Advancing Medical Technology from Space ( Many giant l...),Health

Many giant leaps for mankind through thousands of NASA innovations. The Coalition for Space Exploration, the leading collaboration of space industry businesses and advocacy groups, announced today the release of a statement by board member Dr. Bernard Harris Jr., who was the first African American to walk in space and served as a mission specialist and payload commander on two Space Shuttle flights. Dr. Harris comments on the role of medical research in space and the importance of NASA, Cognress and the International Space Station (ISS) in realizing these medical breakthroughs.

Houston, TX (PRWEB) September 24, 2008 -- The Coalition for Space Exploration, the leading collaboration of space industry businesses and advocacy groups, announced today the release of a statement by board member Dr. Bernard Harris Jr., who was the first African American to walk in space and served as a mission specialist and payload commander on two Space Shuttle flights.

In recent editorials to newspapers, Harris highlights the role of medical research in space, commenting that "few may realize that a truly 'bright light' for medical research can already be viewed in Earth orbit - the International Space Station (ISS). The launch of the first ISS element took place some 10 years ago. Today, the ISS is an orbiting facility with unparalleled microgravity research capability, able to do investigative tasks that cannot be done on Earth.

"Research conducted in the microgravity of space is seen as a promising window into drug treatments for such crippling afflictions as diabetes, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, pancreatic cancer, cystic fibrosis and hemophilia."

Harris went on to comment, "NASA and Congress realize these benefits and are now partnered to make use of the United States segment of the ISS as a national laboratory. Research done onboard this orbiting outpost will open
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