The space-grant colleges are educational institutions in the United States that comprise a network of fifty-three consortia established in 1988 for the purpose of outer space-related research. Each consortium is based in one of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Each consists of multiple independent space-grant institutions, with one of the institutions acting as lead.
Similar programs include sea-grant colleges (instituted in 1966) and sun-grant colleges (instituted in 2003).
Objectives The program states the following objectives:National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program (Space Grant) 2010-2014 . Retrieved March 24, 2014. Establish and maintain a national network of universities with interests and capabilities in aeronautics, outer space, and related fields; Encourage cooperative programs among universities, the aerospace industry, and federal, state, and local governments; Encourage interdisciplinary training, research, and public service programs related to aerospace; Recruit and train U.S. citizens, especially women, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities, for careers in aerospace science and technology; and, Promote a strong science, mathematics, and technology education base from elementary through secondary levels.
History The National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program was established in 1988 by the United States Congress following the success of similar scholarship opportunities in the oceanic Sea Grant and agricultural Land Grant fields. The catch-all term Space Grant refers back to these previous federal programs. In 1989, the program was given over to NASA, which administers it in the same way that NOAA administers Sea Grant.
The first meeting of the National Council of Space Grant Directors took place from January 16 to January 19, 1990, at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Columbia, Maryland, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge, California. http://national.spacegrant.org/index.php?page=history , National Council of NASA Space Grant Directors. In 2011, an effort was made to begin collecting the history of the council.https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19960014626.pdf , NASA.
Programs
Building Leaders for Advancing Science and Technology (BLAST) BLAST is a three-day summer event that takes place at Virginia's Old Dominion University. This free, STEM-centered event, is available to 8th and 9th graders with a 2.3 GPA or better.http://blast.spacegrant.org , Building Leaders For Advancing Science and Technology. BLAST's purpose is to show the students the interesting aspects of STEM to those who are unsure whether they want to be involved in STEM or not.
Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project The NEBP is a high-altitude, balloon launching program.https://www.spacegrant.org/ballooning , Donate To the Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project.
eXploration Systems and Habitation (X-Hab) 2019 Academic Innovation Challenge The eXploration Systems and Habitation (X-Hab) challenge seeks better the academic and technological abilities of university students. It utilizes hands-on training in the implementation of space habitats for deep space missions.https://www.spacegrant.org/xhab , Select Exploration Systems and Habitation (x-hab) 2019 Academic Innovation Challenge. There is an Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Division where university students can compete to win awards worth $15,000–50,000 for a functional design that the AES finds useful and, or, interesting.
John Mather Nobel Scholars Established in 2008, the John Mather Nobel Scholars is a scholarship program open to NASA-Goddard Space Flight.https://www.spacegrant.org/mather , John Mather Nobel Scholars. The program provides $3,000 so that a chosen participant can share their research paper with NASA professionals. To be a part of this program, a GPA of 3.5 or higher is necessary along with being a junior or higher.
NASA KSC Higher Education Support Services The NASA/Kennedy Space Center Higher Education Support Services supports college grade Higher Education competitions.https://www.spacegrant.org/programs , Foundation Programs. Such competitions entail internships, senior design projects, and selective grants.
National Space Grant Distinguished Service Award The National Space Grant Distinguished Service Award was created by Josh Simpson and is awarded to students who will have an impact in a STEM field related to NASA's mission/goals.https://www.spacegrant.org/nsgdsa , Select National Space Grant Distinguished Service Award.
Space Grant Support Services The goal of the Space Grant Support Services is to better the Space Grant network. The Space Grant Support Services supports the Space Grant network in many different ways from an economical view to a public view.https://www.spacegrant.org/services , Space Grant Support Services.
Space Systems Engineering Website The Space Systems Engineering Website is a free, six-week, online course that allows students to work and learn with NASA's engineers.https://spacese.spacegrant.org , Space Systems Engineering – Home. Course materials will always be accessible and students are able to use the learned resources in any way they please.
Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Program The Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Program is a one-week, online, STEM summer program. The program focuses on NASA-related research provided by NASA's STEM professionals.http://vsgc.odu.edu/VASTS/, Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (vasts).
Virginia Commonwealth STEM Industry Internship Program (CSIIP) The Virginia Commonwealth STEM Industry Internship Program or CSIIP, provides an online internship application system for STEM majors. This was done for the people to meet the increasing demand for citizens with STEM majors.
