Washington, D.C., August 10, 2009 – The Commercial Spaceflight Federation is pleased to announce the creation of the Suborbital Applications Researchers Group (SARG), composed of experienced scientists, researchers, and educators dedicated to furthering the research and education potential of suborbital reusable launch vehicles under development by the commercial spaceflight sector.

The panel is chaired by Dr. S. Alan Stern of the Southwest Research Institute, a space scientist who previously served as head of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters.

The members of the Suborbital Applications Researchers Group (SARG) are aiming to increase awareness of commercial suborbital vehicles in the science and R&D communities, to work with policymakers to ensure that payloads can have easy access to these vehicles, and to further develop ideas for the uses of these vehicles for science, engineering, and education missions.

“The innovative vehicles being developed by a wide range of commercial suborbital companies, including Armadillo Aerospace, Blue Origin, Masten Space Systems, Virgin Galactic, and XCOR Aerospace, represent valuable new capability for scientists, engineers, and educators,” said Alan Stern, Chairman of SARG. “Because some of these vehicles are approaching first flights in 2010 and 2011, it is crucial to start engaging with the broader scientific community as soon as possible to put payloads and scientists on these vehicles.”

In addition to Dr. S. Alan Stern, SARG includes the following members:

  • Dr. Steven Collicott, Purdue University – Microgravity Physics
  • Dr. Joshua Colwell, University of Central Florida – Microgravity Physics
  • Dr. Daniel Durda, Southwest Research Institute – Planetary Science
  • Dr. David Grinspoon, Denver Museum of Natural Sciences – Education/Public Outreach
  • Dr. Richard Miles, Princeton University – Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  • Dr. John Pojman, Louisiana State University – Microgravity Chemistry
  • Dr. Mark Shelhamer, Johns Hopkins University – Space Life Sciences
  • Dr. Mike Summers, George Mason University – Atmospheric Sciences
  • Dr. Erika Wagner, Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Space Life Sciences

SARG has been officially formed as a coordination and advisory committee of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation (www.commercialspaceflight.org), with Matthew Isakowitz, Associate

Director of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, serving as Program Officer. The first meeting of SARG will occur August 18, in Boulder, Colorado.

About the Commercial Spaceflight Federation

The mission of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation (CSF) is to promote the development of commercial human spaceflight, pursue ever higher levels of safety, and share best practices and expertise throughout the industry. CSF member organizations include commercial spaceflight developers, operators, and spaceports. The Commercial Spaceflight Federation is governed by a board of directors, composed of the member companies’ CEO-level officers and entrepreneurs. For more information please visit www.commercialspaceflight.org or contact Executive Director John Gedmark at john@commercialspaceflight.org or at 202.349.1121.

About the Suborbital Applications Researchers Group

The Suborbital Applications Researchers Group (SARG) is a coordination and advisory committee of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, composed of scientists and researchers dedicated to furthering the scientific potential of suborbital reusable launch vehicles under development by the commercial spaceflight sector. SARG will seek to increase awareness of commercial suborbital vehicles in the science, R&D, and education communities, work with policymakers to ensure that payloads can have easy access to these vehicles, and aim to generate new ideas for uses of these vehicles for science, engineering, and education missions. For more information please contact Alan Stern at astern@boulder.swri.edu or at 303.324.5269.

Contact:

John Gedmark
202.349.1121