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The purpose of this paper is to introduce those interested in Extravehicular Activity (EVA) technology to the technology development road map which the NASA EVA Project Office is following to prepare the technology needed for future missions. The origin, purpose and content of the road map are described. An outline of the processes that will be used to keep the road map current are described as well as how to access the current road map.

This paper discusses the Portable Life Support Subsystem (PLSS) packaging design work done by the NASA and Hamilton Sundstrand in support of the 3 future space missions; Lunar, Mars and zero-g. The goal is to seek ways to reduce the weight of PLSS packaging, and at the same time, develop a packaging scheme that would make PLSS technology changes less costly than the current packaging methods. This study builds on the results of NASA's in-house 1998 study, which resulted in the “Flex PLSS” concept. For this study the present EMU schematic (low earth orbit) was used so that the work team could concentrate on the packaging. The Flex PLSS packaging is required to: protect, connect, and hold the PLSS and its components together internally and externally while providing access to PLSS components internally for maintenance and for technology change without extensive redesign impact. The goal of this study was two fold: 1.

Management of technology development is a key aspect of any technology-dependent program, but at present, NASA does not manage technology development within a context of agency goals and visions spanning decades. We propose here a management framework that requires development of a technology portfolio that can be applied to achieving long term strategic goals in accordance with decade spanning vision. This process integrates program direction, maturity and time, and allows a manager to understand where to accept development risk, where to apply significant amounts of resources, and how to manage technology development as a separate element in a program.