Montana State University (MSU) and Clemson University have entered into agreements with NASA to advance research and education in space exploration [0c668ce7] [88df9791].
MSU is among the universities and organizations across the United States that have been awarded grants through NASA's Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program [0c668ce7]. The EPSCoR grants will support scientific and technical research projects that align with NASA's research portfolio and benefit future missions, including areas such as space manufacturing, heliophysics, astronaut health, and climate research [0c668ce7]. Anna Schweiger, an assistant professor at MSU, has received a separate grant from NASA's ROSES program to conduct research on global biodiversity [0909615c]. The funding will support Schweiger's analysis of data collected by a sensor on the International Space Station (ISS) and the development of metrics and goals for ecosystems in need of protection or restoration [0909615c]. Schweiger will collaborate with students and work with data from the spectrometer EMIT on the ISS until a new satellite dedicated to collecting such data is launched [0909615c]. This research will engage students in important scientific work and contribute to the understanding of biodiversity and environmental conservation [0909615c] [0c668ce7].
In addition to the grants, Haley Ketteler, a graduate student at MSU, has been awarded a distinguished fellowship from NASA [59297028]. Ketteler will use the Space Technology Graduate Research Fellowship to pursue her doctorate in mechanical engineering at MSU [59297028]. Her project, titled 'Electrochemical Impedance Sensors for Microbial Monitoring in Spacecraft Wastewater Systems,' will focus on designing and building sensors to detect biofilms in spacecraft water-reclamation systems [59297028]. Ketteler's research will be conducted at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where she will test biofilm sensors in model systems [59297028]. The fellowship has a maximum value of $84,000 per year and will support Ketteler's research for four years [59297028].
Meanwhile, Clemson University and NASA's Johnson Space Center have signed a Space Act Agreement to advance research and education in space exploration [88df9791]. The agreement allows Clemson faculty and NASA to pursue mutual research in aerospace engineering, space and Earth science, advanced materials, computer and data science, advanced manufacturing, and human health in space [88df9791]. Clemson students will have the opportunity to engage with NASA experts, participate in educational outreach activities, and benefit from mentorship and internship programs related to human spaceflight [88df9791]. The partnership aims to foster innovation and create a brighter future for everyone [88df9791]. NASA's research interests align with Clemson's strengths in energy, advanced materials, health, robotics, mobility, and autonomous systems [88df9791]. Clemson faculty members are already working on NASA-sponsored projects, including building stronger teams for space exploration, developing materials for space, and creating microbial fuel cells for space life-support systems [88df9791].
These collaborations between Montana State University, Clemson University, and NASA highlight the commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and space exploration through research and education [0c668ce7] [88df9791].