University of Michigan Space Institute – University of Michigan Space Institute

NASA Astronaut Anne McClain Evaluates U-M Team at NASA SUITS Challenge

Posted on September 1, 2026 (October 13, 2026) by U-M Space Institute

The University of Michigan's Collaborative Lab for Advancing Work in Space (CLAWS) was one of ten finalist teams selected for the NASA SUITS Challenge in May and became the only finalist to receive a direct evaluation from NASA astronaut Anne McClain.

CYGNSS Mission Celebrated at National Air and Space Museum

Posted on August 13, 2026 (October 19, 2026) by U-M Space Institute

A reception was held at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum on August 11 to celebrate a decade of the CYGNSS Mission and its impact on earth science. A model of a CYGNSS satellite was featured in the museum's new RTX Living in the Space Age Hall exhibit.

Designing Memory-centric Chips for Future Space Telescopes

Posted on August 3, 2026 (August 6, 2026) by U-M Space Institute

An SRAM chip design could avoid data-movement bottlenecks, helping next-generation telescopes image Earth-like planets orbiting distant suns.

Mercury has Part-time Radiation Belts

Posted on July 27, 2026 (August 6, 2026) by U-M Space Institute

Scientists thought Mercury’s magnetic field was disrupted by the sun too often to trap a radiation belt, but new analysis of MESSENGER data says that’s not always the case.

From up on High: A View from Space for a Future for Small Farms

Posted on July 27, 2026 (September 30, 2026) by U-M Space Institute

For decades, satellites have helped scientists observe Earth’s changing landscapes. Now, they could also help answer one of agriculture’s most pressing questions: How can the world produce more food while reducing its environmental impact?

NASA’s CYGNSS Transformed Earth Science by Creatively Tuning in to GPS Signals

Posted on July 1, 2026 (August 12, 2026) by U-M Space Institute

When NASA’s Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) launched into orbit in 2016, none of the University of Michigan Engineers who developed the system expected it to transform earth science. They certainly had high hopes for the system’s original mission to improve hurricane forecasting, but its ability to pick up reflected GPS signals also proved useful for so much more.

U-M Joins MOSAIC Build Team to Power Next Generation of Astronomers

Posted on May 7, 2026 (May 7, 2026) by U-M Space Institute

A new partnership between the University of Michigan and an intergovernmental research organization will expand the scope of possibilities for astronomers studying the universe’s first stars and galaxies and how dark matter and dark energy have evolved to the present day. Using the world’s largest telescope and its most complex instrument, U-M scientists will be able to study how the Milky Way gained its mass and shape, how other galaxies were formed, how matter is distributed in the universe and how all of these things have changed over time.

Providing the Artemis Mission with Solar Radiation Forecasts

Posted on April 2, 2026 (April 9, 2026) by U-M Space Institute

In the Artemis II mission, NASA will test out a pair of new solar radiation forecasts, developed at University of Michigan Engineering, designed to protect astronauts venturing away from Earth. These could warn NASA of solar particle radiation hazards up to 24 hours in advance

Michigan Aerospace Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Goddard’s Rocket Launch

Posted on March 20, 2026 (March 25, 2026) by U-M Space Institute

On March 16, 2026, the U-M Department of Aerospace Engineering community came together to celebrate a momentous occasion, honoring the legacy and impact of Dr. Robert Goddard and the 100th anniversary of the launch of the first-ever successful liquid-fuel rocket.

Chris Ruf Named to the National Academy of Engineering

Posted on February 10, 2026 (February 12, 2026) by U-M Space Institute

Congratulations to Director of the U-M Space Institute, Dr. Chris Ruf, for receiving the prestigious honor of being elected to the National Academy of Engineering! This year, the NAE elected 130 new members and 28 international members, as announced on February 10th.