{"id":578312,"date":"2026-10-16T01:57:47","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T15:57:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?p=1056624"},"modified":"2026-10-16T01:57:47","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T15:57:47","slug":"nasa-awards-enable-research-technology-to-build-future-workforce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=578312","title":{"rendered":"NASA Awards Enable Research, Technology to Build Future Workforce"},"content":{"rendered":"
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3 Min Read<\/div>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNASA Awards Enable Research, Technology to Build Future Workforce\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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An illustration of a suited Artemis astronaut looking out of a Moon lander hatch across the lunar surface, a Lunar Terrain Vehicle and other surface elements.<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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NASA has selected 12 U.S. institutions to receive $12 million to accelerate academic research and technology development in support of the agency\u2019s priorities for exploring the Moon, Mars, and deep space.<\/p>\n

Through NASA\u2019s Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) Space Technology Artemis Research (M\u2011STAR<\/a>) initiative, selected institutions will each receive up to $1 million to grow their scientific and engineering capabilities, enhance faculty and student engagement in aerospace research, and expand their ability to compete for future federal and commercial research awards.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are excited to launch this new cohort of M-STAR investigators,\u201d said Alicia Baturoni Cortez, MUREP program manager in the agency\u2019s Office of STEM Engagement. \u201cNASA investments in our Nation’s research institutions create real opportunities for students and faculty to build skills, knowledge, and infrastructure, while helping NASA close technology gaps for long-duration operations on the Moon and eventually, Mars.\u201d<\/p>\n

As NASA enters a Golden Age of innovation and exploration, the M-STAR initiative supports the agency\u2019s mission to develop innovative technologies that improve space transportation, human exploration, robotic discovery, and the growing space economy.<\/p>\n

The awardees and their projects are as follows:<\/p>\n

California State University, Sacramento<\/strong>
Adaptive Vision-Language-Action Models for Resilient Multi-Robot Collaboration in Unstructured Planetary Environments<\/p>\n

University of Central Florida, Orlando<\/strong>
M-FAST: Multi-Fidelity Aerothermal Simulation & Testing for Artemis<\/p>\n

University of Hawaii at Manoa<\/strong>
HI-STRIDE: Hawai\u2019i Student Training in Radiation Instrumentation, Detection, and Exploration<\/p>\n

University of Houston<\/strong>
RODEO: Rover-carried On-surface Deployables for Exploration Operations<\/p>\n

University of Texas, San Antonio<\/strong>
Characterizing Physical and Mechanical Properties of Regolith at Cryogenic Conditions Using the Multi-Planetary Surface Simulator (MPS2)<\/p>\n

Kean University, Union, New Jersey<\/strong>
Integrating Terrain Understanding of AI Models With Robust Control for Autonomous Path Planning<\/p>\n

Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond<\/strong>
BNNT-Reinforced Multifunctional Composites for Radiation-Tolerant, Hydrogen-Compatible Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) Secondary Hardware<\/p>\n

Shaw University, Raleigh, North Carolina<\/strong>
Project ARES (Advanced Regenerative Environmental Systems): A Materials-by-Design Research and Workforce Development Platform for Environmental Control and Surface Infrastructure<\/p>\n

Howard University, Washington<\/strong>
LumSHRS: Lunar monolithic Spatial Heterodyne Raman Spectrometer for Minirover In-Situ and Standoff Remote Sensing<\/p>\n

Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, Texas<\/strong>
Functionally Graded Interfaces for Directed-Energy-Deposition Repair of Copper-to-Superalloy Propulsion Hardware: An Integrated AI\/ML Design-to-Validation Research Capability at Prairie View A&M University<\/p>\n

University of New Mexico, Albuquerque<\/strong>
POWER-Artemis: Extreme-Environment Batteries and Fuel Cells for Sustained Moon and Mars Operations<\/p>\n

Fayetteville State University, North Carolina<\/strong>
From Documents to Models: Method-Compliant Generative AI for Bootstrapping Model-Based Systems Engineering in NASA\u2019s Artemis Enterprise (Doc2Model)<\/p>\n

NASA\u2019s Office of STEM Engagement fosters an ecosystem across education, industry, and government to cultivate a well\u2011prepared talent pool, while the agency\u2019s Research and Technology Mission Directorate develops the transformative space technologies that enable future NASA missions and ensure U.S. leadership in aerospace. Together, they accelerate mission readiness by aligning cutting edge technological innovation with the workforce needed to carry it forward.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\tMore on M-STAR<\/span>
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Keep Exploring<\/div>\n

Discover More Topics From NASA<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMinority University Research & Education Project<\/span>
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFor Colleges and Universities<\/span>
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearning Resources<\/span>
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAbout STEM Engagement at NASA<\/span>
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NASA has selected 12 U.S. institutions to receive $12 million to accelerate academic research and technology development in support of the agency\u2019s priorities for exploring the Moon, Mars, and deep space. Through NASA\u2019s Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) Space Technology Artemis Research (M\u2011STAR) initiative, selected institutions will each receive up to $1 million [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15648,15649,20434],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-578312","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-for-colleges-universities","category-learning-resources","category-murep"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t