B
Statement of Task
The Space Studies Board (SSB) of the National Academies shall establish an ad hoc study committee to assess the current state and potential of NASA’s suborbital research programs and conduct a review of NASA’s capabilities in this area. The scope of this review is to include:
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Existing programs that make use of suborbital flights;
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The status, capability, and availability of suborbital platforms, and the infrastructure and workforce necessary to support them;
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Existing or planned launch facilities for suborbital missions; and
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Opportunities for scientific research, training, and educational collaboration in the conduct of suborbital missions by NASA, especially as they relate to the findings and recommendations of the National Academies decadal surveys and recent report Building a Better NASA Workforce: Meeting the Workforce Needs for the National Vision for Space Exploration.