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Space Studies Board

The Space Studies Board brings space science and applications and other related expertise together to address space science and space policy issues of national importance.

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News and Updates

Search for Life Should Be Top Science Priority for First Human Landing on Mars, Says New Report

News Release

When astronauts set foot on Mars, it will be one of humanity’s greatest milestones, marking the start of a new era of discovery on another planet. A new National Academies report identifies the highest priority science objectives for the first human missions to Mars and says searching for evidence of existing or past life on the planet should be the top priority.

Dec 9, 2025
cover art for A Science Strategy for the Human Exploration of Mars
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Upcoming Events

Committee on Earth Science and Applications from Space (A Dialogue on the Next Decadal Survey in Earth Science and Applications from Space)

  • February 3, 2026
  • 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (EST)
  • Meeting
  • Upcoming

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is convening a half-day session to engage private-sector leaders, decision-makers, and applied users of Earth observation data to help inf...

Key Non-Polar Destinations Across the Moon to Address Decadal-level Science Objectives with Human Explorers: Panel on Heliophysics, Physics, and Physical Science - Closed Meeting No. 24

  • February 3, 2026
  • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM (EST)
  • Closed
  • Meeting
  • Upcoming

The panel is meeting in closed session.

Key Non-Polar Destinations Across the Moon to Address Decadal-level Science Objectives with Human Explorers - Closed Meeting No. 21

  • February 6, 2026
  • 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (EST)
  • Closed
  • Meeting
  • Upcoming

The committee is meeting in closed session.

Key Non-Polar Destinations Across the Moon to Address Decadal-level Science Objectives with Human Explorers: Panel on Human and Biological Science - Meeting #14

  • February 9, 2026
  • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (EST)
  • Closed
  • Meeting
  • Upcoming

The panel is meeting in closed session.

Space Science Week 2026

  • March 23 - 27, 2026
  • Meeting
  • Upcoming

Space Science Week is a joint meeting of the space science discipline committees of the Space Studies Board, Board on Physics and Astronomy, Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board, and Board on Life...

Committee on Planetary Protection (Space Science Week) Spring Meeting 2026

  • March 24 - 27, 2026
  • Meeting
  • Upcoming

The Committee on Planetary Protection will hold its Spring Meeting during Space Science Week March 24-27. Some sessions will be open and some will be closed. Agenda TBA Livestream links TBA In-Person...

Space Studies Board, Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board, and Board on Physics and Astronomy Joint Meeting Spring 2026

  • June 2 - 5, 2026
  • Meeting
  • Upcoming

The 176th meeting of the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board will be held June 2-3, the 192nd meeting of the Space Studies Board will be held June 2-4, the meeting of the Board on Physics and Astr...

Space Studies Board and Board on Physics and Astronomy Joint Meeting Fall 2026

  • October 20 - 22, 2026
  • Meeting
  • Upcoming

The 193rd meeting of the Space Studies Board will be held October 20-21, the meeting of the Board on Physics and Astronomy will be held October 21-22. October 21 will be a joint session.

Past Events

Key Non-Polar Destinations Across the Moon to Address Decadal-level Science Objectives with Human Explorers - Closed Meeting No. 20

  • January 30, 2026
  • 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (EST)
  • Closed
  • Meeting
  • Past

The committee is meeting in closed session.

Committee on Earth Science and Applications from Space (Monthly Telecon #1 for 2026)

  • January 27, 2026
  • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM (EST)
  • Closed
  • Meeting
  • Past

This was a montly teleconference for the committee, attended only by its members with the discussions closed to the public.

Committee on Astrobiology and Planetary Sciences - January Virtual Meeting

  • January 20, 2026
  • 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (EST)
  • Meeting
  • Past

This is a virtual open session meeting of the Committee to brief the Director of NASA's Planetary Science Division on issues discussed at the 2025 Autumn meeting of CAPS. A livestream of the meeting...

Key Non-Polar Destinations Across the Moon to Address Decadal-level Science Objectives with Human Explorers - Meeting No. 3

  • January 20 - 22, 2026
  • Meeting
  • Past

This is an open meeting of the Committee on Key Non-Polar Destinations Across the Moon to Address Decadal-level Science Objectives with Human Explorers. A livestream is available for virtual attendanc...

Key Non-Polar Destinations Across the Moon to Address Decadal-level Science Objectives with Human Explorers: Panel on Heliophysics, Physics, and Physical Science - Closed Meeting No. 23

  • January 19, 2026
  • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM (EST)
  • Closed
  • Meeting
  • Past

The panel is meeting in closed session.

Committee on Astronomy and Astrophysics - Virtual Meeting January 16 2026

  • January 16, 2026
  • 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM (EST)
  • Meeting
  • Past

This is a virtual meeting of the CAA. Some sessions will be open and some will be closed. A livestream link is provided for virtual attendance. Livestream https://vimeo.com/event/5631760

Key Non-Polar Destinations Across the Moon to Address Decadal-level Science Objectives with Human Explorers: Panel on Human and Biological Science - Meeting #13

  • January 16, 2026
  • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (EST)
  • Closed
  • Meeting
  • Past

The panel is meeting in closed session.

Key Non-Polar Destinations Across the Moon to Address Decadal-level Science Objectives with Human Explorers - Closed Meeting No. 19

  • January 16, 2026
  • 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (EST)
  • Closed
  • Meeting
  • Past

The committee is meeting in closed session.

Committee on Earth Science and Applications from Space - Fall Meeting follow-up

  • January 12 - 13, 2026
  • Meeting
  • Past

This is a follow-up to the October 27-29, 2025 meeting which was affected by the government shutdown. This meeting is to allow the committee to meet with NASA representatives. Livestream Day 1 https...

Key Non-Polar Destinations Across the Moon to Address Decadal-level Science Objectives with Human Explorers - Closed Meeting No. 18

  • January 9, 2026
  • 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (EST)
  • Closed
  • Meeting
  • Past

The committee is meeting in closed session.

Key Non-Polar Destinations Across the Moon to Address Decadal-level Science Objectives with Human Explorers - Closed Meeting No. 17

  • December 19, 2025
  • 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (EST)
  • Closed
  • Meeting
  • Past

The committee is meeting in closed session.

Key Non-Polar Destinations Across the Moon to Address Decadal-level Science Objectives with Human Explorers - Closed Meeting No. 16

  • December 12, 2025
  • 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (EST)
  • Closed
  • Meeting
  • Past

The committee is meeting in closed session.

Committee on Biological and Physical Sciences in Space (Teleconference #4)

  • December 10, 2025
  • 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (EST)
  • Closed
  • Tele Conference
  • Past

This meeting will be closed in its entirety. Staff and Committee only.

Committee on Earth Science and Applications from Space Telecon December 9, 2025

  • December 9, 2025
  • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM (EST)
  • Closed
  • Tele Conference
  • Past

This meeting is closed in its entirety. The meeting is for members and staff only.

A Science Strategy for the Human Exploration of Mars: Report Release Event

  • December 9, 2025
  • 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM (EST)
  • Webinar
  • Past

When astronauts set foot on Mars, it will be one of humanity’s greatest milestones. These first steps will be the result of decades of research, engineering, and imagination coming together, marking t...

Cover art for A Science Strategy for the Human Exploration of Mars.
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