PURPOSE AND SCOPE

A new generation of space vehicles capable of economically delivering payloads and researchers is coming on line in 2017.

These vehicles will revolutionize space access by providing frequent, low-cost access to space, and the capability to carry research and education crew members! thereby simplifying and further reducing the cost of experimentation in space. They will also carry automated experiments for technology and TRL raising demonstrations, for educational/public outreach, and for atmospheric science, solar physics, microgravity science, planetary science, space life science, space physics, and education and public outreach (EPO).

NSRC-2017 will bring together researchers from government, industry, and academia in the largest forum of it’s kind, providing key networking opportunities for the entire community.

Compared to past meetings, NSRC-2017 will provide a more in-depth forum for researchers, educators, and other users to learn about the research and EPO capabilities of each of these new systems, as well as “how to” information about experiment and EPO activity integration processes—from experts in the individual suborbital companies.

NSRC-2017 will also provide researchers and educators with the opportunity to make important inputs to NASA, the FAA, and vehicle flight providers on the needs of research and education users.

The objectives of the NSRC-2017, therefore, are:

- To educate researchers and educators to the opportunities and capabilities of next-generation reusable, commercial suborbital vehicles and to explain the value of these platforms in research and education missions (REM).

- To communicate to flight providers what questions, feedback, and ideas researchers and educators have.

1. -To further demonstrate strong interest by US domestic and international researchers and educators to NASA, industry, DoD, the National Institute of Health (NIH), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and other funding entities for REM applications.
   

CONFERENCE FORMAT

The 3-day NSRC-2017 conference will include keynote and invited talks, workshops by individual flight providers, a NASA Flight Opportunities Program workshop, and opportunities for contributed talks by researchers and educators. The meeting will also include a wide variety of discussion panels, a SARG Ambassadors workshop and reception, a press conference, and a welcome reception / poster session.