Rep. Adam Smith Visits Bellevue College to Discuss the Washington Space Grant

Since 1989, the Washington Space Grant Consortium has been providing students with hands-on education and research opportunities to succeed in the workforce. Their mission is to support Washington State students in STEM and thereby “strengthen the future workforce for NASA and our nation.” Through their list of affiliates, which include many Washington State community colleges and universities, the WSGC has been able to aid many students in pursuing careers in STEM.

One group of students who have experienced the positive impact of the WSGC is Bellevue College’s own Rocketry and Aerospace Club. The club, led by Mykolas Kovarskas and advised by Dr. Trevor Gamble, builds and launches model rockets in addition to collaborating with the Washington Aerospace Club. Many of the BC Rocketry and Aerospace Club’s efforts have been funded by the WSGC, such as materials for building rockets and scholarships for club members.

Political turmoil at the federal level has placed the WSGC in limbo about receiving federal funding for their initiatives. Recently, the Summer Undergraduate Research Program organized by WSGC had to be cancelled due to funding processing delays on grants nationwide.

On Monday, three students from the BC Rocketry and Aerospace Club sat down to have a conversation with Rep. Adam Smith of the 9th District to discuss the impact that WSGC and the NASA Space grant have had on them. They shared their experiences with how the space grant gave them resources, hands on experience and funding to pursue their educational goals. Kovarskas shared that when he had enrolled at BC he was unsure about a career in STEM, but the Rocketry Club and the space grant helped him find his passion and earn a NASA scholarship. Sam, who will be studying CS and engineering at the UW, didn’t have a lot of resources for STEM in her home state, Texas, and said that the Rocketry Club helped her find interest in STEM. Nathan, who is also transferring to the UW, has been interested in the space industry since a young age and draws inspiration from his father, an aircraft mechanic, and his grandfather, who used to clean planes.

Read the full article on thewatchdogonline.com.

Author Credit: AJ Kapur

Image Credit: AJ Kapur | The Watchdog | Bellevue College

Original Post Date: June 9, 2025

Taking curiosity to new heights: URI Ph.D. students awarded NASA fellowship

INGSTON, R.I. – June 23, 2025 – Two Ph.D. students in the University of Rhode Island’s College of the Environment and Life Sciences’ interdisciplinary biological and environmental sciences graduate program have been awarded graduate research fellowships from the NASA Rhode Island Space Grant Consortium. Michelle Marder, from Lynnfield, Massachusetts, and Kate Remy ’24, from Brockton, Massachusetts, are specializing in cell and molecular biology and aim to help scientists better understand antibiotic resistance.

This summer, Marder and Remy will continue research projects funded through the NASA consortium. The program offers graduate fellowships that provide academic year funding to students working on research projects with NASA relevance. It also provides fellows opportunities to present their findings at the Annual Rhode Island Space Grant Spring Symposium.

Marder is working with Professor Steven Gregory to study the ribosomes of thermophiles, a kind of microbe that can grow and thrive at high temperatures. “My research focuses on the ribosome, the cellular machine that makes proteins using the genetic information encoded in DNA,” Marder says. “This is a basic feature of all living things on earth. In all organisms the ribosomes are similar to one another.”

Read the full article on uri.edu.

Author Credit: Kristen Curry

Image Credit: Rhody Today

Original Post Date: June 23, 2025

Remembering biochemist Wesley Hymer, pioneer of health research in space

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Eberly College of Science mourns the loss of Wesley Hymer, professor of biochemistry, who died May 4 at the age of 89. Over his 35 years on the faculty at Penn State, he made important contributions to the understanding of pituitary hormones and was internationally recognized for his pioneering research of living cells in space.

“Wes was a dedicated researcher and educator who was always full of energy and enthusiasm,” said Ross Hardison, professor emeritus of biochemistry and molecular biology at Penn State. “He had a long and productive career conducting research on the biochemical and cellular mechanisms by which pituitary hormones regulate growth and differentiation in mammalian tissues. He was the first person I heard talking about muscle loss and other negative physiological impacts of space travel and weightlessness. He ran an early, innovative research program studying these issues, including experiments conducted on space shuttle flights.”

Penn State is now known as a Space Grant institution largely thanks to Hymer, who helped develop the successful proposal that resulted in Penn State participation in NASA’s Space Grant College program in 1989. The program continues to support student research in the space sciences as well as other space-related activities.

“One of the lasting impacts of this research program was the establishment of the NASA-supported Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium, which is still active today, supporting students pursuing careers in science, mathematics, engineering and technology while also providing public service education,” Hardison said.

Read the full story on psu.edu.

Author Credit: Gail McCormick

Image Credit: N/A

Original Post Date: July 22, 2025

What We Don’t Know: USU Physicist Explores Radiation-Induced Conductivity

Doctoral student and Utah NASA Space Grant Consortium Fellow Jenny Whiteley studies the behavior of insulating materials exposed to radiation simulating extreme space conditions.

Utah State University physicist Jenny Whiteley’s Northern Utah home has recently given her and her family occasional glimpses of colorful auroras in the night sky.

