{"689472":{"#nid":"689472","#data":{"type":"news","title":"2026 Frontiers in Science: Advancing Space Exploration","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EOne day after the historic Artemis II launch, the College of Sciences welcomed more than 150 researchers, students, and community members to its signature\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/frontiers-space\u0022\u003EFrontiers in Science\u003C\/a\u003E conference. Held on April 2, the full-day event focused on space research guiding discovery and innovation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAs during previous editions, this year\u2019s conference featured more than two dozen scientists, engineers, policy experts, and thought leaders from Georgia Tech and beyond, illustrating how collaboration across fields \u2013 from science and engineering to public policy and international affairs \u2013 helps to advance strategic research priorities.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cFrontiers is about discovery and connections across disciplines and generations,\u201d says\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/lozier.eas.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESusan Lozier\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, dean of the College of Sciences and Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Chair. \u201cThis edition provided an inspiring glimpse into the future of space exploration and the many ways Georgia Tech is contributing to research and missions seeking answers to what lies beyond our planet.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECommitment to Space\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ESpace research is a key institutional priority at Georgia Tech, which is home to numerous academic and research programs in planetary sciences, robotics, mission design, space policy, and other areas.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe recently established\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESpace Research Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (SRI) serves as the central hub connecting the broad range of space-related research across campus. Led by\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/2885\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJud Ready\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, who also serves as principal research engineer at the Georgia Tech Research Institute, SRI has expanded support for space research and commercialization through initiatives such as the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.research.gatech.edu\/2026\/02\/26\/new-space-startups-take-georgia-tech\u0022\u003ECreationsVC Space Fellows Program\u003C\/a\u003E and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.research.gatech.edu\/2025\/12\/10\/georgia-techs-space-research-institute-announces-inaugural-seed-grant-awardees\u0022\u003ECenters, Programs, and Initiatives seed grant program\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ESRI\u2019s efforts are in line with Georgia Tech\u2019s long-standing contribution to space exploration. Hundreds of Yellow Jacket alumni work in the space sector, including several graduates who are playing key roles in the Artemis program. To date, more than a dozen Georgia Tech alumni have traveled to space.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EExploring the Final Frontier\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe conference featured a series of panels and discussions led by faculty and researchers from the Colleges of Sciences and Engineering as well as the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ESessions explored how researchers are studying the processes and conditions that support planetary habitability, seeking to answer one of humanity\u2019s greatest questions: Does life exist beyond Earth? Speakers also examined how analog fieldwork in Earth\u2019s extreme environments can inform space exploration, and how space research, in turn, can deepen our understanding of our own world.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAdditional conversations centered on building better space missions through improved understanding of team and individual resilience, data collection, navigation, and the development of advanced technologies like the robots developed through the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/good-dog-lassie-spirit-learns-walk-moon\u0022\u003ENASA LASSIE Project\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EFrontiers also highlighted Georgia Tech\u2019s commitment to preparing the next generation of space scientists, engineers, and leaders. Student training and engagement were recurring themes throughout the day, with speakers emphasizing opportunities for student-led and student-run missions and research. A panel of Georgia Tech alumni shared their own STEM career journeys, challenging the idea of \u201cone right path\u201d to success \u2014 and acknowledging the resources and opportunities available at the Institute.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EA highlight of the conference was a fireside chat with Atlanta-native, retired U.S. Army Colonel and NASA Astronaut\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/kimbrough-rs.pdf\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ER. Shane Kimbrough\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (M.S. Operations Research 1998). Kimbrough, who spent a total of 388 days in space and performed nine spacewalks across three missions, reflected on his career and the evolution of spaceflight. He emphasized the expanding role of public-private and international partnerships in advancing ambitious goals, such as creating a permanent human outpost on the Moon.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPolicy and Public\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe conference also explored how policy influences space discovery and innovation, with discussions touching on such issues as space security, access, governance, sustainability \u2014\u0026nbsp;and the influence of technology and science fiction on public perception and policy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EPanelists described current policy frameworks governing outer space as struggling to keep pace with rapidly advancing technologies and expanding activities. According to these experts, increasing tensions among commercial, research, and recreational uses of space call for greater coordination among private and government entities to balance competing priorities while maximizing opportunities for innovation and exploration.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe conference was punctuated by a networking lunch connecting attendees with Atlanta\u2019s public astronomy community \u2013 including partners at several universities and the Georgia Tech Astronomy Club, which set up telescopes for attendees to safely observe the sun. Later that evening, the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/astronomy.gatech.edu\/Observatory.php\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Observatory\u003C\/a\u003E hosted its Public Night, welcoming the broader Atlanta community to campus for telescope views of Jupiter, the Orion Nebula, and other celestial bodies.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe Observatory Night was a fitting conclusion to a full day focused on Georgia Tech\u2019s commitment and contributions to inspiring future generations of space explorers through research, education, and outreach.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EExperience the Frontiers conference in pictures on the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/gtsciences\/albums\/72177720332868366\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003ECollege of Sciences\u2019 Flickr account\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EOne day after the historic Artemis II launch, the College of Sciences welcomed more than 150 researchers, students, and community members to its signature\u0026nbsp;Frontiers in Science conference.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"One day after the historic Artemis II launch, the College of Sciences welcomed more than 150 researchers, students, and community members to its signature\u00a0Frontiers in Science conference."}],"uid":"36583","created_gmt":"2026-04-06 14:05:00","changed_gmt":"2026-04-10 21:23:26","author":"lvidal7","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-06T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-06T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679862":{"id":"679862","type":"image","title":" Retired NASA astronaut R. Shane Kimbrough (M.S. Operations Research 1998) reflects on his career and the evolution of spaceflight.","body":null,"created":"1775484488","gmt_created":"2026-04-06 14:08:08","changed":"1775484488","gmt_changed":"2026-04-06 14:08:08","alt":"R. Shane Kimbrough speaks in front of room of people during a fireside chat","file":{"fid":"264072","name":"55185614870_ef06b5fa33_o.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/06\/55185614870_ef06b5fa33_o.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/06\/55185614870_ef06b5fa33_o.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2611719,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/06\/55185614870_ef06b5fa33_o.jpg?itok=9k4zXi2s"}},"679861":{"id":"679861","type":"image","title":"Joyce Shi Sim, assistant professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences","body":null,"created":"1775484488","gmt_created":"2026-04-06 14:08:08","changed":"1775484488","gmt_changed":"2026-04-06 14:08:08","alt":"Joyce Shi Sim holds a microphone and laser pointer while presenting to room of people","file":{"fid":"264071","name":"55185376153_8350a8e96f_o.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/06\/55185376153_8350a8e96f_o.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/06\/55185376153_8350a8e96f_o.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1858656,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/06\/55185376153_8350a8e96f_o.jpg?itok=QKyejMSW"}},"679863":{"id":"679863","type":"image","title":"Professor James Wray, professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences","body":null,"created":"1775485879","gmt_created":"2026-04-06 14:31:19","changed":"1775485923","gmt_changed":"2026-04-06 14:32:03","alt":"Professor James Wray holds microphone and points to powerpoint slide during his presentation","file":{"fid":"264073","name":"55184328417_3a02de62dc_o.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/06\/55184328417_3a02de62dc_o.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/06\/55184328417_3a02de62dc_o.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2636888,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/06\/55184328417_3a02de62dc_o.jpg?itok=saXBEEUR"}},"679860":{"id":"679860","type":"image","title":" [From left] Professor Glenn Lightsey, Professor Thom Orlando, Moderator Naia Butler-Craig  (M.S. AE 2023, Ph.D. AE 2026), Associate Professor Brian Gunter, and Research Engineer I Ava Thrasher ","body":null,"created":"1775484488","gmt_created":"2026-04-06 14:08:08","changed":"1775484488","gmt_changed":"2026-04-06 14:08:08","alt":"Group photo of five people, including Georgia Tech faculty","file":{"fid":"264070","name":"55184003111_c862d712f2_o.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/06\/55184003111_c862d712f2_o.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/06\/55184003111_c862d712f2_o.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":6182876,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/06\/55184003111_c862d712f2_o.jpg?itok=dcGAnsv4"}},"679858":{"id":"679858","type":"image","title":" The Georgia Tech Astronomy Club set up telescopes for attendees to safely observe the sun.","body":null,"created":"1775484488","gmt_created":"2026-04-06 14:08:08","changed":"1775484488","gmt_changed":"2026-04-06 14:08:08","alt":"Three people stand outdoors with one person looking at the sun through a telescope","file":{"fid":"264068","name":"55185476429_49ab238e05_o.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/06\/55185476429_49ab238e05_o.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/06\/55185476429_49ab238e05_o.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2674661,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/06\/55185476429_49ab238e05_o.jpg?itok=cCQeyNP0"}},"679859":{"id":"679859","type":"image","title":"Georgia Tech Observatory\u2019s April 2, 2026 Public Night","body":null,"created":"1775484488","gmt_created":"2026-04-06 14:08:08","changed":"1775484488","gmt_changed":"2026-04-06 14:08:08","alt":"Adults and children observing the night sky through a computer that is connected to a telescope","file":{"fid":"264069","name":"55185567256_ba1be5a592_o.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/06\/55185567256_ba1be5a592_o.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/06\/55185567256_ba1be5a592_o.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":4887238,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/06\/55185567256_ba1be5a592_o.jpg?itok=NaAICFg3"}}},"media_ids":["679862","679861","679863","679860","679858","679859"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/frontiers-space","title":"2026 Frontiers in Science: Advancing Space Exploration - Program"},{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/38-billion-year-old-titanium-clue-sheds-new-light-moons-early-chemistry","title":"3.8\u2011Billion\u2011Year\u2011Old Titanium Clue Sheds New Light on the Moon\u2019s Early Chemistry"},{"url":"https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/georgia-tech-pioneers-first-space-sustainability-course-us","title":"Georgia Tech Pioneers First Space Sustainability Course in the U.S."},{"url":"https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/news\/2026\/03\/welcome-future-artemis-ii-set-launch-moon","title":"\u2018Welcome to the Future!\u2019 Artemis II Set for Launch to the Moon"},{"url":"https:\/\/news.research.gatech.edu\/2026\/02\/26\/new-space-startups-take-georgia-tech","title":"New Space Startups Take Off at Georgia Tech"},{"url":"https:\/\/news.research.gatech.edu\/2025\/12\/10\/georgia-techs-space-research-institute-announces-inaugural-seed-grant-awardees","title":"Georgia Tech\u2019s Space Research Institute Announces Inaugural Seed Grant Awardees"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1275","name":"School of Biological Sciences"},{"id":"85951","name":"School of Chemistry and Biochemistry"},{"id":"364801","name":"School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS)"},{"id":"126011","name":"School of Physics"},{"id":"443951","name":"School of Psychology"},{"id":"660370","name":"Space"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"133","name":"Special Events and Guest Speakers"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192249","name":"cos-community"},{"id":"192252","name":"cos-planetary"},{"id":"4896","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"172511","name":"Frontiers Conference"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"194975","name":"go-space"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWriter: Lindsay C. Vidal\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["lvidal7@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688902":{"#nid":"688902","#data":{"type":"news","title":"3.8\u2011Billion\u2011Year\u2011Old Titanium Clue Sheds New Light on the Moon\u2019s Early Chemistry","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EA chemical signature hidden in a 3.8\u2011billion\u2011year\u2011old lunar rock is offering new insights into the availability of oxygen within the young Moon.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EPublished today in the journal\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003ENature Communications,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003Ethe paper \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-026-69770-w\u0022\u003ETrivalent Titanium in High-Titanium Lunar Ilmenite\u003C\/a\u003E\u201d confirms titanium in a reduced, trivalent state in a black, metal-rich lunar mineral called\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003Eilmenite\u003C\/em\u003E. It\u2019s a state only possible in low-oxygen environments, conditions researchers refer to as \u201creducing.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cModels have suggested that these reducing conditions may have varied at different locations and times across the surface of the Moon,\u201d says lead author\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/advik-vira\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAdvik Vira\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a graduate student in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Physics\u003C\/a\u003E who recently earned his doctoral degree. \u201cWe hope our microscopy technique can be a valuable step in mapping and understanding the Moon\u2019s 4.5-billion-year history.