For 75 years, CU Boulder has been a leader in space exploration and innovation. We travel to space to monitor sea level rise, melting ice, weather patterns and more. Our researchers explore how to track and remove dangerous debris in space. We research the health of humans in space to inform medical applications for people on Earth.Learn more about the latest in space research and science at CU Boulder.

Colorado aerospace industry leaders and CU-Boulder to host program on Mars exploration

Aug. 28, 2014

The importance of Mars exploration and how the aerospace industry partners with university researchers to advance one of Colorado’s leading economic sectors will be featured at a free program Monday, Sept. 8, in south Denver.

Illustration of spin symmetry burrows

JILA team finds first direct evidence of ‘spin symmetry’ in atoms

Aug. 21, 2014

Just as diamonds with perfect symmetry may be unusually brilliant jewels, the quantum world has a symmetrical splendor of high scientific value. Confirming this exotic quantum physics theory, JILA physicists led by theorist Ana Maria Rey and experimentalist Jun Ye have observed the first direct evidence of symmetry in the magnetic properties—or nuclear “spins”—of atoms.

Drone test at Pawnee Grasslands

CU-Boulder leads international unmanned aircraft testing event at Pawnee Grassland

Aug. 21, 2014

An international research effort organized by the 鶹Ƶ conducted the first multiple, unmanned aircraft interception of a telltale rush of cold air preceding a thunderstorm known as a “gust front” as it rolled across the Pawnee National Grassland in northeast Colorado on Aug. 14.

Cooperation agreement furthers Dream Chaser Spacecraft microgravity science capabilities

Aug. 5, 2014

Sierra Nevada Corporation’s (SNC) Space Systems is pleased to announce it is expanding its relationship with the 鶹Ƶ through the signing of a letter of cooperation with CU-Boulder’s BioServe Space Technologies (BioServe). Through the cooperation, SNC and BioServe will jointly explore ways the Dream Chaser ® Space Utility Vehicle (SUV) can serve as an orbital platform for scientific experiments in microgravity and space life science research.

Aerospace Industry Insights event highlights CU's aerospace innovation and research

July 31, 2014

Members of the Boulder Chamber, a nonprofit business support and advocacy organization, visited CU-Boulder July 29 to learn about the university’s latest advances in space science and aerospace. The Aerospace Industry Insights event, held at Fiske Planetarium, brought together local, state and federal officials; CU-Boulder faculty, students and administrators; and leaders from the local business community. The purpose of the event, the first in a series sponsored by CU-Boulder and the Boulder Chamber, was to highlight for the business community CU-Boulder's research and innovation in order to foster continued partnership and economic growth.

CU-Boulder instrument onboard Hubble reveals the universe is ‘missing’ light

July 9, 2014

Something is amiss in the universe. There appears to be an enormous deficit of ultraviolet light in the cosmic budget. Observations made by the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph, a $70 million instrument designed by the 鶹Ƶ and installed on the Hubble Space Telescope, have revealed that the universe is “missing” a large amount of light.

Jin awarded Isaac Newton Medal of the Institute of Physics

July 8, 2014

Deborah Jin has won the 2014 Isaac Newton Medal, the highest accolade given by the Institute of Physics. She was cited for her experimental work in laser cooling atoms. This work has led to the practical demonstration of universal laws that upderpin fundamental quantum behavior.

Solar flare satellite strengthens partnership between CU-Boulder, aerospace industry

June 25, 2014

A NASA-funded miniature satellite built by 鶹Ƶ students to scrutinize solar flares erupting from the sun’s surface is the latest example of the university’s commitment to advancing aerospace technology and space science through strong partnerships with industry and government.

Solar image courtesy of NASA

Astronomers discover first Thorne-Żytkow object, a bizarre type of hybrid star

June 4, 2014

In a discovery decades in the making, scientists have detected the first of a “theoretical” class of stars first proposed in 1975 by physicist Kip Thorne and astronomer Anna Żytkow.

CU-Boulder payload selected for launch on Virgin Galactic spaceship

June 3, 2014

A 鶹Ƶ payload carrying a novel device designed to reduce the weight and cost of spacecraft fuel pumping systems has been manifested for launch on a suborbital space plane called SpaceShipTwo developed by the aerospace company Virgin Galactic.

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