Virginia Earth System Science Scholars The Virginia Earth System Science Scholars is a STEM-centered program where participants participate with NASA's professional researchers.http://vsgc.odu.edu/VESSS/, Virginia Space Coast Scholars. The Virginia Space Coast Scholars (VSCS) program is an online, week long, STEM-centered program that focuses on the study of NASA's missions.http://vscs.spacegrant.org , Virginia Space Grant Scholars.
William A Hiscock Space Grant Scholarship Fund The William A Hiscock Space Grant Scholarship Fund was created "in memory of William Hiscock, the former director of the Montana Space Grant." Due to his efforts, many NASA ballooning centered programs were created.https://www.spacegrant.org/hiscock , William A Hiscock Space Grant Scholarship Fund
Participating institutions As of 2002, there are over 850 participating institutions.
Alabama Space Grant Consortium
University of Alabama in Huntsville, lead institution Auburn University University of Alabama University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of North Alabama University of South Alabama Alabama A&M University Tuskegee University
Alaska Space Grant Consortium
University of Alaska Fairbanks, lead institution Alaska Pacific University
University of Alaska Anchorage University of Alaska Southeast
Arizona Space Grant Consortium
University of Arizona, lead institution Arizona State University Northern Arizona University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University USGS Flagstaff Branch World View Enterprises Arizona Daily Star Arizona Daily Sun Arizona Near Space Research Biosphere 2 Central Arizona College Coconino Community College Diné College Estrella Mountain Community College Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium Glendale Community College Iridium Satellite Communications
Lowell Observatory Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter and Sky School National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) National Undergraduate Research Observatory (NURO) Northern Arizona Planetary Science Alliance (NAPSA) Northrop Grumman Paragon Space Development Corporation Phoenix College Pima Community College Planetary Science Institute Prescott Astronomy Club Raytheon Corporation Rincon Research Tohono O'odham Community College USDA ARS Southwest Watershed Research Center
Arkansas Space Grant Consortium
University of Arkansas at Little Rock, lead institution Arkansas State University, Jonesboro Arkansas Tech University, Russellville Harding University, Searcy Henderson State University, Arkadelphia Hendrix College, Conway John Brown University Lyon College, Batesville Ouachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia University of Arkansas, Fayetteville University of Arkansas at Fort Smith University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
University of Arkansas at Monticello University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff University of Central Arkansas University of the Ozarks Arkansas Aerospace Training Consortium Arkansas Aviation Historical Society Arkansas Department of Aeronautics Arkansas Economic Development Commission Arkansas Department of Education Arkansas Department of Higher Education BEI Precision Civil Air Patrol, Arkansas Wing Conestoga-Rovers & Associates
California Space Grant Consortium
Astronomical Society of the Pacific Azusa Pacific University California State Polytechnic University, Pomona California Polytechnic State University California Institute of Technology California State University, Sacramento California State University, San Bernardino California State University, Long Beach California State University, Los Angeles Pomona College San Diego State University San Jose State University
Santa Clara University Sonoma State University Stanford University University of California, Berkeley University of California, Davis University of California, Irvine University of California, Los Angeles University of California, Riverside University of California, San Diego, lead institution University of California, Santa Barbara University of California, Santa Cruz University of San Diego University of Southern California
Colorado Space Grant Consortium
University of Colorado Boulder, lead institution Adams State University Aims Community College Colorado Mesa University Colorado School of Mines Colorado State University Colorado State University - Pueblo University of Denver Community College of Aurora Community College of Denver Fort Lewis College
Front Range Community College Otero College Metropolitan State University of Denver Pikes Peak State College Pueblo Community College Red Rocks Community College Space Foundation Trinidad State College University of Colorado at Colorado Springs University of Northern Colorado Western State Colorado University
Connecticut Space Grant Consortium
University of Hartford, lead institution*University of New Haven co- lead institution Asnuntuck Community College Capital Community College Gateway Community College Housatonic Community College Manchester Community College Middlesex Community College Naugatuck Valley Community College Northwestern Connecticut Community College Norwalk Community College Quinebaug Valley Community College Three Rivers Community College Tunxis Community College Central Connecticut State University
Eastern Connecticut State University Fairfield University Southern Connecticut State University Trinity College University of Bridgeport University of Connecticut Wesleyan University Yale University Connecticut Invention Convention New England Air Museum Connecticut Science Center Discovery Museum
Delaware Space Grant Consortium
University of Delaware, lead institution Delaware Technical Community College - Jack F. Owens Campus Delaware Technical Community College - Stanton Campus Delaware Technical Community College - Terry Campus Delaware Technical Community College - George Campus
Wesley College Wilmington University
Florida Space Grant Consortium
Astronauts Memorial Foundation Bethune-Cookman University Broward College Eastern Florida State College Eckerd College Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University