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe team anticipates that their technique could be used on many of the lunar samples collected more than 50 years ago by the Apollo missions in addition to the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/lunar-science\/programs\/angsa\/\u0022\u003EApollo Next Generation Samples\u003C\/a\u003E \u2014 a group of lunar samples that have been stored under pristine conditions \u2014 and new samples from the planned\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/artemis-ii\/\u0022\u003EArtemis missions\u003C\/a\u003E, with Artemis II slated for launch this spring. The technique might also be applicable to samples collected from the far side of the Moon and returned in 2024 by the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.planetary.org\/space-missions\/change-6\u0022\u003EChang\u2019e-6 mission\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThe Moon holds clues not only to its own past, but also to the earliest eras of Earth\u2019s evolution \u2014 history that has long since been erased from our planet,\u201d Vira says. \u201cThis study is a step toward understanding the history of both and a reminder that there is still so much left to learn from the lunar rocks we\u2019ve brought back to Earth.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe School of Physics research team included corresponding authors Vira and Professor\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/phillip-first\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPhillip First\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E; in addition to graduate student\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ERoshan Trivedi\u003C\/strong\u003E; undergraduate students\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EGabriella Dotson, Keyes Eames\u003C\/strong\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EDean Kim,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Eand\u003Cstrong\u003E Emma Livernois\u003C\/strong\u003E; and Professor\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/zhigang-jiang\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EZhigang Jiang\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, along with Institute for Matter and Systems Materials Characterization Facility Senior Research Scientist\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/matter-systems.research.gatech.edu\/people\/mengkun-tian\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMengkun Tian\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E;\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Chemistry and Biochemistry\u003C\/a\u003E Senior Research Scientist\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/people\/brant-m-jones\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBrant Jones\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/people\/thomas-orlando\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThom Orlando\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003ERegents\u0027 Professor in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry with a joint appointment in the School of Physics.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe Georgia Tech team was joined by\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/addisenergy.com\/\u0022\u003EAddis Energy\u003C\/a\u003E Senior Geochemist\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EKatherine Burgess\u003C\/strong\u003E; Macalester College Assistant Professor of Geology\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/geology\/facultystaff\/emily-first\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEmily First\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E; along with\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.lbl.gov\/\u0022\u003ELawrence Berkeley National Laboratory\u003C\/a\u003E Research Scientist\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energygeosciences.lbl.gov\/profile\/hlisabeth\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHarrison Lisabeth\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Senior Scientist\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/als.lbl.gov\/people\/nobumichi-tamura\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENobumichi Tamura\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Eand\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003EPostdoctoral Fellow\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ETyler Farr,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Ewho recently earned a Ph.D. from Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3 dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECLEVER research\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe investigation began with a dark gray rock called a lunar basalt. Formed when ancient magma erupted on the Moon\u2019s surface, minerals crystallized as it cooled \u2014 preserving key information in their structures. Billions of years later, the rock was brought to Earth by the 1972 Apollo 17 mission, where a small piece is now stored at Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/clever.research.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECenter for Lunar Environment and Volatile Exploration Research (CLEVER)\u003C\/a\u003E, a NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI) center led by Orlando.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAs a NASA virtual institute, CLEVER supports researchers exploring lunar conditions and developing tools for the upcoming crewed Artemis missions, and provided the lunar samples for this research. The SSERVI also plays a critical role in training the next generation of planetary researchers: both Vira and Farr earned their Ph.D.s while on the CLEVER team.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cAt CLEVER, we are very interested in understanding the impacts of space weathering,\u201d Vira says. \u201cWe implemented modern\u0026nbsp;sample preparation and advanced microscopy techniques\u0026nbsp;to image samples at the atomic level, and were curious to apply it more broadly to the collection of Apollo rocks in the Orlando Lab. This sample caught our attention.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cWhen we imaged an ilmenite crystal from the lunar basalt, what struck us first was how uniform and perfect the crystal structure was,\u201d he recalls. \u201cWe found no defects from space weathering and instead saw an undamaged, pristine crystal \u2014 undisturbed for 3.8 billion years.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ETo investigate further, the team analyzed small chips of the rock with Burgess,\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Ea member of the RISE2 SSERVI team and then a geologist at the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nrl.navy.mil\/\u0022\u003EU.S. Naval Research Laboratory\u003C\/a\u003E. Using state-of-the-art electron microscopy and spectroscopy techniques, Vira determined the oxidation state of the elements in the ilmenite\u003Cem\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003Epresent.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EIn spectroscopy measurements, each element leaves a distinct \u2018signature,\u2019 Vira explains. \u201cWhen we brought our results back to Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/matter-systems.research.gatech.edu\/mcf\/materials-characterization-facility\u0022\u003EMaterials Characterization Facility\u003C\/a\u003E, Mengkun (Tian) noticed something unusual: the signature showed titanium might be present in the trivalent state.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe presence of trivalent titanium had long been suspected in this lunar mineral. The team was intrigued.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3 dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA new window into old rocks\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EWith funding from Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cstar.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECenter for Space Technology and Research (CSTAR)\u003C\/a\u003E, Vira returned to the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory to analyze additional samples. The results confirmed that more titanium was present than the mineral\u2019s formula (FeTiO\u2083) predicts \u2014 indicating a portion of the titanium present was trivalent.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThat led me to place our measurements in terms of the broader geological context,\u201d Vira shares. Working with First, Vira explored how ilmenite with trivalent titanium could help reconstruct the nature of ancient magmas from the Moon, especially the chemical availability of oxygen.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cBecause its location on the Moon was noted during the Apollo mission, we know exactly where this rock is from, and we can determine how old the rock is,\u201d he explains. \u201cWhen coupled with our trivalent titanium measurements, we can use that information to estimate the reducing conditions for this specific region at the specific time our rock formed.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EIf the upcoming Artemis missions return samples suitable for the team\u2019s technique, these rocks could provide a new window into ancient lunar geology. The research also highlights that many lunar samples already on Earth could be reexamined to look for trivalent titanium.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThere is still so much to learn from the lunar samples we have already brought to Earth,\u201d Vira says. \u201cIt\u2019s a testament to the long-term value of each sample return mission. As technology continues to advance, this type of work will continue to give us critical insights into our planet and our place in the universe for years to come.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDOI\u003C\/strong\u003E: \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-026-69770-w\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E10.1038\/s41467-026-69770-w\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFunding\u003C\/strong\u003E: This work was directly supported by the NASA SSERVI under CLEVER. Researchers were also supported by the NASA RISE2 SSERVI and the Heising-Simons Foundation. Funding for collaborations between the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and Georgia Tech for the investigation of lunar minerals was provided by the Georgia Tech Center for Space Technology and Research. Sample preparation was performed at the Georgia Tech Institute for Matter and Systems, which is supported by the National Science Foundation. This work utilized the resources of the Advanced Light Source, a user facility supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, and was supported in part by previous breakthroughs obtained through the Laboratory Direct.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe finding offers new clues about the oxygen conditions that shaped the Moon\u2019s early environment.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The finding offers new clues about the oxygen conditions that shaped the Moon\u2019s early environment."}],"uid":"35599","created_gmt":"2026-03-12 18:40:17","changed_gmt":"2026-03-27 14:09:07","author":"sperrin6","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-27T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-27T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679604":{"id":"679604","type":"image","title":"Taken aboard Apollo 8 by Bill Anders, this iconic picture shows Earth peeking out from beyond the lunar surface as the first crewed spacecraft circumnavigated the Moon, with astronauts Anders, Frank Borman, and Jim Lovell aboard. (Credit: NASA)","body":"\u003Cp\u003ETaken aboard Apollo 8 by Bill Anders, this iconic picture shows Earth peeking out from beyond the lunar surface as the first crewed spacecraft circumnavigated the Moon, with astronauts Anders, Frank Borman, and Jim Lovell aboard. (Credit: NASA)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1773340129","gmt_created":"2026-03-12 18:28:49","changed":"1774620147","gmt_changed":"2026-03-27 14:02:27","alt":"Earth peeking out from beyond the lunar surface.","file":{"fid":"263785","name":"Screenshot-2026-03-12-at-11.32.02-AM_0.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/12\/Screenshot-2026-03-12-at-11.32.02-AM_0.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/12\/Screenshot-2026-03-12-at-11.32.02-AM_0.png","mime":"image\/png","size":884051,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/12\/Screenshot-2026-03-12-at-11.32.02-AM_0.png?itok=MbOCiQtk"}},"679608":{"id":"679608","type":"image","title":"Advik Vira","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAdvik Vira\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1773340703","gmt_created":"2026-03-12 18:38:23","changed":"1773340750","gmt_changed":"2026-03-12 18:39:10","alt":"Advik Vira. He is wearing a colorful science-print button up.","file":{"fid":"263789","name":"Vira-Headshot.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/12\/Vira-Headshot.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/12\/Vira-Headshot.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":341274,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/12\/Vira-Headshot.jpg?itok=ogP_wqEd"}},"679610":{"id":"679610","type":"image","title":"An illustration\u00a0of the Apollo rock 75035\u00a0on the Moon, an atomic image of the sample, and its spectral signature.\u00a0(Credit: August Davis)","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAn illustration\u0026nbsp;of the Apollo rock 75035\u0026nbsp;on the Moon, an atomic image of the sample, and its spectral signature.\u0026nbsp;(Credit: August Davis)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1773350645","gmt_created":"2026-03-12 21:24:05","changed":"1774620172","gmt_changed":"2026-03-27 14:02:52","alt":"A figure showing moon rocks, a magnifying glass showing the internal structure, with a green wavy line emitting from the rock.","file":{"fid":"263792","name":"feature-image-suggestion--1-.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/12\/feature-image-suggestion--1-.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/12\/feature-image-suggestion--1-.png","mime":"image\/png","size":752836,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/12\/feature-image-suggestion--1-.png?itok=wx3iLDkB"}},"679606":{"id":"679606","type":"image","title":"An optical image of the chip\u00a0from the lunar\u00a0rock\u00a0the team investigated.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAn optical image of the chip\u0026nbsp;from the lunar\u0026nbsp;rock\u0026nbsp;the team investigated.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1773340509","gmt_created":"2026-03-12 18:35:09","changed":"1774620185","gmt_changed":"2026-03-27 14:03:05","alt":"A chip of the lunar sample.","file":{"fid":"263787","name":"optical-image-75035.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/12\/optical-image-75035.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/12\/optical-image-75035.png","mime":"image\/png","size":284379,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/12\/optical-image-75035.png?itok=7TX3fZrH"}},"679607":{"id":"679607","type":"image","title":"An image of the chip from the sample, imaged using scanning electron microscopy. Titanium is shown in light blue, and white boxes show areas where\u00a0samples\u00a0were\u00a0extracted\u00a0to analyze the\u00a0ilmenite\u00a0crystal.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAn image of the chip from the sample, imaged using scanning electron microscopy. Titanium is shown in light blue, and white boxes show areas where\u0026nbsp;samples\u0026nbsp;were\u0026nbsp;extracted\u0026nbsp;to analyze the\u0026nbsp;ilmenite\u0026nbsp;crystal.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1773340593","gmt_created":"2026-03-12 18:36:33","changed":"1774620199","gmt_changed":"2026-03-27 14:03:19","alt":"The chip, colored in large areas with purple, with blue ribbons of color. There are a total of five white rectangles on the blue areas.","file":{"fid":"263791","name":"SEM-image-75035.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/12\/SEM-image-75035.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/12\/SEM-image-75035.png","mime":"image\/png","size":5511950,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/12\/SEM-image-75035.png?itok=aaHnKhSw"}}},"media_ids":["679604","679608","679610","679606","679607"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-026-69770-w","title":"Trivalent titanium in high-titanium lunar ilmenite"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"85951","name":"School of Chemistry and Biochemistry"},{"id":"126011","name":"School of Physics"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"141","name":"Chemistry and Chemical Engineering"},{"id":"150","name":"Physics and Physical Sciences"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"192252","name":"cos-planetary"},{"id":"192259","name":"cos-students"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193653","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"},{"id":"39471","name":"Materials"},{"id":"193652","name":"Matter and Systems"},{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWritten by:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:sperrin6@gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESelena Langner\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECollege of Sciences\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688556":{"#nid":"688556","#data":{"type":"news","title":"New Space Startups Take Off at Georgia Tech","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s faculty startup engine\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/quadrant-i.