NASA, University of Arizona Sign Space Act Agreement
NASA and the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, have signed a Space Act Agreement to advance collaborations in technology development and workforce training, leveraging the university's expertise in aerospace engineering, aeronautics, Earth and space science, radiation science and technology, human health and performance in space, and space materials to name a few examples.
Johnson Director Vanessa Wyche and the university’s Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation, Dr. Betsy Cantwell, signed the agreement, and Dr. John O'Neil, vice president for research development, will serve as the point of contact for activities under the agreement.
“NASA’s Johnson Space Center has a long history of working with colleges and universities since the early days of Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs to help us achieve our human spaceflight missions,” Wyche said.
Wyche said the agreement would facilitate collaboration in research and technology development while also establishing a talent pipeline for student recruitment from the university to NASA.
The agreement also is designed to create game-changing opportunities for Arizona students, who will have the opportunity to collaborate with NASA's leading experts, engage in educational outreach activities, and benefit from mentorship and internship programs related to human spaceflight. Their experiences will focus on research and innovations in technology development for future missions.
The agreement allows for the exchange of technical information and is designed to position both institutions to help develop a robust ecosystem of aerospace companies. Moreover, university faculty members will gain valuable insight into the aerospace industry's academic needs, fostering a mutually beneficial relationship.
The University of Arizona has a rich history of involvement in NASA missions, including two university-led deep space missions. In 2020, the OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer) mission collected samples from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu and is scheduled to return these materials to Earth on September 24, 2023. In addition, the university led the Phoenix Mars Lander mission in 2008, which focused on studying ice, soil, and the atmosphere on Mars. During the Apollo missions in the 1960s, the university played a vital role in mapping the Moon and providing geology training for astronauts.
The university recently collaborated with NASA to establish a Space Analog for the Moon and Mars, enabling testing of long-duration space excursions on planetary surfaces. In June, a four-person crew successfully completed its first mission at the facility. Director of the university's Arizona Space Institute Timothy Swindle emphasized the university's contributions to other missions and its active participation in the broader NASA mission teams.
The agreement lays the foundation for expanding and enhancing the university's engagement in human spaceflight, offering exciting opportunities for advancements in space research, technology, and the development of future space missions. The role of university envoys is highlighted in an annex to the umbrella agreement.
