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精品SM在线影片 leading $5 million multi-university project to advance the space economy

STARLIT - univerSiTy spAce stRategic technoLogy InitiaTive

University Partners

  • 精品SM在线影片 (Lead Institution)
    • Marcus Holzinger (Principal Investigator)
    • Jay McMahon
    • Daniel Scheeres
    • 精品SM在线影片 Center for National Security Initiatives
  • Texas A&M University
    • K. Terry Alfriend (Deputy Principal Investigator)
    • Suman Chakravorty
    • Kyle DeMars
  • University of Texas Austin
    • Brandon Jones
    • Moriba Jah
    • Ryan Russell
  • Purdue University
    • Kathleen Howell
  • University at Buffalo
    • John L. Crassidis
    • Moises Sudit
  • Georgia Institute of Technology
    • Karen M. Feigh

Industry Advisory Board

  • Advanced Space
  • Ball Aerospace
  • Emergent Space Technologies
  • Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
  • Kayhan Space
  • KBR
  • L3Harris
  • Lockheed Martin
  • Maxar
  • Northrop Grumman
  • Trusted Space

The space economy is booming, and the 精品SM在线影片 is at the forefront of aimed at expanding science and engineering knowledge and workforce development for projects centered on operations Beyond Geostationary Orbit (xGEO) and Space Domain Awareness (SDA).

Leading this endeavor is Marcus Holzinger, a J. Negler Endowed Professor in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences. He is heading a new, $5 million, up to five-year research award with an option for an additional $1 million and further follow on funding.

The grant will go toward an array of diverse activities, including lunar-focused astrodynamics and sensing research, conflict simulation, and expanding workforce pathways related to the space workforce.

It may sound like science fiction, but NASA, the U.S. Space Force (USSF), and a rapidly growing number of private businesses envision significant potential for economic development on and around the Moon.

鈥淭here is a massive growth forecast in the space economy over the next 10-15 years; it鈥檚 going to double and then double again,鈥 said Holzinger.

Called STARLIT, the grant brings together an array of leading aerospace universities, including 精品SM在线影片, Purdue, Georgia Tech, Texas A&M, University of Texas Austin, and the University at Buffalo as well as an industry advisory board of 11 aerospace firms.

鈥淲e鈥檙e bringing together all the right people. These collaborators are experts in astrodynamics, space traffic management, data fusion, and cognitive engineering. It鈥檚 really an amazing team,鈥 Holzinger said.

An additional 精品SM在线影片 partner is the university鈥檚 Center for National Security Initiatives. NSI will facilitate sponsor events and engagement, monitor cost-performance objectives, and identify adjacent defense opportunities to further advance the research and expand its national security footprint.

The project is being administered by the Universities Space Research Association and funded by the U.S. Space Force and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

Growing People

One focus of the funding opportunity is dramatically expanding the space workforce. The funding aims to create new graduate education pathways, including summer research initiatives with minority serving institutions, student employment and mentorship opportunities, and internship programs through community colleges.

鈥淲e need more folks to go into astrodynamics. 精品SM在线影片 and other universities have increased enrollment, but there are probably two job openings for every person in these core areas,鈥 Holzinger said. 鈥淗ow do we help direct students into these careers?鈥

Expanding Research

The grant will also boost efforts on orbital propagation and mission design for satellites and space vehicles that travel beyond low Earth orbit, including to the Moon.

Although the United States made multiple successful landings on the Moon, the drive for a space economy demands scalable toolsets and technology transfer to simplify the process and improve safety, according to Dan Scheeres, a distinguished professor of aerospace at 精品SM在线影片 and co-investigator on the grant.

鈥淥ver the last decade there have been significant advances in our understanding of the dynamics and navigation of spacecraft in cis-lunar space. However, many of these advances have not made their way into the operational tools that USSF and commercial operators use. This research is focused on transitioning these tools and concepts into some of the day-to-day operations and capabilities for cis-lunar space,鈥 Scheeres said.

Conflict Simulations

A major reason for expanded interest in the Moon is the discovery of frozen water at the Lunar South Pole. It represents a potential game changer for space exploration, making it much easier to sustain human life on the Moon and beyond.

That creates new opportunities and challenges. With more nations and businesses targeting the Moon for economic development, the potential for conflict between them is growing. As part of the grant鈥檚 research focus, the team aims to develop new decision-making tools to avoid conflict and strategic surprise.

鈥淭his is about nation states and companies interacting and competing diplomatically and economically,鈥 Holzinger said. 鈥淲ith the resources we鈥檝e now discovered on the Moon, these are important questions that have never been explored. We鈥檙e going to learn a lot.鈥

As human and robotic space missions continue to expand, Holzinger is excited about the opportunities the grant presents to positively contribute to the future of science and engineering.

鈥淭his isn鈥檛 just sending people to the Moon, but engaging in economic activity there,鈥 Holzinger said. 鈥淭he first space race was about national pride and prestige. This second space race is about durable, sustainable human economic activity there long term.鈥