance safe human space flight in both the near-Earth orbit, where the International Space Station operates, and in exploration of the solar system beyond Earth orbit. Six of the grants are for new technologies in advanced environmental monitoring of space habitats. One grant addresses a strategy for advanced control systems. Two projects address advanced food technologies. Two projects focus on advanced technologies for extravehicular activity. Six others address novel approaches to waste processing, including air revitalization, water recycling, thermal control, and treatment of solid wastes. NASA received 113 proposals in response to the research solicitation released in March 2002. The proposals were peer-reviewed by scientific and technical experts from academia, government, and industry. In addition to technical and scientific merit, relevancy to NASA programs and feasibility of implementation were also selection criteria. For a listing of the selected researchers, listed by state, along with their institutions and their research titles, please see: http://research.hq.nasa.gov/code_u/nra/current/NRA-02-OBPR- 01/winners.html -end-