title: The Space Exploration Initiative:  a challenge to advanced life support technologies:  keynote presentation.
abstract: President Bush has enunciated an unparalleled, open-ended commitment to human exploration of space called the Space Exploration Initiative (SEI).  At the heart of the SEI is permanent human presence beyond Earth orbit, which implies a new emphasis on life science research and life support system technology.  Proposed bioregenerative systems for planetary surface bases will require carefully designed waste processing elements whose development will lead to streamlined and efficient and efficient systems for applications on Earth.
authors.affiliation: Mission Science and Technology Office, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas 77058, USA.
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Mendell
mesh_terms: D018504:Ecological Systems, Closed; D008021:Life Support Systems; D018535:Mars; D016081:Moon; D011640:Public Policy; D013026:Space Flight / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000639:trends; D018531:Spacecraft; D014481:United States; D018557:United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration / Q000458:organization & administration; D018505:Waste Management