By Lily Lewis, Originally published by Michigan Aerospace – Photo by Jason Bolton
Last year, the $35M Space Power and Propulsion for Agility, Responsiveness and Resilience (SPAR) Institute, an award under the USSF University Consortium, held its official kick-off meeting, gathering stakeholders and team leaders from around the country to discuss the institute’s goals for the coming years. With the University of Michigan leading the charge, the institute has already begun showcasing how U-M is setting itself apart as a leader for in-space technology.
The SPAR Institute was formed to develop spacecraft that can “maneuver without regret,” with funding from the U.S. Space Force, and is set to bring fast chemical rockets together with efficient electric propulsion powered by a nuclear microreactor. As the eight universities and 14 industry partners and advisers come together to tackle the initiative, the SPAR Institute is now one of the nation’s largest efforts to advance space power and propulsion.