space – University of Michigan Space Institute

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

Posted on July 1, 2026 (July 1, 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.

“NASA is Testing an AI Model to Protect Artemis II Astronauts from Solar Radiation”

Posted on April 4, 2026 (April 9, 2026) by U-M Space Institute

Lulu Zhao, assistant professor of climate and space sciences and engineering, and principal investigator of U-M’s CLEAR Center was featured on Earth.com in the article “NASA is Testing an AI Model to Protect Artemis II Astronauts from Solar Radiation.” The article discusses how the CLEAR Center is providing forecasts of dangerous solar radiation Continue Reading »

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

“Astronomers Discover Dozens of Stellar Streams in the Milky Way”

Posted on March 24, 2026 (March 31, 2026) by U-M Space Institute

In an article for earth.com, Yingtian Chen, a graduate student at the University of Michigan Department of Astronomy, discusses his study on stellar streams and how they help astronomers reconstruct the Milky Way’s past and understand the galaxy’s gravitational structure. He was interviewed in the article “Astronomers discover dozens of stellar streams in the Continue Reading »

Human Exploration of Mars: National Academies Give NASA Their Recommendations

Posted on December 10, 2025 (March 26, 2026) by U-M Space Institute

NASA hired the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine to identify the scientific community’s priority objectives for human study and exploration of Mars, as well as the types of measurements, samples and studies needed to complete the objectives. The Academies delivered their report to NASA in December.

Zurbuchen, Formerly of U-M, NASA, Honored by Center for Entrepreneurship

Posted on December 5, 2025 (March 26, 2026) by U-M Space Institute

The University of Michigan’s Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE) honored co-founder Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen, with the presentation of a new award bearing his name, as well as the renaming of the center’s long-running Friday speaker series he launched, EHour.

“Google’s Proposed Data Center in Orbit Will Face Issues With Space Debris in an Already Crowded Orbit”

Posted on December 3, 2025 (December 11, 2025) by U-M Space Institute

Dr. Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, an Associate Research Scientist at University of Michigan Climate and Space, wrote a piece for The Conversation titled “Google’s proposed data center in orbit will face issues with space debris in an already crowded orbit.” | December 3, 2025

U-M Joins International Consortium to Design, Build MOSAIC Instrument for Extremely Large Telescope

Posted on December 1, 2025 (March 26, 2026) by U-M Space Institute

The European Southern Observatory, or ESO, has signed an agreement with a large international consortium that includes the University of Michigan for the design and construction of the Multi-Object Spectrograph, or MOSAIC.

“NASA Rover Makes a Shocking Discovery: Lightning on Mars”

Posted on November 26, 2025 (December 11, 2025) by U-M Space Institute

Christopher Ruf and Nilton Renno, professors of climate and space sciences and engineering, were featured in The New York Times in the article “NASA Rover Makes a Shocking Discovery: Lightning on Mars.” The article highlights how sixteen years ago they reported electrical discharges on Mars. | November 26, 2025