NASA Funds Millions Towards Scientific Projects

NASA has granted more than $10 million to a handful of American institutions to support scientific and technical research that aligns with the agency’s missions, thus contributing to the strengthening of the scientific community across the country.

A total of $10.8 million will be allocated to 15 institutions over three years for projects that will contribute to advancements in technology and science that can be applied in space but will also improve life here on Earth.

Each year, the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research chooses the projects that most align with NASA’s top missions. For example, Oklahoma State University will receive $750,000 to pursue the development of a simple way to build solar panels directly on the Moon. The University of Wyoming will be granted $749,696 to improve our understanding of how changes in global climate impact regional water availability. As for the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, their $750,000 will be used to create a new lithium-sulfur battery technology that outlasts existing lithium-ion batteries. All those projects have the potential to be as useful for space exploration as for improving the quality of life on our planet.