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EQuadrant-i\u003C\/a\u003E, together with the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESpace Research Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (SRI), launched the first cohort of the CreationsVC Space Fellows Program. Funded by space technology venture capital firm\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/creations.vc\/\u0022\u003ECreationsVC\u003C\/a\u003E, the program enables faculty to explore promising early-stage innovations and their potential for future commercial impact.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis first set of CreationsVC Fellows offers an exciting cross-section of innovative hardware and software technologies built on Georgia Tech\u2019s legacy of space exploration, hardware development, and product commercialization,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/w-jud-ready\u0022\u003EJud Ready\u003C\/a\u003E, SRI executive director.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the first year of the three-year program, CreationsVC provides $125,000 to promote and accelerate innovations that have both space and terrestrial applications. The series offers participants training focused on customer discovery, engaging and compelling storytelling, value proposition design and quantification, and lean\/agile project\/product management.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cCreationsVC is centered on a deep appreciation for innovation and big thinking,\u201d said Steve Braverman, co-founder and managing partner of CreationsVC. \u201cWe felt this was the right time to align our efforts in sourcing and supporting dual-value technologies that will have an impact on both Earth and space.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe six startups tackle real-world space research problems like supply chain management, how artificial intelligence works in space, and navigation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe are excited CreationsVC is providing us with an opportunity to try new approaches to accelerate deep tech development,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/jonathan-goldman\u0022\u003EJonathan Goldman\u003C\/a\u003E, Quadrant-i\u2019s director.\u0026nbsp;\u201cThese are the toughest kinds of startups to build, and we look forward to the learning we will gain from forcing our innovators out of their comfort zones to embrace some new and valuable skills.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EMeet the cohort:\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECompany: \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cimtech.ai\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECIMTech.ai\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFounders:\u003C\/strong\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/shimeng-yu\u0022\u003EShimeng Yu\u003C\/a\u003E, James Read\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESchool:\u003C\/strong\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Electrical and Computer Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E (ECE)\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EObjective: \u003C\/strong\u003ETo develop energy-efficient, radiation-tolerant artificial intelligence processors using a persistent type of ferroelectric memory. The startup aims to improve applications requiring high power efficiency, such as battery-powered devices and space-based systems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy Q-i: \u201c\u003C\/strong\u003EThe advantage of Q-i is in helping technical founders turn their research into products that solve customers\u2019 problems,\u201d noted James Read. \u201cFor us, that means talking with potential customers and hearing their pain points directly from the source. Now we\u2019re use that information to build a convincing narrative around our startup\u2019s value for stakeholders and investors.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECompany: SkyCT\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFounders\u003C\/strong\u003E: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/directory\/morris-b-cohen\u0022\u003EMorris Cohen,\u003C\/a\u003E Matthew Strong\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESchool:\u003C\/strong\u003E ECE\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EObjective:\u003C\/strong\u003E To provide\u0026nbsp;up-to-date mapping of the electrical properties of the upper atmosphere, with applications to GPS-free navigation, long-range communication, and satellite and launch vehicle viability.\u0026nbsp;The startup uses the radio energy released by lightning strikes to create this map.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy Q-i: \u003C\/strong\u003E\u201cThis weird region about 50 miles up from Earth\u2019s surface is both really hard to track and measure, and also impacts a surprising array of applications,\u201d said Cohen. \u201cIt\u2019s sometimes called the `ignorosphere\u2019 because of how difficult it is to measure, and it\u2019s time we change that.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECompany: Penumbra Autonomy\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFounders:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/panagiotis-tsiotras\u0022\u003EPanagiotis Tsiotras,\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jdflorez\/\u0022\u003EJuan Diego Florez-Castillo\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/iasonvelentzas\/\u0022\u003EIason Velentzas\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESchool:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EDaniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E (AE)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EObjective:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003ETo commercialize algorithms that help spacecraft maneuver when they have limited information on their environment. The algorithms use state-of-the-art computer vision and localization techniques. This could benefit manufacturing, assembly, and refueling in orbit, as well as enable monitoring, situational awareness, and debris removal.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy Q-i: \u003C\/strong\u003E\u201cThe program offers a conduit to entrepreneurship opportunities and spinoff companies in the space domain by providing guidance and commercialization \u2018know-how,\u2019\u201d said Panagiotis\u0026nbsp;Tsiotras.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECompany: TerraMorph\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFounders:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/yashwanth-kumar-nakka\u0022\u003EYashwanth Kumar Nakka\u003C\/a\u003E, Sadhana Kumar, Vincent Griffo, Sachin Kelkar\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESchool:\u003C\/strong\u003E AE\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EObjective:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;To create an autonomous rover platform with adaptive, reconfigurable mobility. The rover will implement software and sensing algorithms to automatically detect terrain type and improve traction and energy usage. This could be used on the moon or Mars, or even terrestrial search and rescue.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy Q-i: \u003C\/strong\u003E\u201cTerraMorph\u0026nbsp;was developed to address fundamental challenges in mobility and autonomy across uncertain\u0026nbsp;terrain, \u0026nbsp;but\u0026nbsp;successfully translating that work into impact requires creative guidance, critical feedback, and experienced perspectives beyond the lab,\u201d said Yashwanth Kumar Nakka. \u201cQ-i\u2019s culture of leading by example and fostering strong, ethical teams aligns closely with how we want to build\u0026nbsp;TerraMorph: iteratively, thoughtfully, and with a focus on real-world deployment.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECompany: \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/openwerks.org\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOpenWerks\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFounders:\u003C\/strong\u003E \u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/shreyes-melkote\u0022\u003EShreyes Melkote\u003C\/a\u003E, Mike Yan\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESchool:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EObjective:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;To deliver real-time manufacturing supply chain visibility for the space and national security industries. OpenWerks technology aims to dramatically reduce current sourcing cycles from eight months down to weeks by connecting corporate buyers directly with verified supplier manufacturing capability and capacity data.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy Q-i:\u003C\/strong\u003E \u201cFrom the very beginning, principals at VentureLab and\u0026nbsp; Q-i offered a clear pathway to translate academic research into a viable business,\u201d said Mike Yan. \u201cTheir reputation for guiding Georgia Tech startups through both business and technology derisking, combined with their comprehensive ecosystem of programs and coaches, made them the natural partner for our entrepreneurial journey.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECompany: \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.8seven8.com\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E8Seven8\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFounders:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/chandra-raman\u0022\u003EChandra Raman\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESchool:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Physics\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EObjective:\u003C\/strong\u003E To manufacture quantum hardware in Georgia. 8Seven8 aims to put high-precision atomic clocks and gyroscopes on a chip for applications ranging from aircraft navigation to industrial automation. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy Q-i:\u003C\/strong\u003E \u201cThey have mentored me and my students through the commercialization process, providing opportunities such as the Space Fellows Cohort,\u201d Chandra Raman said. \u201cOne of my former students, Alexandra Crawford, gained valuable business experience through a Q-i entrepreneur\u2019s assistantship, and is now working at 8Seven8 full-time. They have also guided me through the process of obtaining funding through the Georgia Research Alliance for our commercialization effort.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThese six faculty- and student-led startups will tackle space innovations with terrestrial applications.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"These six faculty- and student-led startups will tackle space innovations with terrestrial applications. "}],"uid":"34541","created_gmt":"2026-02-26 20:51:28","changed_gmt":"2026-03-20 13:01:10","author":"Tess Malone","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-26T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-26T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679462":{"id":"679462","type":"image","title":"Nasa.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EPhoto courtesy of NASA\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1772139109","gmt_created":"2026-02-26 20:51:49","changed":"1772139109","gmt_changed":"2026-02-26 20:51:49","alt":"Northrop Grumman\u0027s Cygnus XL cargo craft approaches the International Space Station","file":{"fid":"263626","name":"Nasa.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/26\/Nasa.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/26\/Nasa.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":315029,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/26\/Nasa.jpg?itok=Nz3pjuAT"}}},"media_ids":["679462"],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"194610","name":"National Interests\/National Security"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192255","name":"go-commercializationnews"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193658","name":"Commercialization"},{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:tess.malone@gatech.edu\u0022\u003ETess Malone\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ESenior Research Writer\/Editor\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688337":{"#nid":"688337","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Aerospace Robotics Lab Simulates the Moon to Advance NextGen Space Robotics Research","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ETraveling to the moon for scientific discovery is expensive. And even once you get there, operating a rover on the moon is nothing like driving on Earth \u2014 the uneven terrain, deep shadows, and unpredictable soil make autonomy essential.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo, what do you do if you want to design robots and their controlling algorithms for future moon visits? If you\u2019re \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/yashwanth-kumar-nakka\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYashwanth Nakka\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E,\u003C\/strong\u003E you bring the moon to you.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENakka has recreated the moon in a research lab at Georgia Tech, hauling in seven tons of basalt rock to mimic the look and feel of the lunar surface. With dark black walls and a bright light that simulates the sun\u2019s glare, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/aerospaceroboticslab.ae.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAerospace Robotics Lab \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E(ARL) is the only one of its kind in a university setting.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis lab will help Nakka\u2019s team of researchers understand how robotic rovers interact with the environment on the moon\u0026nbsp;\u2014 how they perceive the terrain in different sunlight conditions, for example, and how they navigate across a surface that can easily swallow a rover wheel.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cFrom a research perspective, many of today\u2019s space mobility solutions still build upon algorithms developed two decades ago. This new lab positions us to pioneer the next generation of autonomous mobility technologies that can overcome unstructured terrain, environmental, and operational challenges. Advancing autonomous systems is critical to enabling deep-space exploration, supporting resource utilization, and empowering scientists to investigate new frontiers such as icy moons that may harbor subsurface oceans,\u201d said Nakka, assistant professor in the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnlike the Moon\u2019s ultra-fine, clingy regolith that can coat equipment and cause severe wear and damage, Nakka\u2019s lab uses carefully selected, gem-sized basalt rocks. This material allows researchers to realistically study how robots interact with granular terrain while avoiding the need for extensive protective equipment, making experimentation safer, more efficient, and easier to conduct. When robots are driving on the surface, they experience the same shifts and movements they would in the moondust.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlgorithms that Help Rovers Think and Decide on Their Wheels\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe lab uses specialized lights that mimic the sun because lighting conditions can significantly impact rover operations. A typical rover relies on cameras to identify objects \u2014 such as determining whether something is a rock and whether the rover should drive around or over it.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe rover also must assess slopes and evaluate whether the terrain is stable enough to traverse. These decisions are usually made with a human in the loop; Nakka is developing control systems that would allow the rovers to operate without that human intervention.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cLighting conditions make this process challenging,\u201d Nakka said. \u201cFor instance, direct sunlight on the camera can distort what the rover sees. One of the greatest obstacles is developing algorithms that remain robust and reliable despite these varying environmental factors.