“Working on a satellite that could go to space is something I never imagined I’d do as an undergrad.”

That’s physics major Kelsey Henry describing one reason she’s excited about working in the University of Minnesota Twin Cities’ Small Satellite Research Laboratory.

A transfer student from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and Minneapolis Community and Technical College, Henry sees the challenge of designing small—as in shoebox-sized—satellites as a way to combine art and science. Called CubeSats, these satellites are built to work in near-space and low Earth orbit.

Currently, Henry is working on two sister projects. One will use CubeSats to study powerful flares that erupt from the surface of the sun. The other will test a method of using distant, rapidly spinning stars to navigate in space, where GPS is not an option.

The latter project, says Henry, “will be hosted as an experimental science payload on the International Space Station—a rare opportunity for an undergraduate-led project.”

Read the full article on umn.edu

Original Post Date: 8.29.25

Author Credit: Kristin Kelker

Image Credit: hoto by Pauline Oo, CSE Communications and Marketing.

College of Science and Engineering Story

North Idaho College has been selected to advance in a competitive national process to help develop the future aerospace and defense workforce as part of NASA’s Aerospace State Hubs for Skilled Technical Workforce Initiative.

NIC, in collaboration with the Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Corporation and the regional Aerospace Tech Hub, was named among 15 organizations invited to submit a concept paper to NASA. The initiative seeks to address a projected shortage of 1 million aerospace and defense workers by 2030 by building stronger education-to-workforce pathways.

“Being part of this next phase with NASA demonstrates that North Idaho College is positioned as a critical player in preparing students for high-demand technical careers,” NIC President Nick Swayne said. “This recognition validates the quality of our academic and workforce training programs while opening new opportunities for students in our region.”

NIC this fall opened an Airframe and PowerPlant Mechanic Apprenticeship that provides hands-on training in aviationmaintenance at its Workforce Training Center in Post Falls.

The college and its partners will now work with a NASA liaison to shape a concept paper due Sept. 17. Selected hubs will convene stakeholders, submit plans, and participate in the NASA STEM Workforce Summit at Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Fla., Sept. 23-25.

Read the full article on nic.edu

Original Post Date: 8.26.25

Author Credit: North Idaho College Newsroom

Image Credit: North Idaho College Newsroom

Blue Origin completes 35th New Shepard mission

• Propellant Refueling and On-Orbit Transfer Operations (PROTO) & Microgravity Ullage Detection (MUD), Carthage College: Carthage College Space Science program’s PROTO experiment is collaborating with NASA Johnson Space Center to test new alternatives to measure spacecraft propellant levels in microgravity. MUD is a non-invasive method to locate the liquid-vapor interface in spacecraft fuel tanks during microgravity. The system incorporates acoustic vibrations and external sensors to detect whether the tank wall is in contact with liquid or gas, which is critical for safe in-space refueling. This experiment is flying for the third time with New Shepard. Both payloads are supported by NASA’s Flight Opportunities program and the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium.

Read the full article on: satnews.com

Original Post Date: 9.18.25

Author Credit: SatNews

Image Credit: SatNews

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WV News) — For the second year in row, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities has named West Virginia University as a regional winner of the 2025 W.K. Kellogg FoundationCommunity Engagement Scholarship.

The university’s partnership with Mountaineer Area RoboticS (MARS) was selected for the award, which recognizes extraordinary community engagement initiatives between land-grant institutions and its community partners.

UK’s Alexandre Martin wins NASA medal for advancing space technology

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 8, 2025) — Alexandre Martin, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) in the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering at the University of Kentucky, has been awarded the NASA Exceptional Public Service Medal — one of the highest honors given to individuals outside the agency.

The medal is a prestigious honor awarded to nongovernment individuals who have made outstanding contributions to NASA’s mission. It recognizes sustained excellence across multiple projects, programs or initiatives that have significantly advanced the agency’s goals.

“Receiving the NASA Outstanding Public Service Medal is humbling and also quite meaningful,” Martin said. “It’s a reminder that the work we do with students at universities can contribute to something much larger. I’m honored to be part of the NASA mission and grateful to stand alongside so many dedicated minds, pushing boundaries.”

