Universities Space Research Association

05/12/2026

🗺️ From astrophysics to Earth observation, USRA supports cutting‑edge research that helps us better understand our planet and our universe.

Write you name in Earth images too:
https://science.nasa.gov/specials/your-name-in-landsat/

Thanks, NASA Earth !

05/01/2026

👩‍🚀 Ever wonder how astronauts get medical care millions of miles from Earth? USRA's Dr. Chase Haddix is helping make that possible.

🩻 A Senior Biomedical Engineering Researcher, Dr. Haddix focuses on evaluating medical technologies for human spaceflight from physiological monitoring devices to portable X‑ray systems. His work helps determine which commercial tools are reliable enough to support astronauts during missions, including flight and Mars‑analog environments like CHAPEA and Polaris Dawn.

🚀 As space exploration ramps up, crews will need greater medical autonomy than ever before. The recent return to human space flight with missions will also provide new opportunities to evaluate and implement advanced medical diagnostics outside of Low Earth Orbit.

More about Dr. Haddix's work:
https://newsroom.usra.edu/usra-staff-helps-nasa-glenn-pioneer-mini-xray-technology-to-advance-space-health-care/

https://newsroom.usra.edu/usra-staff-helps-nasa-glenn-pioneer-mini-xray-technology-to-advance-space-health-care/

Washington, D.C., – October 7, 2025. Future astronauts heading to the Moon or Mars may pack a surprising tool in their medical kit: a handheld X-ray machine. As missions venture farther from Earth, crews can’t rely on quick telemedicine consults. With two-way communication delays of up to 45 min...

04/22/2026

⌛ Since 1969, USRA has brought universities, government, and industry together to advance space science, aeronautics research, and STEM education for the benefit of humanity.

USRA is an independent, nonprofit research corporation where the combined efforts of in-house talent and university-based expertise merge to advance space science and technology. SIGNIFICANCE & PURPOSE USRA conducts major research and educational programs, and operates premier facilities by invol...

04/07/2026

✨ “The continuation of the AFRL Scholars Program at Eglin underscores the importance of investing in future STEM leaders who will drive innovation in support of our nation’s defense,” said Bernie Seery, Vice President of Science and Technology at USRA. “USRA is proud to expand its partnership with Eglin Air Force Base through this new cooperative agreement, which also supports the Faculty Fellowship Program and connects emerging talent and leading faculty with AFRL’s world-class research environment.” ✨

Washington, D.C., — April 6, 2026. The Universities Space Research Association (USRA) has been awarded a new cooperative agreement to continue managing the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program at Eglin Air Force Base (AFB). The award reaffirms USRA’s commitment to strengthening ...

03/31/2026

🛰️ Can a satellite see as far as our brains? 🧠

Not exactly; however, an incredible new collaborative study by USRA's Dr. Maheshwari Neelam and University of Oxford's Department of Psychiatry, uses satellite observations to show a link between changes on Earth (Utah's Great Salk Lake) and human mental health.

Washington, D.C., March 30, 2026 — Utah's Great Salt Lake has lost an estimated 73 percent of its water and 60 percent of its surface area, its volume nearly 10 feet below healthy levels at its 2022 record low. The exposed lakebed — laced with arsenic, mercury, and lead — has become a signific...

03/23/2026

🌒 Last week, Dr. Elsayed Talaat, President and CEO of the Universities Space Research Association (USRA), attended the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in The Woodlands, Texas, alongside members of the USRA leadership team. During a plenary session, Dr. Talaat discussed USRA’s mission and the Lunar and Planetary Institute’s role in today’s space science ecosystem. He was joined virtually by General Lester L. Lyles, Chair of the USRA Board of Trustees, who spoke about the significance of USRA and LPI and addressed several questions from the audience.

🔊 Dr. Talaat also moderated a panel that featured the Associate Administrator, Amit Kshatriya and held several “listening sessions” to address questions from scientists on a one-on-one basis.

🔭 The Conference welcomed more than 1,000 attendees, and USRA looks forward to continuing its sponsorship of this important event next year.

✨ Thanks also to everyone who contributed to event preparations!✨


https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2026/

03/13/2026

🛰️Thanks to the Business of Space Conference at The University of Alabama in Huntsville for hosting USRA's Maheshwari Neelam, Ph.D., Earth Scientist, last week.

🌍Dr. Neelam's presentation explored how Earth observation can move beyond data availability to create real operational value across sectors such as infrastructure, supply chains, resilience, risk management, and disaster response.

🎯As the space economy grows, the practical value of Earth observation increasingly depends on how effectively it can be translated into decision-ready tools that support real-world action. Her talk emphasized that the true value of EO lies not just in the data collected, but in the decisions and outcomes it makes possible.

✨ Many thanks ✨ to conference organizers Wafa Hakim Orman and Ravi Patnayakuni, as well as the fellow speakers and participants, for a thoughtful discussion on scaling the space economy and strengthening the connection between space-based information and terrestrial applications.

