Two Schools to Lead Advanced Space Power, Propulsion Research

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) -- The United States Space Force, in partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory, selected Rochester Institute of Technology and University of Michigan to lead the USSF University Consortium/Space Strategic Technology Institute 3 research regarding Advanced Space Power and Propulsion.

This research will enable game-changing space power and propulsion technology transition to the Department of Defense.

This week, the Rochester Institute of Technology and University of Michigan were awarded $9.9 million and $34.9 million, respectively, and will each lead teams of academic institutions and industry partners to collaborate on development and demonstration of ASPP subtopics. The universities will pursue research in advanced solar cell technology, thruster technology and novel power approaches.

The USSF previously awarded in FY23 $6.4 million under Space Strategic Technology Institute 1 to address challenges related to beyond geostationary orbit and space domain awareness, as well as $49.1 million in FY24 under Space Strategic Technology Institute 2 to examine the areas of space access, mobility and logistics research.

About Space Strategic Technology Institutes
The United States Space Force established Space Strategic Technology Institutes to address space, science and technology challenges through a network of partnered universities. Space Force envisions the institutes, in partnership with the USSF operational community, will facilitate and focus joint applied research on emerging transformational space domain technology breakthroughs and developments that lead to the advancement of capabilities that can be transitioned and integrated into current and future USSF and U.S. government space architecture. It is highly desired for the research to lead to testbeds, high fidelity modeling and simulations, demonstrations and prototypes. The research is expected to transition technology to higher technology readiness levels throughout the period of performance, and out years will be awarded based on an evaluation of this ability.

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