NASA Space Technology

University Programs

The Space Technology University Programs are being phased out. This page includes information on the eight former University Space Engineering Research Centers (USERCs) and the University Advanced Design Program.

University Space Engineering Research Centers

In April 1988 NASA announced the competitive selection of nine University Space Engineering Research Centers. This program, and the selection process used to select the universities, was modeled after the NSF Engineering Research Centers program. Click here for a somewhat dated (September 1990) overview of the USERC program. In 1992, after a peer review of the nine USERCs, one was phased out, leaving the eight Centers listed below.

NASA ended base grant funding for these University Space Engineering Research Centers in 1995. We hope they will be able to continue based on their ability to compete for other sources of funding. NASA has provided limited support to allow on-going graduate students to finish their degree programs. This support will end in 1997.

The eight former NASA University Space Engineering Research Centers are:

The Space Engineering Research Center at the University of Arizona;
The Center for Space Construction at the University of Colorado at Boulder. I just found this link, and have not yet confirmed that it works. Some information about this Center is available on the Aerospace Engineering Sciences at the University of Colorado Centers page.
The Space Engineering Research Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Mars Mission Research Center at the North Carolina State University and the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
The Space Engineering Research Center for Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) System Design at the University of New Mexico and the University of Idaho. Click here for the Idaho page for this center
The Center for Space Terahertz Technology at the University of Michigan. The Center does not have a page (that I've found), but see the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science page for information.
The Space Engineering Center for System Health Managment Technologies at the University of Cincinnati
The Propulsion Engineering Research Center at the Pennsylvania State University

University Space Advanced Design Program

The University Advanced Design Program has supported senior undergraduate "capstone" design courses in aerospace system design and engineering. There are approximately thirty space and ten aeronautics classes in the program.

After more than ten successful years of operation, NASA ended its management of the Advanced Design Program (ADP) in 1994. The program has been a success story. The universities involved have used the program and its resources to build up their design programs, and to work with other universities and the NASA centers to create a national network of experts in design education. Through this network we hope these universities will continue to work to enhance the state of design education throughout the Nation's engineering schools.

Final Year Space Universities, (NASA Mentor Center), and Projects

The 1993-94 Academic Year participants in the University Space Advanced Design program included 8 full members (that had not been involved in the program in the previous three year cycle), 22 sustaining members (that have been involved for at least three years), and 2 externally funded participants. Note: I have not listed the 12 Aeronautics and Sustaining Aeronautics Universities and Projects.

See also the Universities Advanced Design Program page from the Research and Technology 1994 Annual Report from TAP at JPL for information on JPL's mentor activities.

Space

University of Alaska, Fairbanks (LeRC)
- PowerSat: A Technology Demonstration of a Solar Power Satellite
University of Cincinnati (JSC)
- Design of an Unmanned Martian Polar Exploration System
Duke University (GSFC)
- A Magnetic Shield/Dual Purpose Mission
Vanderbilt University (MSFC)
- Automated Protein Crystal Growth Experiment for Space Station
- Control of Flexible Space Boom structures
- Feed System for Space Propulsion
West Virginia University - Electrical and Computer Engineering (GSFC)
- Electric Camera Visual Imaging System
West Virginia University - Mechanical Engineering (MSFC)
- Conceptual Design of an Orbital Debris Defense System
University of Wisconsin, Madison (JPL)
- A Large, Fusion-Powered Human Transport Ship for Mars
- Comet Penetrator
- Balloon System for Cyclic Exploration of Venus

Sustaining Space

University of Arizona (JPL)
- Autonomous Space Processor for Orbital Debris (ASPOD): Cleaning Up the Future
University of California, Los Angeles (JPL)
- Mission to Mars with an Electrically-Propelled Cycler Ship
- Space Hardware Design
University of Central Florida (KSC)
- Design and Testing of an Environmental-Sensing Robot
University of Florida (KSC)
- Design of Safety Sensor Packages for NASA/KSC/OCEAN Project
Florida A & M University/Florida State University (KSC)
- TOVIS: Tele-Operated Visual Inspection Spacecraft
Georgia Institute of Technology - Mechanical Engineering (LaRC)
- The Enabler: A Concept for a Lunar Work Vehicle
University of Idaho (ARC)
- Anchor Emplacement System
Kansas State University (MSFC)
- Human-Like Robots: Robocat
University of Maryland - Aerospace Engineering (GSFC)
- Design of a System for Assured Low-Cost Human Access to Space
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (LaRC)
- Project Freebird
University of Michigan (LeRC)
- Athena: The Air-Launched Space Booster
University of Minnesota (MSFC)
- Conceptual Design of a Single-Stage-to-Orbit Vehicle for Commercial Applications
Naval Postgraduate School (JPL)
- Topaz II Nuclear-Powered Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Satellite
Old Dominion University (LaRC)
- Annular Suspension and Pointing System
- Mars Methane Engine Research
Pennsylvania State University (LeRC)
- Project Echo: Electronic Communications from Halo Orbit
University of Texas, Austin - Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics (JSC)
- Minuteman II Conversion
- Mars Precursor Missions
University of Texas, Austin - Mechanical Engineering (JSC)
- Design Methodology for Space Engineering with Applications to the Lunar Base, Space Station, and Life Support Systems
United States Naval Academy (GSFC)
- RINGSAT: Radio Frequency Interference Navy Geolocation Satellite
- Automatic Position-Reporting Satellite Using a Water Propulsion System
Utah State University (JPL)
- SolSTUS: Solar Source Thermal Upper Stage
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (LaRC)
- Large Space Telescope
University of Washington (MSFC)
- Mars ISRU Technology Demonstrator Mission
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (LeRC)
- Advanced Space Design at WPI: Developments in GAS Can G-533

Externally Funded

University of Puerto Rico (GSFC and JSC)
- Mars Surface Habitation System (MSHS): A Habitability Study
Texas A & M University (McDonnell Douglas Aerospace)
- Single-Stage-to-Orbit Launch Vehicle

Other NASA University Programs

This is an incomplete list of other NASA University programs and resources.

The National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program. This page is supported by participating Space Grant consortia, and may not necessarilly reflect the opinions of NASA or the Federal Government.

Related, Non-NASA University Space Programs

This is an incomplete list of other University programs and resources.

Until recently, the University Advanced Design program described above was managed by the Universities Space Research Association (USRA), "...an entity in and by means of which universities and other research institutions may cooperate with one another, with the Government of the United States, and with other organizations toward the development of knowledge associated with space science and technology."

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Created November 1994. Last update: September 15, 1997. Please see my Disclaimer and Web Policy page. Originally created by Gordon Johnston. Due to changing position assignments, this final phase-out of this program is the responsiblity of Bob Hayduk.

Robert.Hayduk@hq.nasa.gov

The world wide web uniform resource locator (URL) for this page is:

http://ranier.hq.nasa.gov/Sensors_page/University/Univ.html