FYI,

"Commercial Spaceflight Federation Creates Scientific Advisory Panel
- Focused on Suborbital Research Applications"
Commercial Spaceflight Federation Press Release
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.rss.spacewire.html?pid=28927

: 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@... 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@... or
: at 303.324.5269.

: Contact:

: John Gedmark
: 202.349.1121

Mark Reiff