“We’ve seen vibrant greens and purples, with moving, vertical white shafts of light,” says Whiteley, a doctoral student in USU’s Department of Physics. “It was fascinating to see the electrons trace out magnetic field lines above the Earth, which are always there but only visible under certain — and in our location — rare conditions.”

The ability to explain physical phenomena following mathematical logic is what attracts Whiteley to the study of physics.

“It’s amazing to me that mathematical expressions can be constructed to successfully replicate the physical behavior we see around us,” she says.

Whiteley, who is one of five USU graduate students selected this time last year for a 2024-2025 Utah NASA Space Grant Consortium Fellowship Award, is studying radiation-induced conductivity in the Materials Physics Group led by USU physics professor J.R. Dennison.

The lab’s team members perform ground-based testing of electrical charging and electron transport properties of both conducting and insulating materials, emphasizing studies of electron emission, conductivity, luminescence and electrostatic discharge.

Read the full article on usu.edu.

Author Credit: Mary-Ann Muffoletto

Image Credit: USU/M. Muffoletto

Original Post Date: June 30, 2025

NDSGC Joins Forces for 2025 IDEAS Educator Workshop in Alaska

This summer, a team of passionate educators, scientists, and space enthusiasts gathered under Alaska’s midnight sun for a unique experience that blended cutting-edge STEM content with hands-on, classroom-ready activities. From July 7–10, 2025, the annual IDEAS Educator Professional Development Workshop brought together pre-service, in-service, and informal educators from across the country to learn new ways to inspire the next generation of space explorers.

Hosted at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks by the Alaska Space Grant Consortium, the 2025 IDEAS Workshop marked another successful year of collaboration between the North Dakota, South Carolina, and North Carolina Space Grant Consortia. Funded by NASA’s National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, IDEAS—short for Innovative Differentiated Exploration Activities in Space Science—is more than just an acronym; it’s a mission to empower educators with dynamic teaching strategies grounded in real NASA science.

Reimagining STEM Education, the NASA Way

The goal? Equip educators with the tools, confidence, and resources to bring space science into any classroom—whether it’s a kindergarten class learning about the moon, or high schoolers prototyping a Mars habitat.

Participants explored a wide range of space science content areas, including human spaceflight, heliophysics, astronomy, and planetary science. The sessions weren’t just sit-and-listen lectures—they were built around problem-based learning, multi-modal teaching strategies, and experiential learning, all designed to spark creativity and promote critical thinking.

NASA Space Grant Consortia from Nebraska, Montana, Tennessee, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, North Dakota, and Alaska each supported teachers to attend.

Read the full story on blogs.und.edu.

Author Credit: Amanda Curatti | NDSGC

Image Credit: NDSGC, NCSGC, SCSGC

Original Post Date: July 21, 2025

NASA grant helps Eriksen spread love for science

With support from NASA’s National Space Grant College and Fellowship Project, sophomore Anastasia Eriksen is spending her summer conducting research and educating Nebraskans at Branched Oak Observatory.

“Growing up, I was really into science and math,” Eriksen said. “My parents constantly took me to Morrill Hall. I remember visiting the museum and getting to talk to all these cool people who loved science, and it really rubbed off on me.”

Eriksen’s passion has earned her a grant through NASA’s National Space Grant College and Fellowship Project. These grants are awarded to students around the country who, like Eriksen, are eager to share their love for science with their broader communities. The grant is funding Eriksen’s internship at Branched Oak Observatory this summer, where she educates visitors on astronomy and conducts research at the facility.

Read the full article on news.unl.edu.

Author Credit: Matthew Strasburger | University Communication and Marketing

Image Credit: UNL | Nebraska Today

Original Post Date: July 25, 2025

NASA and the National Space Grant Foundation selected twelve university teams to support space habitats and deep space exploration missions. The selections are part of the Moon to Mars eXploration Systems and Habitation (M2M X-Hab) Academic Innovation Challenge sponsored by NASA’s Mars Campaign Office.

The M2M X-Hab Academic Innovation Challenge is an opportunity for NASA to build strategic partnerships with universities and tap into the ingenuity of the future workforce. The challenge provides STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) students interested in aerospace careers with hands-on development and research experience, while strengthening NASA capability for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Past student participants have gone on to careers in the aerospace industry, including at NASA.

Universities in support of the M2M X-Hab Academic Innovation Challenge will advance science and technology innovations for space habitats and deep space exploration missions with the following projects:

LiDAR-Powered Autonomous Charging Service Capability for Surface Rovers and Systems
Georgia Southern University – Department of Mechanical Engineering

This work will develop a LiDAR-powered autonomous charging system for surface rovers. The system will utilize 3D LiDAR sensing to enable precise, autonomous alignment of a robotic charging arm with a rover’s inductive charging receiver. An autonomous charging system involving a stationary 3D LiDAR sensor, induction-based chargers, and wireless communications will locate and position the wireless charging emitter accurately.

