In a significant boost to nationwide research capabilities, NASA has announced a substantial $45 million funding initiative aimed at 21 higher education institutions across the United States. This financial assistance, delivered through the Minority University Research and Education Project Institutional Research Opportunity (MIRO) and the Established Program to Stimilate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), will facilitate the development of advanced research and educational capabilities that align with NASA’s strategic priorities.

Institutions targeted by these grants are set to receive funding that will not only elevate their technological and research initiatives but also strengthen their role in contributing to NASA’s wide array of missions. This decision marks a pivotal moment in fostering innovation and academic excellence in aerospace and related fields, particularly focusing on enhancing opportunities for minority-serving institutions.

Among the recipients of the MIRO awards are seven minority-serving institutions, each obtaining close to $5 million over a five-year span. Projects vary from the development of microplastics research centers at Alaska Pacific University to the establishment of cutting-edge centers focusing on energy storage for space and AI-powered solar eruption monitoring at institutions like City University of New York’s Hunter College and New Jersey Institute of Technology respectively. Other notable projects include a NASA MIRO Inflatable Deployable Environment and Adaptive Space Systems Center at the University of Houston and an integrative space additive manufacturing initiative at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.

These MIRO grants are designed to build operational and research capacities that not only fulfill NASA’s current strategic needs but also address broader national scientific priorities.

On another front, the EPSCoR grants are awarded to institutions in regions traditionally underrepresented in aerospace research. A total of 14 institutions will each receive up to $750,000 over three years. The supported projects range extensively, covering various sectors including advanced battery technology research at the University of Puerto Rico, non-GPS navigation systems for Lunar and deep-space missions at Iowa State University, and innovative approaches to dryland streamflow modeling using NASA’s satellite data at the University of Idaho.

Notably, these investments also reach into areas poised at the leading edge of modern technology, such as the synthesis of environmental conditions of other planets at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the use of human-guided autonomous robots for lunar and Martian pre-colonization studies at the Desert Research Institute in Reno, Nevada.

The funding extends beyond research. It encompasses aims to bolster STEM education and literacy, aligning educational endeavors closely with NASA’s overarching mission directorates. Torry Johnson, NASA’s deputy associate administrator of STEM Engagement Programs, emphasized that enhancing the research capacity and infrastructure of these institutions opens doors to invaluable experiences and opportunities, greatly benefitting the national research landscape.

This initiative is a testament to NASA’s commitment to diversifying and strengthening the nation’s scientific capabilities, ensuring that a wide array of institutions contribute to and benefit from the scientific advancements shaping the future of aerospace and technology. It’s a step toward maintaining America’s competitive edge in aerospace, supporting inclusive growth and innovation across its academic and scientific communities.