CASIS and NASA Joint Statement on Leadership Updates
NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS(Abbreviation: CASIS™) The nonprofit organization that manages the ISS National Lab, which receives at least 50 percent of the U.S. research allocation on the International Space Station to facilitate research that benefits humanity (NASA manages the other 50% and focuses on research for space exploration purposes).) Board of Directors welcome Ramon (Ray) Lugo as the acting chief executive officer and principal investigator to lead CASIS, the organization tasked with managing the International Space Station (ISSInternational Space Station) U.S. National Laboratory. Lugo comes to CASIS with more than 35 years of experience within the space industry, including serving as director of NASA’s Glenn Research Center, and is currently director of the Florida Space Institute at the University of Central Florida. Lugo is an ideal candidate to lead the organization in its pursuits to sponsor space-based research and technology development and enable a sustainable market in low Earth orbit(Abbreviation: LEO) The orbit around the Earth that extends up to an altitude of 2,000 km (1,200 miles) from Earth’s surface. The International Space Station’s orbit is in LEO, at an altitude of approximately 250 miles..
The space station is a one-of-a-kind research and technology development platform, and the ISS National Lab serves as a critical public service entity by opening access to academic researchers, private-sector companies, students, and other government agencies to drive innovation not possible on Earth. Bringing on a proven space leader like Lugo to aid in the mission of the ISS National Lab will further enhance the profile of this innovative orbiting laboratory. Additionally, NASA and CASIS thank James Crocker for his service and dedication in leading the mission of the ISS National Lab over the last 10 months. His direction has been instrumental in the re-evaluation of ISS National Lab programmatic goals and operating principles that have been agreed upon by NASA, evolving how a national lab in low Earth orbit should operate.
NASA and CASIS continue in our collective commitment to fully use the unique platform of the space station for critical science and technology development that maximizes the return on investment for American taxpayers and opens new avenues of business that stretch beyond Earth’s horizons.