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team\u2019s algorithms will empower vehicles to independently assess their surroundings, identify safe paths, and select scientifically intriguing targets, all on their own. They also will allow the rovers to work together to explore or achieve other objectives.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Developing effective algorithms requires more than simply studying a standard vehicle and attempting to adapt autonomy solutions from there. That approach limits performance, particularly when driving at high speeds,\u201d Nakka said. \u201cTo achieve truly dynamic and responsive autonomous control, our algorithms must understand how the vehicle interacts with the terrain, control for uncertainty, and incorporate that surface to wheel contact information in real time.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENext-Gen Robots for the Moon\u2019s Hidden Extremes\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlongside control algorithms, Nakka and his team are crafting new robots capable of exploring harsh moon terrain and accessing challenging environments, such as lunar vents and caves. These shape changing robots, inspired by Nakka\u2019s previous work at NASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), will cover territory that conventional rovers simply can\u2019t reach.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022We aim to integrate robot design with algorithm development to create systems that are adaptive and capable of changing shape. For example, a rover that can crawl, lift a leg to clear debris when stuck, and continue moving\u2014demonstrating the importance of built-in adaptability.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENakka\u2019s long-term vision for autonomy is to develop a rover capable of understanding both its environmental context and its own internal state. This includes recognizing available resources as well as interpreting external conditions. Achieving this level of autonomous self and environmental awareness is expected to take approximately a decade.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUltimately, the work being done in the ARL will shape the next decade of space robotic exploration, making it possible for rovers to go farther, think faster, and survive in places no human or robot has ever gone.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ENakka has recreated the moon in a research lab at Georgia Tech, hauling in seven tons of basalt rock to mimic the look and feel of the lunar surface. With dark black walls and a bright light that simulates the sun\u2019s glare, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/aerospaceroboticslab.ae.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAerospace Robotics Lab \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E(ARL) is the only one of its kind in a university setting.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Aerospace engineers recreate the moon\u2019s difficult terrain to help next-gen space robots work together, explore, and build on the lunar surface."}],"uid":"36345","created_gmt":"2026-02-17 20:41:13","changed_gmt":"2026-02-17 20:48:29","author":"gwaddell3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-17T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-17T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679333":{"id":"679333","type":"image","title":"Aerospace-Robotics-Lab.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EProfessor \u003Cstrong\u003EYashwanth Nakka\u003C\/strong\u003E in the Aerospace Robotics Lab. (Photo: Cameron Eure)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1771360166","gmt_created":"2026-02-17 20:29:26","changed":"1771360166","gmt_changed":"2026-02-17 20:29:26","alt":"Professor Yashwanth Nakka in the Aerospace Robotics Lab. (Photo: Cameron Eure)","file":{"fid":"263479","name":"Aerospace-Robotics-Lab.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/17\/Aerospace-Robotics-Lab.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/17\/Aerospace-Robotics-Lab.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2705503,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/17\/Aerospace-Robotics-Lab.jpg?itok=MXj7xQen"}}},"media_ids":["679333"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/6mfijEE-9Gc","title":" Researchers Bring the Moon\u0027s Surface to Atlanta"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"}],"keywords":[{"id":"2352","name":"robots"},{"id":"180895","name":"rovers"},{"id":"4191","name":"moon"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMonique Waddell\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["monique.waddell@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"682938":{"#nid":"682938","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Ready Named Inaugural Executive Director of the Georgia Tech Space Research Institute","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEffective July 1,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/2885\u0022\u003EW. Jud Ready\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Ewill serve as the inaugural executive director of Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;new\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESpace Research Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (SRI), which will officially launch on the same date.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe SRI builds upon Georgia Tech\u2019s long and distinguished history in space research and exploration. By uniting experts across disciplines \u2014 from aerospace engineering to planetary science, astrophysics, robotics, policy, the arts, and origin of life explorations \u2014 the SRI aims to create a resilient ecosystem for space research that can adapt and thrive, even in an era of fiscal uncertainty. It is composed of faculty, staff, and students whose collaborative research spans a broad spectrum of space-related topics, all deeply connected to advancing our understanding of space and its impact on the human experience.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe launch of the SRI comes at a pivotal moment for the scientific community,\u201d said Vice President of Interdisciplinary Research Julia Kubanek. \u201cAs the federal government proposes major cuts to funding agencies, our interdisciplinary research institutes are striving to support faculty and make them more competitive across disciplinary boundaries. This institute will publicly showcase impactful research led by Georgia Tech faculty, attract new collaborators, and pursue alternative funding strategies via philanthropic and industry partners.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Space Research Institute will consist of an interdisciplinary community of faculty across Georgia Tech\u2019s schools, colleges, and the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt is an honor to be appointed executive director of the Space Research Institute,\u201d said Ready. \u201cMy plan is to provide internal and external space researchers with access to Georgia Tech\u2019s world class facilities and turbocharge the space activities already underway. We\u2019re committed to empowering our existing community while forging new partnerships that will expand our reach and impact across the global space ecosystem.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EReady, a\u0026nbsp;principal research engineer in GTRI\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtri.gatech.edu\/laboratories\/electro-optical-systems-laboratory\u0022\u003EElectro-Optical Systems Laboratory\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;is the\u0026nbsp;first GTRI faculty member to serve in a long-term capacity as an IRI executive director. Prior to his appointment, he served as\u0026nbsp;associate\u0026nbsp;director of external engagement\u0026nbsp;for the Georgia Tech \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/matter-systems.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EInstitute for Matter and Systems\u003C\/a\u003E and director of the Georgia Tech Center for Space Technology and Research (CSTAR).\u0026nbsp;He is also an adjunct professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/mse.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Materials Science and Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore joining the Georgia Tech faculty, Ready worked for General Dynamics and MicroCoating\u0026nbsp;Technologies. Throughout his career,\u0026nbsp;he has served as PI or co-PI for grants totaling more than $25M awarded by the Army, Navy, Air Force, DARPA, NASA, NSF, NIST,\u0026nbsp;DOE, other federal sponsors,\u0026nbsp;industry, charitable foundations, private citizens, and\u0026nbsp;the States of Georgia and Florida.\u0026nbsp;His current research focuses primarily on energy capture, storage, and delivery enabled by nanomaterial design. His research has been included on three missions to the International Space Station, two others to low earth orbit, and one perpetually in heliocentric orbit (Lunar Flashlight). His future space missions include MISSE-21 to the International Space Station and SSTEF-1 to the Lunar surface. A half dozen solar cells from his past missions to the International Space Station will be included in the permanent At Home in Space exhibit opening on the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum\u0027s 50th Anniversary.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EReady has received numerous awards and honors for his work. His most recent awards include the Class of 1934 Outstanding Innovative Use of Education Technology award in 2025 and the Outstanding Achievement in Research Program Development award in 2023, both from Georgia Tech. He also received the One GTRI Collaboration Award in 2022, which he was awarded during GTRI\u2019s annual Distinguished Performance Awards celebration.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAdditional articles of interest:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/magazine\/2025\/spring\/10-questions-jud-ready\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E10 Questions with Jud Ready\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtri.gatech.edu\/newsroom\/space-station-testing-will-evaluate-photovoltaic-materials\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESpace Station Testing Will Evaluate Photovoltaic Materials\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Effective July 1, Ready will serve as the inaugural executive director of Georgia Tech\u2019s new Space Research Institute, which will officially launch on the same date."}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEffective July 1, Ready will serve as the inaugural executive director of Georgia Tech\u2019s new Space Research Institute, which will officially launch on the same date.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Effective July 1, Ready will serve as the inaugural executive director of Georgia Tech\u2019s new Space Research Institute, which will officially launch on the same date."}],"uid":"34760","created_gmt":"2025-06-30 14:27:59","changed_gmt":"2025-12-31 17:22:59","author":"Laurie Haigh","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-06-30T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-06-30T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677316":{"id":"677316","type":"image","title":"Jud Ready","body":null,"created":"1751374763","gmt_created":"2025-07-01 12:59:23","changed":"1751374791","gmt_changed":"2025-07-01 12:59:51","alt":"Jud Ready","file":{"fid":"261202","name":"Ready-recropped.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/01\/Ready-recropped.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/01\/Ready-recropped.png","mime":"image\/png","size":498883,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/07\/01\/Ready-recropped.png?itok=Gk_6TGDx"}}},"media_ids":["677316"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: laurie.haigh@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ELaurie Haigh\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EResearch Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"682962":{"#nid":"682962","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Launches Two New Interdisciplinary Research Institutes","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech has launched two new Interdisciplinary Research Institutes (IRIs): The Institute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society (INNS) and the Space Research Institute (SRI).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe new institutes focus on expanding breakthroughs in neuroscience and space, two areas where research and federal funding are anticipated to remain strong. Both fields are poised to influence research in everything from healthcare and ethics to exploration and innovation. This expansion of Georgia Tech\u2019s research enterprise represents the Institute\u2019s commitment to research that will shape the future.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAt Georgia Tech, innovation flourishes where disciplines converge. With the launch of the Space Research Institute and the Institute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society, we\u2019re uniting experts across fields to take on some of humanity\u2019s most profound questions. Even as we are tightening our belts in anticipation of potential federal R\u0026amp;D budget actions, we also are investing in areas where non-federal funding sources will grow and where big impacts are possible,\u201d said Executive Vice President for Research Tim Lieuwen. \u0022These institutes are about advancing knowledge \u2014 and using it to improve lives, inspire future generations, and help shape a better future for us all.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBoth INNS and SRI grew out of faculty-led initiatives shaped by a strategic planning process and campus-wide collaboration. Their evolution into formal institutes underscores the strength and momentum of Georgia Tech\u2019s interdisciplinary research enterprise.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s 11 IRIs support collaboration between researchers and students across the Institute\u2019s seven colleges, the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), national laboratories, and corporate entities to tackle critical topics of strategic significance for the Institute as well as for local, state, national, and international communities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022IRIs bring together Georgia Tech researchers making them more competitive and successful in solving research challenges, especially across disciplinary boundaries,\u201d said Julia Kubanek, vice president of interdisciplinary research. \u201cWe\u0027re making these new investments in neuro- and space-related fields to publicly showcase impactful discoveries and developments led by Georgia Tech faculty, attract new partners and collaborators, and pursue alternative funding strategies at a time of federal funding uncertainty.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Space Research Institute\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESpace Research Institute\u003C\/a\u003E will connect faculty, students, and staff who share a passion for space exploration and discovery. They will investigate a wide variety of space-related topics, exploring how space influences and intersects with the human experience. The SRI fosters a collaborative community including scientific, engineering, cultural, and commercial research that pursues broadly integrated, innovative projects.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESRI is the hub for all things space-related at Georgia Tech. It connects the Institute\u2019s schools, colleges, research institutes, and labs to lead conversations about space in the state of Georgia and the world. Working in partnership with academics, business partners, philanthropists, students, and governments, Georgia Tech is committed to staying at the forefront of space-related innovation.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe SRI will build upon the collaborative work of the Space Research Initiative, the first step in formalizing Georgia Tech\u2019s broad interdisciplinary space research community. The Initiative brought together researchers from across campus and was guided by input from Georgia Tech stakeholders and external partners. It was led by an executive committee including\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/4313\u0022\u003EGlenn Lightsey\u003C\/a\u003E, John W. Young Chair Professor in the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering;\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/21316\u0022\u003EMariel Borowitz\u003C\/a\u003E, associate professor in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs; and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/2804\u0022\u003EJennifer Glass\u003C\/a\u003E, associate professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. Beginning July 1, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/s1.space.research.gatech.edu\/w-jud-ready\u0022\u003EW. Jud Ready\u003C\/a\u003E, a principal research engineer in GTRI\u2019s Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory, will serve as the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/ready-named-inaugural-executive-director-georgia-tech-space-research-institute\u0022\u003Einaugural executive director of the Space Research Institute\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo receive the latest updates on space research and innovation at Georgia Tech,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/app.e2ma.net\/app2\/audience\/signup\/2015041\/1983075\/\u0022\u003Ejoin the SRI mailing list\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Institute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/neuro.