Sec. 304. University class science missions

272 words·~1 min read·/bill/114/hr/2039/ih/section-304

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

It is the sense of Congress that principal investigator-led small orbital science missions, including CubeSat class, University Explorer

(UNEX)class, Small Explorer

(SMEX)class, and Venture class, offer valuable opportunities to advance science at low cost, train the next generation of scientists and engineers, and enable participants in the program to acquire skills in systems engineering and systems integration that are critical to maintaining the Nation’s leadership in space and to enhancing the United States innovation and competitiveness abroad. The Administrator shall conduct a review of the science missions described in subsection (a). The review shall include— the status, capability, and availability of existing small orbital science mission programs and the extent to which each program enables the participation of university scientists and students; the opportunities such mission programs provide for scientific research; the opportunities such mission programs provide for training and education, including scientific and engineering workforce development, including for the Administration’s scientific and engineering workforce; and the extent to which commercial applications such as hosted payloads, free flyers, and data buys could provide measurable benefits for such mission programs, while preserving the principle of independent peer review as the basis for mission selection. Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the review required under subsection

(b)and on recommendations to enhance principal investigator-led small orbital science missions conducted by the Administration in accordance with the results of the review required by subsection (b).