KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. (NASA PR) — Five universities were chosen by NASA for grants to provide students with opportunities to design research experiments that will be conducted on the International Space Station. The selections are part of the agency’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research or EPSCoR.

Each of the selected universities will receive approximately $100,000 through NASA EPSCoR. They are:

• University of Delaware, Newark
• University of Idaho, Moscow
• Montana State University, Bozeman
• University of Nebraska, Omaha
• New Mexico State University, Las Cruces

WASHINGTON (NASA PR) — In 2021, NASA completed its busiest year of development yet in low-Earth orbit, made history on Mars, continued to make progress on its Artemis plans for the Moon, tested new technologies for a supersonic aircraft, finalized launch preparations for the next-generation space telescope, and much more – all while safely operating during a pandemic and welcoming new leadership under the Biden-Harris Administration.

By Danielle Sempsrott
NASA’s Kennedy Space Center

Ever since he was a young boy, watching the televised lunar landings from his hometown of Cañuelas, Argentina, Pablo de León knew he wanted to contribute to human space exploration. Now, as chair of the Department of Space Studies at the University of North Dakota (UND), he’s doing just that, designing and developing 3D-printed spacesuit models that may support future exploration of Mars. The research is made possible through the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), a part of NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement and based at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

WASHINGTON (NASA PR) — NASA has awarded $1.2 million to nine universities and organizations across the country for research and technology development projects in areas critical to the agency’s mission, including studying radiation effects and growing food for long-duration space travel.

NASA’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) supports science and technology research and development at colleges and universities. All projects are applicable to NASA’s work in Earth science, aeronautics, and human and robotic deep space exploration.

The schools will transfer research resulting from the projects to NASA, where it may be used as part of ongoing agency work.

NASA FACT SHEET
FY 2022 Budget Request
Office of STEM Engagement
($ Millions)

NASA makes investments in engaging students, educators, and educational institutions to: attract diverse groups of students to STEM through learning opportunities that spark interest and provide connections to NASA’s mission and work; create unique opportunities for a diverse set of students to contribute to NASA’s work; and build a diverse future STEM workforce. The Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) leads NASA’s STEM engagement function, providing strategic guidance and direction in partnership with the mission directorates.

In FY 2022, NASA will focus on increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM by bolstering internships and other direct student opportunities, enhancing Next Gen STEM’s K-12 portfolio of student learning opportunities, and expanding partnerships and networks to magnify their reach and impact. The STEM Engagement Program is comprised of four projects:

EDWARDS, Calif. (NASA PR) — Flight Opportunities has partnered with NASA’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program to provide access to suborbital flight tests for the EPSCoR community.

Through an amendment to the existing 2021 EPSCoR International Space Station (ISS) Flight Opportunity solicitation, EPSCoR jurisdictions will be able to propose using suborbital flights to further their EPSCoR-funded research.

Proposals are due by January 7, 2021. Visit NSPIRES for more details.

Flight Opportunities Community Learning Initiative

The new Flight Opportunities Community Learning initiative is an effort to capture, organize, and communicate the lessons and experiences of suborbital researchers.