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EInstitute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society\u003C\/a\u003E (INNS) is dedicated to advancing neuroscience and neurotechnology to improve society through discovery, innovation, and engagement. INNS brings together researchers from neuroscience, engineering, computing, ethics, public policy, and the humanities to explore the brain and nervous system while addressing the societal and ethical dimensions of neuro-related research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EINNS builds on a foundation established over a decade ago, which first led to the GT-Neuro Initiative and later evolved into the Neuro Next Initiative. Over the past two years, this effort has culminated in the development of a comprehensive plan for an IRI, guided by an executive committee composed of faculty and staff from across Georgia Tech. The committee included \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/3736\u0022\u003ESimon Sponberg,\u003C\/a\u003E Dunn Family Associate Professor in the School of Physics and the School of Biological Sciences; \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/3728\u0022\u003EChristopher Rozell,\u003C\/a\u003E Julian T. Hightower Chaired Professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering; \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/11576\u0022\u003EJennifer Singh\u003C\/a\u003E, associate professor in the School of History and Sociology; and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/directory\/sarah-peterson\u0022\u003ESarah Peterson\u003C\/a\u003E, Neuro Next Initiative program manager. Their leadership shaped the vision for a research community both scientifically ambitious and socially responsive.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EINNS will serve as a dynamic hub for interdisciplinary collaboration across the full spectrum of brain-related research \u2014 from biological foundations to behavior and cognition, and from fundamental research to medical innovations that advance human flourishing. Research areas will encompass the foundations of human intelligence and movement, bio-inspired design and neurotechnology development, and the ethical dimensions of a neuro-connected future.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy integrating technical innovation with human-centered inquiry, INNS is committed to ensuring that advances in neuroscience and neurotechnology are developed and applied ethically and responsibly. Through fostering innovation, cultivating interdisciplinary expertise, and engaging with the public, the institute seeks to shape a future where advancements in neuroscience and neurotechnology serve the greater good. INNS also aims to deepen Georgia Tech\u2019s collaborations with clinical, academic, and industry partners, creating new pathways for translational research and real-world impact.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAn internal search for INNS\u2019s inaugural executive director is in the final stages, with an announcement expected soon.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/eepurl.com\/iX8jss\u0022\u003EJoin our mailing list\u003C\/a\u003E to receive the latest updates on everything neuro at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBy uniting experts across disciplines, Georgia Tech is positioning itself at the forefront of neuroscience and space research.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"By uniting experts across disciplines, Georgia Tech is positioning itself at the forefront of neuroscience and space research."}],"uid":"34760","created_gmt":"2025-07-01 11:53:04","changed_gmt":"2025-12-31 16:58:27","author":"Laurie Haigh","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-07-01T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-07-01T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677315":{"id":"677315","type":"image","title":"Tech Tower","body":null,"created":"1751369747","gmt_created":"2025-07-01 11:35:47","changed":"1751369782","gmt_changed":"2025-07-01 11:36:22","alt":"Tech Tower","file":{"fid":"261201","name":"tech-tower.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/01\/tech-tower.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/01\/tech-tower.png","mime":"image\/png","size":3688196,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/07\/01\/tech-tower.png?itok=k1paARgU"}}},"media_ids":["677315"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"188087","name":"go-irim"},{"id":"187582","name":"go-ibb"},{"id":"172970","name":"go-neuro"},{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"193658","name":"Commercialization"},{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"193653","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"},{"id":"193652","name":"Matter and Systems"},{"id":"193656","name":"Neuro Next Initiative"},{"id":"39521","name":"Robotics"},{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: laurie.haigh@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ELaurie Haigh\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EResearch Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686866":{"#nid":"686866","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Divan, Raychowdhury Named National Academy of Inventors Fellows","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/academyofinventors.org\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer\u0022 title=\u0022(opens in a new window)\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENational Academy of Inventors\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E is honoring two Georgia Tech faculty members for their contributions to technology and society: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/directory\/deepakraj-m-divan\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDeepakraj \u201cDeepak\u201d Divan\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/directory\/arijit-raychowdhury\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EArijit Raychowdhury\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. Both are in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESchool of Electrical and Computer Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERaychowdhury is a semiconductor pioneer whose patented circuit and system-on-chip designs have advanced computing efficiency and commercialization. Divan is a global leader in power electronics and grid modernization, whose innovations and ventures have transformed how electricity is delivered and managed worldwide.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cCongratulations to Deepakraj and Arijit on earning one of the most esteemed accolades in technology and discovery. Their groundbreaking work, with nearly 100 patents between them, advances solutions to global challenges,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/raghupathy-sivakumar\u0022\u003ERaghupathy \u201cSiva\u201d Sivakumar\u003C\/a\u003E, chief commercialization officer at Georgia Tech. \u201cTheir success exemplifies how research commercialization drives real-world impact, and we\u2019re proud to see them honored as academy fellows.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EElection to NAI is the highest professional distinction specifically awarded to inventors. With this recognition, Georgia Tech\u2019s roster of NAI Fellows grows to 24. Divan and Raychowdhury join a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/academyofinventors.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-Fellows-List.pdf\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer\u0022 title=\u0022(opens in a new window)\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E2025 class of 169 new fellows\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E representing university, government, and nonprofit organizations worldwide. They will be inducted at the NAI 15th Annual Conference on June 4, 2026, in Los Angeles.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDeepakraj\u202f\u201cDeepak\u201d Divan\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EProfessor Emeritus (2004-2025)\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESchool of Electrical and Computer Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EFounder, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cde.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech Center for Distributed Energy\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDeepakraj\u202f\u201cDeepak\u201d Divan is a globally recognized innovator in power electronics and grid transformation. He was awarded the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/news\/2023\/12\/divan-selected-ieee-medal-power-engineering-recipient\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIEEE Medal in\u202fPower Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E in 2024.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe holds over 85 U.S. and international patents and has authored 400 refereed publications. His pioneering work on soft\u2011switching converters\u2014integral for efficient energy storage, EV charging, and industrial controls\u2014has spurred a global $70\u202fbillion power electronics industry.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDivan laid the groundwork for grid\u2011forming inverter control, enabling high-renewables integration. He is the co-author of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energy-2040.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer\u0022 title=\u0022(opens in a new window)\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEnergy 2040: Aligning Innovation, Economics and Decarbonization\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, named by Forbes as one of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/globalcitizen\/2024\/12\/28\/10-essential-books-and-podcasts-every-leader-needs-in-2025\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer\u0022 title=\u0022(opens in a new window)\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u201c10 Essential Books and Podcasts Every Leader Needs in 2025\u201d\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cBeing named an NAI Fellow is a tremendous honor,\u201d said Divan. \u201cIt reflects years of effort to rethink how electricity is delivered and managed to solve real problems and to drive practical innovations that matter.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;As the founder of Georgia Tech\u2019s Center for Distributed Energy, he led research that transforms electricity delivery through analytics, monitoring, and optimization.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAn entrepreneur, Divan co-founded Varentec (backed by Bill Gates and Khosla Ventures) and seeded ventures including GridBlock, Soft Switching Technologies, Innovolt, and Smart Wires\u2014raising over $500\u202fmillion. A National Academy of Engineering member and IEEE Fellow, he champions scalable energy-access solutions worldwide.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EArijit Raychowdhury\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EProfessor and Steve W. Chaddick School Chair\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESchool of Electrical and Computer Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EDirector, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cocosys.ece.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECenter for the Co-Design of Cognitive Systems\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EArijit Raychowdhury has been the Steve W. Chaddick School Chair of ECE since 2021. He is a leading innovator in semiconductor technologies, holding more than 27 U.S. and international patents and authoring over 350 publications.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHis work spans low-power circuits, specialized accelerators, and system-on-chip design, with breakthroughs widely adopted in industry.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis recognition reflects the collective effort of students, colleagues, and partners who share a vision for advancing microelectronics,\u201d said Raychowdhury. \u201cI am honored that NAI champions the same mission to lead through research, education, and innovation.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt Texas Instruments, he developed the world\u2019s first adaptive echo-cancellation network for integrated Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL)\u2014a patented technology that enabled high-speed internet over traditional phone lines that received the EDN Innovation of the Year award. At Intel, he developed and incorporated foundational memory and logic technologies that shaped commercial products across global markets for more than a decade.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHis research on fine-grain power management of systems-on-chip at Georgia Tech has been licensed and widely adopted by the semiconductor industry.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe directs Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/Georgia Tech\u2019s Center for the Co-Design of Cognitive Systems \u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer\u0022 title=\u0022(opens in a new window)\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECenter for the Co-Design of Cognitive Systems\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and leads initiatives to advance microelectronics design with applications to AI. Over the years, he has served as a founding advisor and board member to multiple startups in the areas of edge-computing and low power design.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERaychowdhury\u2019s research bridges invention and real-world impact, earning him numerous honors, including IEEE\u0026nbsp;Fellow, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/news\/2023\/12\/raychowdhury-chosen-src-technical-excellence-award\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESemiconductor Research Corporation Technical Excellence Award\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, and multiple industry awards. Through pioneering designs and mentorship, he continues to drive innovation in computing systems, influencing both academic research and industrial commercialization.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Divan, Raychowdhury Named National Academy of Inventors Fellows"}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDivan, Raychowdhury Named National Academy of Inventors Fellows\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Divan, Raychowdhury Named National Academy of Inventors Fellows"}],"uid":"36172","created_gmt":"2025-12-11 14:36:38","changed_gmt":"2025-12-12 14:36:15","author":"dwatson71","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-11T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-11T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678826":{"id":"678826","type":"image","title":"Divan-and-Arijit_NAI-Fellows-2025.png","body":null,"created":"1765463811","gmt_created":"2025-12-11 14:36:51","changed":"1765463811","gmt_changed":"2025-12-11 14:36:51","alt":"Deepak and Arijit headshot","file":{"fid":"262914","name":"Divan-and-Arijit_NAI-Fellows-2025.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/11\/Divan-and-Arijit_NAI-Fellows-2025.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/11\/Divan-and-Arijit_NAI-Fellows-2025.png","mime":"image\/png","size":3056772,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/11\/Divan-and-Arijit_NAI-Fellows-2025.png?itok=WD-DCWjq"}}},"media_ids":["678826"],"groups":[{"id":"655285","name":"GT Commercialization"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"},{"id":"194609","name":"Industry"},{"id":"132","name":"Institute Leadership"},{"id":"149","name":"Nanotechnology and Nanoscience"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192255","name":"go-commercializationnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193658","name":"Commercialization"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EDan Watson\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["dwatson@ece.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686652":{"#nid":"686652","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Record-Breaking Simulation Boosts Rocket Science and Supercomputing to New Limits","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESpaceflight is becoming safer, more frequent, and more sustainable thanks to the largest computational fluid flow simulation ever ran on Earth.