SpaceCom 2017

Lynn Harper
Lead Integrative Studies, Space Portal
NASA Ames Research Center


Lynn D. Harper is Lead of Integrative Studies for both the Emerging Commercial Space Office (Level 2) reporting to the Commercial Partnership Program in the Science and Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters as well as the NASA Ames Research Center Space Portal, a consortium to promote commercial space development for public benefit reporting to the NASA Ames Partnerships Directorate. Harper has earned two out of three of NASA's highest honors. She received NASA’s Outstanding Leadership Medal for her role as initiating founder of the science of Astrobiology and her service as the first Lead for Astrobiology Advanced Concepts and Technologies. In 2015, she was awarded NASA's Exceptional Service Medal for career contributions. Harper is also the recipient of numerous NASA Group Achievement awards, most recently in 2016 as a founding contributor to the Space Portal's recognized accomplishments to the commercial development of space for public benefit. She has been included yearly in Marquis Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in the World, Who's Who in Science and Technology, and Who's Who of American Women since 1996, and is mentioned in five history books on space. She was frequently invited by reknown futurist Alvin Toffler to participate in his Future Shock Symposia and collaborated with Nobel Laureate Baruch Blumberg from 1999 until his death in the development of Astrobiology, biological discoveries on the International Space Station, and development of the International Lunar Research Park concept. Sponsored by the Emerging Space Office since 2013, Harper co-leads a series of case studies with Dr. Ioana Cozmuta on the use of the International Space Station and microgravity for commercial and public benefit. These studies resulted in some surprising findings that showed new potential for microgravity applications in high tech and medical areas. As a result of this work, Harper serves on NASA's LEO Commercialization Working Group reporting to senior Agency management on the potential for commercial development of low Earth orbital space. Harper currently serves as the Challenge Administrator in support of NASA's Vascularization Tissue Centennial Challenge announced at the White House on June 13, 2016. The challenge, which is managed by the New Organ Alliance, is a $500,000 prize to teams who can develop and sustain for 30 days functional vascularized tissues of the kind that are needed for research and development of artificial organs to address some of the world's most life-threatening diseases.

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