NASA Florida Space Grant Consortium And Space Florida Award
$453,000
The NASA Florida Space Grant Consortium (FSGC), and Space
Florida have announced the selection and award of 22 space research
and education grants for 2009. The Florida Space Research Program
(FSRP) will provide a total of $453,191 in funding to selected
recipients.
The FSRP combines both Federal and State funds for projects that
diversify Florida's space industry and research efforts, while also
supporting aerospace workforce development statewide. The
program is comprised of three categories - The Space Education
& Training Program, Space Exploration & Spaceport Technical
Development, and Space-Based Research and Payload Development.
"I believe this is the year in which our two organizations have
shown an outstanding commitment to research", said Dr. Jaydeep
Mukherjee, Director of FSGC, and administrator of the program.
"Continuing to fuel the fire of research, despite economic
conditions, affirms just how important we believe space research is
to our universities, our space industry, and the future of our
state."
"Space Florida is proud to be a partner in the Florida Space
Research Program," said Frank DiBello, Space Florida President.
"These special grants will stimulate research activities throughout
the state and strengthen long-term cooperation between universities
and industry, as well as form a basis for increased research
funding in the future."
The State of Florida and Space Florida have been significant
contributors to the Florida Space Research Program for five years.
Space Florida contributed $62,500 to the 2009 program.
The FSRP 2009 awardees include eight Florida universities: the
University of North Florida, Florida State University, University
of Florida, University of Central Florida, Florida Institute of
Technology, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida Gulf
Coast University, Florida International University, and two
additional Florida educational entities - The Astronaut Memorial
Foundation's Teacher Connect program and the Jacksonville based
'Tekna-Theos' group.
Research projects selected include:
- Development of a Propellant-less Propulsion System for LEO (Low
Earth Orbit) satellites (UCF)
- Development, design and distribution of innovative CRATERSCAPE
Curriculum (FSU)
- Expansion of Internet Embedded Systems Lab to Enhance
Space-Related Courses (FGCU)
- Aerodynamic Stability Research for Satellites in Elliptic Low
Earth Orbits (ERAU)
- Learning Chemistry through Mars-Themed Experiments in a Virtual
Lab (FIT)
A total of 50 proposals were received. Each submission was
independently evaluated by a team of experienced professionals from
Kennedy Space Center, other NASA centers and Grant Consortia
located throughout the U.S.
The FSRP provides an opportunity for FSGC and Space Florida to
cooperatively achieve the goal of promoting and developing
Florida's aerospace industry while simultaneously supporting space
research and education projects.
ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (05.04.24)
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