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInspired by SpaceX\u2019s Super Heavy booster, a team led by Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/comp-physics.group\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESpencer Bryngelson\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and New York University\u2019s \u003Cstrong\u003EFlorian Sch\u00e4fer\u003C\/strong\u003E modeled the turbulent interactions of a 33-engine rocket. Their experiment set new records, running the largest ever fluid dynamics simulation by a factor of 20 and the fastest by over a factor of four.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team ran its custom software on the world\u2019s two fastest supercomputers, as well as the eighth fastest, to construct such a massive model.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApplications from the simulation reach beyond rocket science. The same computing methods can model fluid mechanics in aerospace, medicine, energy, and other fields. At the same time, the work advances understanding of the current limits and future potential of computing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team finished as runners-up for the 2025 Gordon Bell Prize for its impactful, multi-domain research. Referred to as the Nobel Prize of supercomputing, the award was presented at the world\u2019s top conference for high-performance computing (HPC) research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cFluid dynamics problems of this style, with shocks, turbulence, different interacting fluids, and so on, are a scientific mainstay that marshals our largest supercomputers,\u201d said Bryngelson, an assistant professor with the School of Computational Science and Engineering (CSE).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cLarger and faster simulations that enable solutions to long-standing scientific problems, like the rocket propulsion problem, are always needed. With our work, perhaps we took a big dent out of that issue.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Super Heavy booster reflects the space industry\u2019s move toward reusable multi-engine first-stage rockets that are easier to transport and more economical overall.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, this shift creates research and testing challenges for new designs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEach of Super Heavy\u2019s 33 thrusters expels propellant at ten times the speed of sound. As individual engines reach extreme temperatures, pressures, and densities, their combined interactions with the airframe make such violent physics even more unpredictable.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrequent physical experiments would be expensive and risky, so scientists rely on computer models to supplement the engineering process.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBryngelson\u2019s flagship\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/mflowcode.github.io\/\u0022\u003EMulticomponent Flow Code (MFC)\u003C\/a\u003E software anchored the experiment. MFC is an open-source computer program that simulates fluid dynamic models. Bryngelson\u2019s lab has been modifying MFC since 2022 to run on more powerful computers and solve larger problems.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn computing terms, this MFC-enhanced model simulated fluid flow resolution at 200 trillion grid points and one quadrillion degrees of freedom. These metrics exceeded previous record-setting benchmarks that tallied 10 trillion and 30 trillion grid points.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis means MFC simulations provide greater detail and capture smaller-scale features than previous approaches. The rocket simulation also ran four times faster and achieved 5.7 times the energy efficiency of comparable methods.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIntegrating\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/arxiv.org\/abs\/2505.07392\u0022\u003Einformation geometric regularization (IGR)\u003C\/a\u003E into MFC played a key role in attaining these results. This new approach improved the simulation\u2019s computational efficiency and overcame the challenge of shock dynamics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn fluid mechanics, shock waves occur when objects move faster than the speed of sound. Along with hampering the performance of airframes and propulsion systems, shocks have historically been difficult to simulate.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EComputational scientists have used empirical models based on artificial viscosity to account for shocks. Although these approaches mimic the physical effects of shock waves at the microscopic scale, they struggle to effectively capture the large-scale features of the flow.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInformation geometry uses curved spaces to study concepts of statistics and information. IGR uses these tools to modify the underlying geometry in fluid dynamics equations. When traveling in the modified geometry, fluid in the model preserves the shocks in a more natural way.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhen regularizing shocks to much larger scales relevant in these numerical simulations, conventional methods smear out important fine-scale details,\u201d said Sch\u00e4fer, an assistant professor at NYU\u2019s Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIGR introduces ideas from abstract math to CFD that allow creating modified paths that approach the singularity without ever reaching it. In the resulting fluid flow, shocks never become too spiky in simulations, but the fine-scale details do not smear out either.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESimulating a model this large required the Georgia Tech researchers to run MFC on El Capitan and Frontier, the world\u0027s two fastest supercomputers.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe systems are two of four exascale machines in existence. This means they can solve at least one quintillion (\u201c1\u201d followed by 18 zeros) calculations per second. If a person completed a simple math calculation every second, it would take that person about 30 billion years to reach one quintillion operations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrontier is housed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and debuted as the world\u2019s first exascale supercomputer in 2022. El Capitan surpassed Frontier when Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory launched it in 2024.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo prepare MFC for performance on these machines, Bryngelson\u2019s lab followed a methodical approach spanning years of hardware acquisition and software engineering.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2022,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/new-hardware-brings-students-closer-exascale-computing\u0022\u003EBryngelson attained an AMD MI210 GPU accelerator\u003C\/a\u003E. Optimizing MFC on the component played a critical step toward preparing the software for exascale machines.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAMD hardware underpins both El Capitan and Frontier. The MI300A GPU powers El Capitan while Frontier uses the MI250X GPU.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter configuring MFC on the MI210 GPU,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/group-optimizes-fluid-dynamics-simulator-worlds-fastest-supercomputer\u0022\u003EBryngelson\u2019s lab ran the software on Frontier for the first time during a 2023 hackathon\u003C\/a\u003E. This confirmed the code was ready for full-scale deployment on exascale supercomputers based on AMD hardware.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to El Capitan and Frontier, the simulation ran on Alps, the world\u2019s eight-fastest supercomputer based at the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre. It is the largest available system that features the NVIDIA GH200 Grace Hopper Superchip.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELike with AMD GPUs,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/researchers-blazing-new-trails-superchip-named-after-computing-pioneer\u0022\u003EBryngelson acquired four GH200s in 2024\u003C\/a\u003E and began configuring MFC to the latest hardware innovation powering New Age supercomputers. Later that year, the J\u00fclich Research Centre accepted Bryngelson\u2019s group into an early access program to test JUPITER, a developing supercomputer based on the NVIDIA superchip.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/pancaked-water-droplets-help-launch-europes-fastest-supercomputer\u0022\u003EThe group earned a certificate for scaling efficiency and node performance\u003C\/a\u003E on the way toward validating that their code worked on the GH200. The early access project proved successful for JUPITER, which launched in 2025 as Europe\u2019s fastest supercomputer and fourth fastest in the world.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cGetting the level of hands-on experience with world-leading supercomputers and computing resources at Georgia Tech through this project has been a fantastic opportunity for a grad student,\u201d said CSE Ph.D. student \u003Cstrong\u003EBen Wilfong\u003C\/strong\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cTo leverage these machines, I learned more advanced programming techniques that I\u2019m glad to have in my tool belt for future projects. I also enjoyed the opportunity to work closely with and learn from industry experts from NVIDIA, AMD, and HPE\/Cray.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEl Capitan, Frontier, JUPITER, and Alps maintained their rankings at the 2025 International Conference for High Performance Computing Networking, Storage and Analysis (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sc25.supercomputing.org\/\u0022\u003ESC25\u003C\/a\u003E). Of note, the TOP500 announced at SC25 that JUPITER surpassed the exaflop threshold.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe SC Conference Series is one of two venues where the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/top500.org\/\u0022\u003ETOP500\u003C\/a\u003E announces updated supercomputer rankings every June and November. The TOP500 ranks and details the 500 most powerful supercomputers in the world.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe SC Conference Series serves as the venue where the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.acm.org\/media-center\/2025\/november\/gordon-bell-climate-2025\u0022\u003EAssociation for Computing Machinery (ACM) presents the Gordon Bell Prize\u003C\/a\u003E. The annual award recognizes achievement in HPC research and application. The Tech-led team was among eight finalists for this year\u2019s award.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlong with Bryngelson, Georgia Tech members included Ph.D. students \u003Cstrong\u003EAnand Radhakrishnan\u003C\/strong\u003E and Wilfong, postdoctoral researcher \u003Cstrong\u003EDaniel Vickers\u003C\/strong\u003E, alumnus \u003Cstrong\u003EHenry Le Berre\u003C\/strong\u003E (CS 2025), and undergraduate student \u003Cstrong\u003ETanush Prathi\u003C\/strong\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESch\u00e4fer\u2019s partnership with the group stems from his previous role as an assistant professor at Georgia Tech from 2021 to 2025.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECollaborators on the project included \u003Cstrong\u003ENikolaos Tselepidis\u003C\/strong\u003E and \u003Cstrong\u003EBenedikt Dorschner\u003C\/strong\u003E from NVIDIA, \u003Cstrong\u003EReuben Budiardja\u003C\/strong\u003E from ORNL, \u003Cstrong\u003EBrian Cornille\u003C\/strong\u003E from AMD, and \u003Cstrong\u003EStephen Abbot\u003C\/strong\u003E from HPE. All were co-authors of the paper and named finalists for the Gordon Bell Prize.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI\u2019m elated that we have been nominated for such a prestigious award. It wouldn\u0027t have been possible without the combined and diligent efforts of our team,\u201d Radhakrishnan said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to presenting our work at SC25 and connecting with other researchers and fellow finalists while showcasing seminal work in the field of computing.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESpaceflight is becoming safer, more frequent, and more sustainable thanks to the largest computational fluid flow simulation ever ran on Earth.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInspired by SpaceX\u2019s Super Heavy booster, a team led by Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/comp-physics.group\/\u0022\u003ESpencer Bryngelson\u003C\/a\u003E and New York University\u2019s \u003Cstrong\u003EFlorian Sch\u00e4fer\u003C\/strong\u003E modeled the turbulent interactions of a 33-engine rocket. Their experiment set new records, running the largest ever fluid dynamics simulation by a factor of 20 and the fastest by a factor of over four.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo construct such a massive model, the custom software ran on the world\u2019s two fastest supercomputers, as well as the eighth fastest.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team finished as runners-up for the 2025 Gordon Bell Prize for its impactful, multi-domain research. Referred to as the Nobel Prize of supercomputing, the award was presented at the world\u2019s top conference for high-performance computing (HPC) research.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Inspired by SpaceX\u2019s Super Heavy booster, a team led by Georgia Tech\u2019s Spencer Bryngelson and New York University\u2019s Florian Sch\u00e4fer modeled the turbulent interactions of a 33-engine rocket. Their experiment set new records, running the largest ever fluid "}],"uid":"36319","created_gmt":"2025-12-01 16:07:52","changed_gmt":"2025-12-08 20:29:59","author":"Bryant Wine","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-01T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-01T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678734":{"id":"678734","type":"image","title":"SpaceX-Super-Heavy2.jpg","body":null,"created":"1764605279","gmt_created":"2025-12-01 16:07:59","changed":"1764605279","gmt_changed":"2025-12-01 16:07:59","alt":"2025 Gordon Bell Prize Rocket Simulation","file":{"fid":"262806","name":"SpaceX-Super-Heavy2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/01\/SpaceX-Super-Heavy2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/01\/SpaceX-Super-Heavy2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":116899,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/01\/SpaceX-Super-Heavy2.jpg?itok=1RgWJXGV"}},"678735":{"id":"678735","type":"image","title":"SHB-and-FS_SC25.jpg","body":null,"created":"1764605349","gmt_created":"2025-12-01 16:09:09","changed":"1764605349","gmt_changed":"2025-12-01 16:09:09","alt":"Spencer Bryngelson and Florian Sch\u00e4fer at SC25","file":{"fid":"262807","name":"SHB-and-FS_SC25.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/01\/SHB-and-FS_SC25.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/01\/SHB-and-FS_SC25.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":58329,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/01\/SHB-and-FS_SC25.jpg?itok=F_WZG0ey"}},"678736":{"id":"678736","type":"image","title":"Frontier-Hackathon.jpg","body":null,"created":"1764605398","gmt_created":"2025-12-01 16:09:58","changed":"1764605398","gmt_changed":"2025-12-01 16:09:58","alt":"Spencer Bryngelson Frontier Hackathon","file":{"fid":"262808","name":"Frontier-Hackathon.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/01\/Frontier-Hackathon.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/01\/Frontier-Hackathon.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":52329,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/01\/Frontier-Hackathon.jpg?itok=fUbvKuxK"}}},"media_ids":["678734","678735","678736"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/record-breaking-simulation-boosts-rocket-science-and-supercomputing-new-limits","title":"Record-Breaking Simulation Boosts Rocket Science and Supercomputing to New Limits"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"150","name":"Physics and Physical Sciences"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"654","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"166983","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"},{"id":"9153","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"181991","name":"Georgia Tech News Center"},{"id":"3427","name":"High performance computing"},{"id":"168929","name":"supercomputers"},{"id":"2082","name":"aerospace engineering"},{"id":"190596","name":"space research"},{"id":"167880","name":"SpaceX"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"},{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBryant Wine, Communications Officer\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:bryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ebryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"680642":{"#nid":"680642","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Tim Lieuwen Named Georgia Tech\u2019s Executive Vice President for Research","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFollowing a nationwide search, Georgia Tech President \u00c1ngel Cabrera has named \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/timothy-charles-lieuwen\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ETimothy Lieuwen\u003C\/a\u003E the Executive Vice President for Research (EVPR). \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/regents-professor-tim-lieuwen-serve-georgia-techs-interim-evpr\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ELieuwen has served as interim EVPR\u003C\/a\u003E since September 10, 2024.