Power Rover 2.0
North Dakota State University – Mechanical Engineering

Regeneration in a Martian Environment
University of Arkansas – Department of Chemical Engineering

This project will be the design and development of a carbon dioxide removal system from a habitat environment. It will focus on the development of an atmospheric reject vacuum / compression system capable of overcoming the Martian atmosphere characteristics that challenge overboard dumping from either the current Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly or Carbon Dioxide & Moisture Removal Amine Swing-bed

Cryogenic Boil Off Recapture and Reuse for Spacecraft
University of Michigan – Department of Aerospace Engineering

The project aims to address the loss of cryogenic fluids to the surrounding environment by the release of boil-off. Our system will capture and recondense escaped gas in a manner which maintains safe storage tank operating pressures.

Medical Eyewash Redesign
Michigan Technological University – Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

The design challenge and project scope is to deliver a functional medical eyewash prototype that meets the requirements of reducing mass/volume of the current technology, minimize consumables, prevent cross-contamination, and function in a low-gravity environment.

Spaceflight Medical Eyewash Redesign
Purdue University – School of Aeronautics and Astronautics

This project focus on modifying commercial off-the-shelf eyewash goggles for adaptation to the zero-g environment.

Medical Eyewash Redesign for Microgravity Applications
University of North Texas – Department of Mechanical Engineering

Student teams will completely redesign the current medical eyewash hardware utilized on the International Space Station. The existing system is over a decade old and presents several limitations that hinder operational efficiency and pose challenges for future long-duration exploration missions.

Design and Development of a Lightweight Spacesuit Portable Life Support System
University of Maryland – Department of Aerospace Engineering

The University of Maryland Space Systems Laboratory will develop, model, and test innovative concepts for portable life support system configurations to support extravehicular activities on the Moon, Mars, and in microgravity.

Tunnel-Ready Elements for Active Delivery (TREAD)
Baldwin Wallace University – Engineering

The TREAD project will explore soft pneumatic and tensairity-based approaches for temporary and deployable structures that provide a means for human travel between adjacent lunar or Martian habitations.

Lightweight Active Surface Tunnel Elements for Pressurized Transfer
South Dakota State University – Mechanical Engineering Department

The goal of this project is to design and prototype a lightweight, active tunnel system capable of connecting pressurized lunar or Martian surface elements. The tunnel will support crew transfer without requiring EVA, thereby reducing exposure to dust and radiation. The student team will explore innovative mechanical solutions for articulation and sealing, with a strong emphasis on minimizing mass and ensuring scalability for a variety of mission scenarios.

Actuated Inflatable Tunnels for Pressurized Transfer
University of Maryland – Department of Aerospace Engineering

The University of Maryland Space Systems Laboratory will develop, model, and test innovative concepts for shirtsleeve crew mobility between planetary surface habitats under lunar and Mars gravity conditions.

Lightweight Active Surface Tunnel Elements for Pressurized Transfer
University of Michigan – Department of Aerospace Engineering

The project aims to develop concepts for a lightweight pressurized tunnel system that can provide active positioning and berthing between crewed surface elements. The final deliverables of this project include high-fidelity CAD renderings of the proposed design, system prototypes for system validation and testing, and a final written report of the overall design process.

Image Credit: These images produced for NASA by John Frassanito and Associates. Technical concepts from NASA’s Planetary Projects Office, Johnson Space Center (JSC).

This academic year, three New Jersey City University students answered NASA’s call to partner with the space agency network to advance space-related strategies.

Gabriel Mendoza and Xyanna Fuentes, both of Jersey City, and Vedi Patel, of Union City, were selected as NASA New Jersey Space Grant Consortium Research Interns for the 2024-2025.

They, along with peers from 4-year schools and some community colleges, showcased innovative research projects April 25 at Rutgers-Camden.

The program fosters the next generation of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) professionals while connecting students with real-world applications of their studies.

NASA’s national grant program provides each of the student participants $2,000 for their research, which was mentored by Moitrayee Chatterjee, NJCU assistant professor of computer science.

Read the full article on jcitytimes.com

Author Credit: Ron Leir

Image Credit: NJSGC and J City Times

Original Post Date: 5.27.25

And the winner is… the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. The Utah Student Robotics Club won the grand prize Artemis Award on May 22 for NASA’s 2025 Lunabotics Challenge held at The Astronauts Memorial Foundation’s Center for Space Education at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida.

“Win was our motto for the whole year,” said Brycen Chaney, University of Utah, president of student robotics. “We had a mission objective to take our team and competition a step further, but win was right up front of our minds.”

Lunabotics is an annual challenge where students design and build an autonomous and remote-controlled robot to navigate the lunar surface in support of the Artemis campaign. The students from the University of Utah used their robot to excavate simulated regolith, the loose, fragmented material on the Moon’s surface, as well as built a berm. The students, who competed against 37 other teams, won grand prize for the first time during the Lunabotics Challenge.

Read the full article online here.

Author Credit: UTSGC | Evan Lerner – College of Engineering | Elyna Niles-Carnes

Image Credit: UTSGC | NASA

Original Post Date: June 19, 2025

Other Relevant Links:

University of Utah News Story

NASA Press Release