[Future thrusts in life sciences experimentation in space (USA)]

The major physiological problem areas confronting man in space are reviewed and major research questions that remain to be answered are identified. The need for thorough ground-based studies prior to the acquisition of inflight data is emphasized. Future experiments are seen to focus on mechanistic questions and on the development of preventive measures to disturbances in neurophysiology, cardiovascular physiology, skeletal physiology and radiobiology since these areas have highest priority in future manned spacecraft operations.