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cTim\u2019s ability to bridge academia, industry, and government has been instrumental in driving innovation and positioning Georgia Tech as a critical partner in tackling complex global challenges,\u201d said Cabrera. \u201cWith his leadership, I am confident Georgia Tech will continue to expand its impact, strengthen its strategic collaborations, and further solidify its reputation as a world leader in research and innovation.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA proud Georgia Tech alumnus (M.S. ME 1997, Ph.D. ME 1999), Lieuwen has spent more than 25 years at the Institute. He is a Regents\u2019 Professor and holds the David S. Lewis, Jr. Chair in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EDaniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E. Prior to the interim EVPR role, Lieuwen served as executive director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/energy\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EStrategic Energy Institute\u003C\/a\u003E for 12 years. His expertise spans energy, propulsion, energy policy, and national security, and he has worked closely with industry and government to develop new knowledge and see its implementation in the field.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELieuwen has been widely recognized for his contributions to research and innovation. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, as well as a fellow of multiple other professional organizations. Recently, he was elected an \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/tim-lieuwen-honored-royal-academy-engineering\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EInternational Fellow of the U.K.\u2019s Royal Academy of Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E, one of only three U.S. engineers in 2024 to receive this prestigious commendation. The honor acknowledges Lieuwen\u2019s contributions to engineering and his efforts to advance research, education initiatives, and industry collaborations.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe has authored or edited four books, published over 400 scientific articles, and holds nine patents \u2014 several of which are licensed to industry. He also founded TurbineLogic, an analytics firm working in the energy industry. Additionally, Lieuwen serves on governing and advisory boards for three Department of Energy national labs and was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Energy to the National Petroleum Council.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe EVPR is the Institute\u2019s chief research officer and directs Georgia Tech\u2019s $1.37 billion portfolio of research, development, and sponsored activities. This includes leadership of the Georgia Tech Research Institute, the Enterprise Innovation Institute, nine Interdisciplinary Research Institutes and numerous associated research centers, and related research administrative support units: commercialization, corporate engagement, research development and operations, and research administration.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI am honored to step into this role at a time when research and innovation have never been more critical,\u201d Lieuwen said. \u201cGeorgia Tech\u2019s research enterprise is built on collaboration \u2014 across disciplines, across industries, and across communities. Our strength lies not just in the breakthroughs we achieve, but in how we translate them into real-world impact.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMy priority is to put people first \u2014 empowering our researchers, students, and partners to push boundaries, scale our efforts, and deepen our engagement across Georgia and beyond. Together, we will expand our reach, accelerate discovery, and ensure that Georgia Tech remains a driving force for progress and service.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Regents\u2019 Professor and current interim EVPR brings strong leadership and deep research expertise to the role.\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Regents\u2019 Professor and current interim EVPR brings strong leadership and deep research expertise to the role. "}],"uid":"28766","created_gmt":"2025-02-20 20:15:39","changed_gmt":"2025-12-02 05:14:26","author":"Shelley Wunder-Smith","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-02-20T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-02-20T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676355":{"id":"676355","type":"image","title":"Tim Lieuwen, Executive Vice President for Research","body":"\u003Cp\u003ETim Lieuwen, Executive Vice President for Research\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1740085148","gmt_created":"2025-02-20 20:59:08","changed":"1740085210","gmt_changed":"2025-02-20 21:00:10","alt":"Tim Lieuwen, Executive Vice President for Research","file":{"fid":"260127","name":"0A6A1348-RT 1.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/02\/20\/0A6A1348-RT%201.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/02\/20\/0A6A1348-RT%201.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":5458715,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/02\/20\/0A6A1348-RT%201.jpg?itok=CDksVaZo"}}},"media_ids":["676355"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"},{"id":"132","name":"Institute Leadership"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"193653","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"},{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith | Director of Research Communications\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:swundersmith3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eshelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["swundersmith3@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686180":{"#nid":"686180","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech and PBS Aerospace Power Next-Gen Defense Innovation","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EModern warfare and the technology behind it are evolving. Around the world, the skies are increasingly filled with small, agile, and intelligent systems \u2014 drones, missiles, and interceptors that demand lightweight, affordable, and highly efficient propulsion. The future of defense is fast, adaptable, and precise \u2014 and Georgia is positioning itself at the center of that transformation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.pbsaerospace.com\/\u0022\u003EPBS Aerospace (PBS)\u003C\/a\u003E, a global leader in small turbojet engines, began searching for a location to build its first U.S. manufacturing facility, it didn\u2019t look to the traditional defense hubs. Instead, it chose Roswell, Georgia \u2014 where research excellence at Georgia Tech, a ready supply of high-tech talent, and a business environment built for speed are converging to create a new aerospace manufacturing cluster.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cPBS is the world\u2019s leading producer of small turbojet engines,\u201d said Erin Durham, CEO of PBS Aerospace. \u201cWe\u2019re bringing those outstanding engines here to the United States to start up a U.S. factory \u2014 and we\u2019ll be producing thousands of them by 2026.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnlike the multimillion-dollar cruise missiles of the past, the systems PBS supports are designed for scale and agility. Their compact engines \u2014 typically producing 100 to 200 pounds of thrust \u2014 power the small drones and missiles that have redefined defense strategy in conflicts from Eastern Europe to the Middle East. \u201cOur engines go into munitions that cost a tenth of traditional systems,\u201d Durham said. \u201cThat allows us to produce at a fraction of the cost, project power, and defend U.S. interests more effectively.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo stay ahead in such a rapidly changing field, PBS turned to Georgia Tech. \u201cBecause the drone world is so innovative and so disruptive, we have to move very quickly to provide the most advanced engines possible,\u201d Durham said. \u201cWorking with Georgia Tech on the cutting edge of disruptive technologies enables us to keep our engine designs moving forward and provide the best solutions for the U.S. Department of Defense.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat partnership draws on Georgia Tech\u2019s world-renowned expertise in propulsion, combustion, and systems engineering \u2014 as well as its unique ability to translate research directly into industry impact. Inside the Zinn Combustion Laboratory on Georgia Tech\u2019s Midtown Atlanta campus, faculty and students are already working with PBS engines to refine fuel efficiency, test new materials, and optimize performance.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere are about 50 active projects in our lab right now,\u201d said Adam Steinberg, professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EDaniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cThey range from fundamental combustion science to testing real hardware used in flight. Georgia Tech provided access to one of our engine facilities while PBS was standing up its Roswell site. Georgia Tech students and PBS staff then worked hand in hand to test the first engines built in Roswell.\u202fThis is a strong example of how partnerships can help accelerate industry innovation.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Steinberg, the collaboration represents a model for how research universities can help shape emerging industries. \u201cWhen you\u2019re building engines, you need people who know how to assemble and test them \u2014 but you also need highly skilled engineers who will push the technology into the future,\u201d he said. \u201cFor our students, it\u2019s an incredible hands-on experience. They\u2019re working on systems that are shaping the next generation of propulsion.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat talent pipeline \u2014 from research labs to manufacturing floors \u2014 is already flowing. In Roswell, Joseph Banks, a technician at PBS, helps assemble the engines that will soon power some of the world\u2019s most advanced crewless systems. \u201cIt\u2019s a puzzle,\u201d Banks said. \u201cIt\u2019s all precision work. At the end of the day, I\u2019m happy to do it because there\u2019s purpose behind everything we do here.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat sense of purpose is matched by the urgency of the moment. As global demand for crewless and autonomous systems accelerates, the U.S. Department of Defense is seeking faster, more flexible production on American soil. PBS\u2019 decision to locate in Georgia \u2014 where 99% of its supply chain will be U.S.-based \u2014 strengthens both national security and the state\u2019s growing role in the aerospace economy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia\u2019s pro-business environment has amplified that momentum. The City of Roswell fast-tracked PBS\u2019 permitting process, enabling construction to begin within months, while nearby technical colleges and Georgia Tech supply the skilled workforce needed to scale. \u201cWith Georgia Tech-trained engineers, nearby tech schools, and a community that supports innovation, we have everything we need to grow,\u201d Durham said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Georgia Tech, PBS\u2019 arrival signals more than a successful partnership \u2014 it\u2019s part of a broader strategy to ensure the state leads in the technologies that define the future of defense.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis could be one of the largest expansions in domestic aerospace manufacturing in quite some time,\u201d Steinberg said. \u201cHaving that here in Georgia right now, with the talent and support to make it succeed, is amazing.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs drones and next-generation munitions reshape the nature of conflict, Georgia Tech\u2019s research, talent, and industry partnerships are ensuring that Georgia \u2014 and the nation \u2014 stay at the forefront of innovation in the skies.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA new chapter in aerospace innovation is taking flight in Georgia. PBS Aerospace, a global leader in small turbojet engines, has selected Roswell for its first U.S. manufacturing facility\u2014drawn by Georgia Tech\u2019s engineering expertise, a skilled talent pool, and a business climate built for speed.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech\u2019s research and talent are helping PBS Aerospace launch a new era of aerospace manufacturing in Roswell, Georgia \u2014 advancing U.S. defense innovation and fueling the state\u2019s growing leadership in drone and propulsion technology."}],"uid":"36174","created_gmt":"2025-11-04 19:31:05","changed_gmt":"2025-11-20 19:13:11","author":"Blair Meeks","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-11-18T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-11-18T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678654":{"id":"678654","type":"video","title":"Georgia Tech and PBS Aerospace Power Next-Gen Defense Innovation","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s research and talent are helping PBS Aerospace launch a new era of aerospace manufacturing in Roswell, Georgia \u2014 advancing U.S. defense innovation and fueling the state\u2019s growing leadership in drone and propulsion technology.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1763475217","gmt_created":"2025-11-18 14:13:37","changed":"1763475217","gmt_changed":"2025-11-18 14:13:37","video":{"youtube_id":"-1h8Y1iQPgg","video_url":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/-1h8Y1iQPgg"}},"678655":{"id":"678655","type":"image","title":"Balance testing at PBS Aerospace in Roswell, GA.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EJoseph Banks, a technician at PBS Aerospace in Roswell, places a drone part on a machine for balance testing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1763475401","gmt_created":"2025-11-18 14:16:41","changed":"1763475756","gmt_changed":"2025-11-18 14:22:36","alt":"This is a photo of a technician at PBS Aeros space placing a part on a balancing machine in the company\u0027s manufacturing facility","file":{"fid":"262714","name":"PBS-Aerospace-1.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/18\/PBS-Aerospace-1.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/18\/PBS-Aerospace-1.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2502711,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/11\/18\/PBS-Aerospace-1.jpg?itok=deXjcKpi"}},"678656":{"id":"678656","type":"image","title":"Turbojet engine manufactured by PBS Aerospace","body":"\u003Cp\u003EOne of the turbojet engines manufactured by PBS Aerospace.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1763475554","gmt_created":"2025-11-18 14:19:14","changed":"1763475554","gmt_changed":"2025-11-18 14:19:14","alt":"This photo shows one of the turbojet engines manufactured by PBS Aerospace","file":{"fid":"262715","name":"PBS-Aerospace-3.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/18\/PBS-Aerospace-3.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/18\/PBS-Aerospace-3.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2880611,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/11\/18\/PBS-Aerospace-3.jpg?itok=Ai12jrrR"}}},"media_ids":["678654","678655","678656"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"194838","name":"aerospace manufacturing"},{"id":"194839","name":"defense innovation"},{"id":"187353","name":"drone"},{"id":"179187","name":"jet engine"},{"id":"7018","name":"propulsion"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39481","name":"National Security"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBlair Meeks\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["Blair.Meeks@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686195":{"#nid":"686195","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Deleon: Bridging Space Technology and Preventive Health","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn the startup world, existing research often helps uncover a problem that needs a solution. For two Georgia Tech graduates, studying metabolomics,\u0026nbsp;the exploration of the body\u2019s chemical processes, and\u0026nbsp;an\u0026nbsp;existing NASA chemical analysis technology\u0026nbsp;inspired\u0026nbsp;a company that hopes to change the face of preventative healthcare.