NASA has centralized the Open Science Data Repository (OSDR) and Physical Sciences Informatics (PSI) under the Biological and Physical Sciences BPS Data hub on the Science Mission Directorate website, creating a single entry point for space biology and physical sciences datasets. The transition is part of a broader effort to streamline access to resources and deliver a more consistent user experience across Science Mission Directorate divisions.
What changed
The consolidated site is now accessible via the “Data” menu on science.nasa.gov, bringing OSDR and PSI together under the BPS Data page. The redesign introduces a unified structure for discovery, download, and submission of data related to biological and physical experiments in spaceflight and relevant ground analogs.
Why it matters
The move reduces fragmentation across NASA’s data portals and supports cross-disciplinary research. By combining biological and physical sciences repositories, researchers can more easily connect phenomena across systems, improving opportunities to study how organisms, materials, and physical processes respond to the space environment. The consolidation also advances NASA’s commitment to open science by improving transparency, accessibility, and reuse of data.
- Single point of access to search both biological and physical sciences datasets
- Modernized layout and consistent navigation across SMD web properties
- Direct pathways to analysis tools, documentation, and tutorials
- Unified submission portals for OSDR and PSI datasets
- Clearer routes for cross-disciplinary investigations and metadata alignment
Key features and access
The updated OSDR experience maintains open access to space science data while introducing improved wayfinding and content organization. Users can:
- Discover datasets across space biology and physical sciences with integrated search
- Leverage links to analysis resources and standard data formats
- Submit new datasets through centralized portals aligned with OSDR and PSI workflows
Researchers, students, and industry collaborators can expect faster navigation, fewer duplicate entry points, and clearer guidance on data lifecycle steps from submission to reuse.
Implications for the space R&D community
The centralized BPS Data hub is designed to strengthen dataset visibility, promote reproducibility, and lower barriers to multidisciplinary studies that rely on consistent metadata and tooling. For mission teams and funded investigators, the structure simplifies compliance with data management policies and supports broader dissemination of results. For downstream users, the hub enables more efficient discovery of spaceflight-relevant evidence that can inform experiment design, risk modeling, and technology development.
What’s next
As NASA aligns additional resources under the BPS data ecosystem, users should see continued improvements in search, documentation, and integration with community tools. The consolidated OSDR and PSI presence positions NASA’s biological and physical sciences data for expanded use across academia, government, and commercial stakeholders.
Source: NASA Science
