ABSTRACT

Research in space science and the development of space-related technology are important activities at many of the nation's universities. As with all university-based research and development (R&D), the space-related component serves two purposes: the advance of knowledge and the education and training of graduate students. The space program university-based scientists and their graduate students provided a substantial fraction, probably a major fraction, of the scientific Instruments that were carried on our spacecraft. National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NASA) is an R&D agency, and it is appropriate that the NASA space flight programs be driven by technological improvements that lead to better performance and safety. The high cost of access to space has imposed especially severe limitations on the access to space for small projects of scientific research and technological development. Technological, institutional and bureaucratic obstacles have deterred the development of low cost access to space.