The Emil Buehler Research Center for Engineering, Science and Mathematics (EBRC) will be a 10,000 square-foot research center at NSU, and is funded in part by a generous gift from the Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust. It will be designed to allow for the creation of space-based projects and to advance teacher education and retention in the critical fields of aerospace, mathematics, science, technology and engineering. Researchers and engineers using this facility will be able to test and fly microgravity payloads, sounding rockets, low-gravity aircraft and orbital re-entry vehicles. Working closely with space organizations, the Center will also be able to identify worthwhile scientific opportunities that may be studied, designed and fabricated within this state-of-the-art facility.
The Low-Cost Small Spacecraft and Technologies area focuses on the technologies, subsystems, methodologies, and mission concepts for space missions which lower the over-all cost for scientific exploration. The "Small" of spacecraft and missions refers to small spacecraft that are substantially less expensive, and will require different approaches to solve traditional problems in development, operations and capability. The goal of these low-cost missions is not to replace the major missions, but rather to reduce the risks to, as well as the costs of, future major missions. Low-Cost Small Spacecraft and Technologies Missions will be used as test beds for new technologies, provide flight "heritage" for new instruments and components. Increasing the number of flight opportunities per year enables missions to be designed and flown during typical graduate and post-doctoral tenures, provide training for a new generation of scientists and engineers. These small spacecraft missions can also accomplish specific scientific investigations that would be too narrow for a major mission but still scientifically important.
The Emil Buehler Research Center for Engineering, Science and Mathematics (EBRC)will be working on various innovation research and technology solicitations for NASA’s Constellation program.