According to NASA, Martin was awarded the medal for his “exceptional public service in advancing NASA entry systems technologies and fostering a U.S. engineering and technology talent base.”

Read the full article on uknow.uky.edu

Image Credit: Photo courtesy of Pigman College of Engineering.

Author Credit: Lindsey Piercy

Original Post Date: Aug. 8, 2025

STEM-ology, a monthly series of themed science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) events for all ages, returns this month at the University of Wyoming, with events including Toddler Tuesdays, Senior Science Fridays and fun-filled family Science Saturdays.

STEM-ology highlights cross-program collaborations and high-impact learning experiences through free public activities via the Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium Science Kitchen, the Science Initiative Roadshow and other UW groups.

This month’s events will have an engineering theme and will take place in the STEM Sandbox, located on the fourth floor of the Science Initiative Building, located on the corner of Ninth and Bradley streets.

Last spring, STEM-ology drew more than 370 participants from the local community and neighboring states, says Karagh Brummond, director of the UW Top-Tier Science Initiative Engagement and Outreach Program.

“We are bringing STEM to life with engaging, hands-on experiences for all ages. Programs are designed to spark curiosity, inspire creativity and make science, technology, engineering and math fun and interactive,” Brummond says.

Read the full article on: uwyo.edu

Original Post Date: 9.11.25

Author Credit: uwyo.edu

The National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program awards graduate students three years of support over five years to pursue a doctoral degree in STEM. This year, due to uncertainty about funding, the NSF upgraded 500 awards that were originally named honorable mentions, bringing the total number of awards to 1,500 (down from the usual 2,500).

Jaya Sicard’s award was one of those upgraded.

“I thought the email was a glitch,” Sicard said.

Sicard graduated in December with her bachelor’s in physics and minors in astronomy and mathematics after starting in 2017. She studied part time for five years and took some time off while working full time in the Nevada Air National Guard, where she worked for seven years.

“I spent most of that enlistment on active-duty orders while coming to school,” Sicard said.

Read the full article on unr.edu

Image Credit: Nevada Today

Author Credit: Michelle Werdann, ’21

Original Post Date: Aug. 8, 2025

Carter Vu is a 4th year PhD student studying computational hypersonics at the University of Minnesota. His work uses high-fidelity simulations to improve our understanding of hypersonic turbulence and the transition from laminar to turbulent flow. His primary focus is the Air Force BOLT II flight test, a flagship research collaboration with the University of Minnesota, NASA, and 17 other universities and defense organizations around the world. 

 Carter graduated with his BS in Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering from the University of Washington in 2022 and has since interned at Aerojet Rocketdyne and the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. As a student member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, he has presented novel research at local and national conferences, and has presented abroad at ONERA, the French Aerospace Laboratory through a NATO collaboration. His awards include a NASA Space Grant Scholarship, an Astronaut Scholarship, and an NSF graduate fellowship (GRFP).

Read the full article on kennedyspacecenter.com

Author Credit: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Image Credit: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Jack Seabaugh, a senior majoring in electrical and computer engineering at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, has chartered an impressive course toward a career with NASA.

The North Little Rock native has completed his fourth NASA internship across three space centers, a milestone that should position him well for a future in the aerospace industry.

“I never thought working at NASA was something realizable in my life,” Seabaugh said. “But the more I learned, the more I realized I wanted to be part of the incredible work they’re doing.”

Seabaugh’s journey began in summer 2023 when he secured his first internship at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, funded by the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium. He joined a team working on the Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) to develop a prototype capable of recovering oxygen from carbon dioxide using cyanobacteria. The purpose of the project was to create more oxygen for astronauts living on the International Space Station. His role involved building the electronics and programming microcontrollers to monitor and control the system.

That hands-on experience ignited his passion for NASA’s mission and opened doors to new opportunities.

Read the full story on ualr.edu

Author Credit: Angelita Faller

Image Credit: ualr.edu

Original Post Date: 8.18.25

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