Sec. 327. University class science missions

276 words·~1 min read·/bill/113/s/1317/rs/section-327

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It is the sense of Congress that principal investigator-led small orbital science missions, including CubeSat, University Explorer (UNEX), Small Explorer (SMEX), and Venture class missions, offer valuable, lower-cost opportunities to advance science, train the next generation of scientists and engineers, and provide opportunities for program participants to acquire skills in systems engineering and systems integration that are critical to maintaining the Nation’s leadership in space.

Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a review of the small orbital science missions described under subsection (a). The review under paragraph

(1)shall include the following: The status, capability, and availability of existing small orbital science mission programs in which the missions are led by principal investigators and enable significant participation by university scientists and students. The opportunities that the small orbital science missions described under subsection

(a)provide for scientific research, training, and education, including scientific and engineering workforce development. The use of commercial applications, such as hosted payloads, free flyers, and data buys, as vehicles to further the goals of small orbital science missions, while preserving the principle of independent peer review as the basis for mission selection. Not later than 15 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the review required by this section. The report shall include— a summary of the review under subsection (b); the findings of the Administrator with respect to that review; and recommendations regarding principal investigator led small orbital science missions conducted by the Administration.