PALO ALTO, Calif. — Scientists attending the Next-Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference here could barely contain their excitement at the prospect of a new fleet of suborbital launch vehicles providing frequent access to microgravity.

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Debra Werner is a correspondent for SpaceNews based in San Francisco. Debra earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s degree in Journalism from Northwestern University. She is a recipient...