03/12/2026

🎂 Woo! We're 57 today! And USRA's Dr. David Bell has been here for nearly 24 of those 57 years. As we continue to spotlight the people of USRA, know that David Bell, Ph.D. leads the 🖥️Research Institute for Advanced Computer Science 🖥️, established in 1983 and working on AI since the earliest days. Now, Dr. Bell is also Chief AI Officer at E Street Technologies, LLC, a wholly owned, small business subsidiary of USRA.

🌍 Dr. Bell has served as the lead investigator on USRA's GAIA Foundation Model for environmental prediction, advised NOAA on AI for hazard mitigation, and authored over 40 peer-reviewed papers on machine learning and climate science.

🦺 Currently, Dr. Bell is at the forefront of developing machine learning models aimed at enhancing the prediction of severe weather events, including hurricanes, floods, and heatwaves.

🛰️ By merging data from Earth observation satellites with advanced AI technology, Dr. Bell's work seeks to provide faster and more precise forecasts. This innovation is crucial as it enables earlier warnings and more effective disaster responses, ultimately safeguarding lives, infrastructure, and economies amidst a changing climate.

💬 "We're not just trying to predict the weather - we're trying to give communities the lead time they need to act. AI gives us a powerful new lens to see patterns that humans or traditional models might miss." - Dr. David Bell

Thanks for making USRA who we've been, and who we can be!




📸 Dr. David Bell speaks as a panelist at USRA’s symposium “Artificial Intelligence for Space and Aeronautics” in Washington, DC on March 2025. Credit: USRA/Aaron Clamage

03/04/2026

⚛️ “Nuclear delivers energy where sunlight and batteries simply cannot.” -Dr. Brandon Thorne

🚀 During an engaging conversation with Eric White on Federal News Network's Space Hour, USRA's Dr. Thorne also emphasized the importance of STEM workforce development and explained USRA’s decades-long roles in both STEM Workforce development and AI research.

📰 Have a listen and learn something new!

Washington D.C. --March 4, 2026. Federal News Network Radio recently interviewed Brandon Thorne, Senior Vice President for Energy Programs to discuss USRA's focus on advanced nuclear innovation, AI-enabled energy systems, and emerging quantum technologies. He also discussed what this new era of ener...

03/03/2026

🎂 USRA is turning 57 on March 12! Celebrate with us as we deliver a series of spotlights on USRA's ✨superstars✨ during the month of March! Thanks for making us who we've been, and who we can be!

🌠Have you ever met a meteorite hunter? Allow us to introduce you to USRA’s Dr. Prajkta Mane, cosmochemist and two-time meteorite hunter. Dr. Mane is a leading expert in the laboratory analysis of meteorites and other astromaterial at USRA's Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) in Houston, TX. Her research addresses some of humanity’s most profound questions, such as: "where did we come from?" and "how did Earth become capable of supporting life?" The planetary materials she studies become like time capsules allowing for insight into events that occured billions of years ago.

🔬As a staff scientist at the LPI, Dr. Mane’s research explores the history of our solar system by studying planetary materials—meteorites, asteroid samples, and other extraterrestrial rocks and dust. By analyzing their chemistry, mineralogy, and isotopic signatures in the laboratory, she works to uncover clues about how and when planets formed, how water and organic matter were delivered to Earth, and what processes shaped small bodies like asteroids and comets.

🌍 By analyzing ancient space rocks, we gain insight into the origins of Earth’s water, the delivery of organic molecules, and the processes that shaped planets and asteroids. This knowledge not only deepens our understanding of our own cosmic history but also guides the search for life on other worlds and informs future space exploration.

📢 "By studying meteorites and samples returned from missions like OSIRIS-REx, we investigate how planets formed and how Earth became habitable. Analyzing these tiny rocks in the lab allows me to connect what we learn from returned samples with telescopic observations of distant worlds, helping bridge the gap between laboratory science and space exploration.” - Dr. Mane

Stay tuned for next week’s *superstar* at USRA.

02/24/2026

🌍 Where did water on Earth come from? Lunar samples from the Apollo missions are *still* giving us clues. Join Dr. Tony Gargano from USRA's Lunar and Planetary Institute for a lively discussion (11 min mark) with host Sarah Al-Ahmed, The Planetary Society.

🌚 If you weren’t a fan of Moon rocks before listening, you won’t be able to deny the allure as Dr. Gargano’s enthusiasm beams.

🖖Also, must have been pretty exciting to be featured on the same episode as George Takei!

Ad Astra!

Washington, D.C., — February 23, 2026. The Planetary Radio recently interviewed Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. Anthony Gargano, at USRA's Lunar and Planetary Institute and Research Affiliate at NASA Johnson Space Center. Here is the link to the interview:Where did Earth’s water come from? Clues… | T...