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETech College of Engineering alumni Chad Pozarycki, Ph.D., CHBE, 2022, and Jos\u00e9 Andrade, AE, 2025, are on a mission to make biochemical\u0026nbsp;monitoring more accessible \u2014 with a focus on preventing disease. Today, their startup\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.deleon-omics.com\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022https:\/\/www.deleon-omics.com\/\u0022\u003EDeleon\u003C\/a\u003E, using NASA\u2019s technology (originally designed to search for life on Mars) and metabolomics, provides a system that uses daily urine sampling\u0026nbsp;to track metabolites related to overtraining, stress, and recovery. Future applications will be aimed at early disease detection.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cSomething that frustrated me about metabolomics was its lack of focus on preventive care,\u201d said Andrade. \u201cWe created Deleon by combining these ideas and tracking the human metabolome to optimize for healthy lifestyles.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Deleon founders began the company shortly after Pozarycki completed his graduate studies at Georgia Tech, with Andrade moonlighting and Pozarycki working a part-time job at Georgia Tech\u2019s bike shop to keep the project afloat. In the beginning, funding was a major challenge.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI finished my Ph.D., was working on Deleon, and didn\u2019t have any income. CREATE-X gave us $5,000 in funding, which motivated us to keep going on this project,\u201d said Pozarycki.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/create-x.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECREATE-X\u003C\/a\u003E, Georgia Tech\u2019s campus-wide initiative to instill entrepreneurial confidence and help students launch startups, provided more than funding. Through the program, Deleon received guidance on finding potential customers.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe one-on-one advice from expert CREATE-X entrepreneurs and organizers like Rahul [CREATE-X director] and Margaret [LAUNCH associate director] was super valuable and helped us focus on launching our minimum viable product and getting our first customers,\u201d said Andrade.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe program\u2019s culminating event, Demo Day, gave Deleon a platform to present to investors and the public. Among dozens of student-led startups, Deleon\u2019s data-driven approach attracted strong interest. The exposure led to an eventual $850,000 investment, partially funded by Georgia Tech\u0027s early-stage fund, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ventures.commercialization.gatech.edu\/\u0022 id=\u0022menurmoc\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022https:\/\/ventures.commercialization.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGTF Ventures\u003C\/a\u003E. This investment allowed the founders to work full-time on the company, hire a team, and build a lab space.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI would recommend the CREATE-X program to anyone,\u201d Pozarycki said. \u201cEven if you don\u2019t think you want to start a company, there\u2019s a lot you can learn about commercialization in this program that may change your mind and give you more control over your own fate.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDeleon\u2019s path from concept to launch highlights the growing role of Georgia Tech\u2019s entrepreneurial ecosystem in supporting student innovation. Programs like CREATE-X not only help students build companies but also contribute to regional economic growth by keeping talent and investment in the Southeast.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cCREATE-X is the best environment on campus to learn by doing,\u201d Pozarycki said. \u201cYou are encouraged to build something real, not just talk about it. You\u2019ll leave knowing how to talk to customers, how to pitch, and how to think like a founder.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOpportunities for Entrepreneurs\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStudents, faculty, researchers, and alumni interested in developing their own startups are encouraged to apply to CREATE-X\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/create-x.gatech.edu\/launch\/startup-launch\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStartup Launch\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. The early admission deadline to\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/airtable.com\/appaTqlTL2zQkXBBR\/pagdkIvjQbvDbSD2F\/form\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eapply for Startup Launch\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003Eis Nov. 17. Spots are limited.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/airtable.com\/appaTqlTL2zQkXBBR\/pagdkIvjQbvDbSD2F\/form\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EApply now\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003Efor a higher chance of acceptance and early feedback.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EDeleon, founded by Georgia Tech graduates Chad Pozarycki and Jos\u00e9 Andrade, repurposes NASA\u2019s data transmission technology to create a biochemical monitoring system that tracks stress, recovery, and early signs of disease through daily urine samples. The startup began with limited resources but gained traction through Georgia Tech\u2019s CREATE-X Startup Launch program, which provided seed funding, mentorship, and industry connections. Deleon\u2019s Demo Day pitch led to an eventual investment from \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sites.gatech.edu\/gtfv1\/\u0022\u003EGTF Ventures\u003C\/a\u003E, enabling further development and team expansion. Their journey showcases how CREATE-X empowers student entrepreneurs and strengthens the Southeast\u2019s innovation economy.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Inspired by NASA technology, Georgia Tech alumni launched Deleon\u2014a startup using biochemical data to advance preventive health, backed by CREATE-X."}],"uid":"36436","created_gmt":"2025-11-04 22:03:50","changed_gmt":"2025-11-18 21:44:27","author":"bdurham31","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-11-04T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-11-04T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678544":{"id":"678544","type":"image","title":"Deleon cofounders from left to right, Chad Pozarycki and Jos\u00e9 Andrade.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EDeleon cofounders from left to right, Chad Pozarycki and Jos\u00e9 Andrade.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1762293202","gmt_created":"2025-11-04 21:53:22","changed":"1762293334","gmt_changed":"2025-11-04 21:55:34","alt":"Deleon cofounders from left to right, Chad Pozarycki and Jos\u00e9 Andrade.","file":{"fid":"262595","name":"Deleon--Web-Article--1200-x-630-px-.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/04\/Deleon--Web-Article--1200-x-630-px-.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/04\/Deleon--Web-Article--1200-x-630-px-.png","mime":"image\/png","size":601643,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/11\/04\/Deleon--Web-Article--1200-x-630-px-.png?itok=vQYcpWJQ"}}},"media_ids":["678544"],"groups":[{"id":"583966","name":"CREATE-X"},{"id":"655285","name":"GT Commercialization"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"139","name":"Business"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192255","name":"go-commercializationnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193658","name":"Commercialization"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"},{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"},{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWritten by Amanda Dudley\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInternal Contact:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBreanna Durham\u003Cbr\u003EMarketing Strategist\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["breanna.durham@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"685447":{"#nid":"685447","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech\u2019s Space Research Institute Holds Inaugural Meeting","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn September 5, more than 130 space researchers gathered for the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ESpace Research Institute\u2019\u003C\/a\u003Es (SRI) inaugural meeting, held in the Marcus Nanotechnology Building. The event drew a standing-room-only crowd, with attendees from across all of Georgia Tech\u2019s colleges. This marked the SRI\u2019s first major convening since its launch on July 1, offering a platform to discuss its vision and bring Georgia Tech\u2019s space research efforts into closer conversation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat vision builds on work already reshaping the field. Across campus, Georgia Tech researchers are imaging \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.research.gatech.edu\/2025\/07\/14\/ligo-detects-most-massive-binary-black-hole-date\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eblack holes\u003C\/a\u003E with unprecedented clarity, flying CubeSats in heliocentric orbits that now trail closer to Venus than Earth to test \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/382282302_LONEStar_The_Lunar_Flashlight_Optical_Navigation_Experiment\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eoptical navigation\u003C\/a\u003E. They are also sending \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.research.gatech.edu\/2025\/06\/26\/space-station-testing-will-evaluate-photovoltaic-materials\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Esolar cells\u003C\/a\u003E to the International Space Station, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/node\/67\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eexploring Jupiter\u003C\/a\u003E, and, this fall, bringing the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/node\/67\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ELunar Surface Innovation Consortium Fall meeting\u003C\/a\u003E to campus.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThat breadth is what makes Georgia Tech\u2019s space community so strong,\u201d said Julia Kubanek, vice president for interdisciplinary research. \u201cWe have experts in aerospace and biology, in materials and planetary science, in public policy and even researchers who study space through fiction \u2014 all taking on some of the most complex challenges of our time. SRI gives us a framework to support that work more deliberately, connecting researchers across colleges and disciplines and aligning with Georgia Tech\u2019s broader vision for research, education, and innovation.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/w-jud-ready\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EJud Ready\u003C\/a\u003E, director of SRI, opened the session with an overview of the SRI\u2019s goals and near-term plans. He emphasized how SRI will play a role in advancing several of Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/strategicplan.gatech.edu\/bets\/leader-outcomes\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Efour big bets\u003C\/a\u003E, including expanding research impact, increasing educational access, bringing value to students and strengthening the Institute\u2019s role as a national hub for innovation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the center of that effort is also the newly announced Centers, Programs, and Initiatives (CPI) program, which aims to support faculty pursuing shared research directions.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cGeorgia Tech has people already working on everything from sensors and propulsion systems to space policy, design, and sustainability,\u0022 said Ready. \u201cWe\u2019re geared towards linking that work early and giving teams the resources to go after the really big questions.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EReady noted that the meeting would be the first of many community-building events hosted by SRI in the coming year, aimed at fostering dialogue and identifying opportunities for collective work.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMost people don\u2019t recognize that they use space in their everyday lives nearly every second of every day.\u0026nbsp; The opportunities for space-based education, R\u0026amp;D, and commercialization are literally infinite,\u201d said Ready. \u201cIt\u2019s exciting to be at Georgia Tech where we play a key role in pushing the frontiers of space, and what that could mean for this generation and future ones.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFaculty interested in future events or proposal opportunities can visit \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Espace.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E or sign up for the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/get-involved\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESRI mailing list\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;To view the meeting recording, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/mediaspace.gatech.edu\/media\/Jud+Ready+-+SRI+Talk%2C+Sept+5+2025+11am\/1_de4pvb21\u0022\u003Eclick here\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EOn September 5, the Space Research Institute (SRI) held its first major gathering since launching in July, bringing together over 130 researchers from all of Georgia Tech\u2019s colleges. The standing-room-only event outlined SRI\u2019s role in uniting the Institute\u2019s wide-ranging space research and advancing Georgia Tech\u2019s strategic goals in research, education, and innovation.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech\u2019s Space Research Institute (SRI) hosted its inaugural meeting on September 5, drawing more than 130 researchers from across campus to outline its vision, foster collaboration, and highlight the breadth of space research underway."}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2025-10-01 18:26:01","changed_gmt":"2025-10-02 16:28:51","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-10-01T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-10-01T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678249":{"id":"678249","type":"image","title":"SRI Inaugural Meeting","body":null,"created":"1759421535","gmt_created":"2025-10-02 16:12:15","changed":"1759422268","gmt_changed":"2025-10-02 16:24:28","alt":"Executive Director Jud Ready presenting inside a room at the Marcus Nanotechnology Building for SRI\u0027s inaugural meeting.","file":{"fid":"262249","name":"Image--18-_1.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/02\/Image--18-_1.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/02\/Image--18-_1.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":5381943,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/10\/02\/Image--18-_1.jpeg?itok=JoSK5dpv"}}},"media_ids":["678249"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"660370","name":"Space"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003Espace@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["laurie.haigh@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"684876":{"#nid":"684876","#data":{"type":"news","title":"CreationsVC Gift to Quadrant-i to Accelerate Space-Related Startups","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/commercialization.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EOffice of Commercialization\u003C\/a\u003E announces a gift from CreationsVC of $375,000 to accelerate the development of space-related and space-adjacent startup companies based on Georgia Tech intellectual property.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s Office of Commercialization\u2019s new \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/quadrant-i.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EQuadrant-i\u003C\/a\u003E unit focuses on the commercialization of Georgia Tech intellectual property. In combination with Georgia Tech\u2019s consistently top-ranked Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering\u0026nbsp;and its newly formed interdisciplinary \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/feature\/space-research\u0022\u003ESpace Research Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (SRI), Quadrant-i is positioned to dramatically boost the output of space-related spin-offs into a burgeoning Atlanta startup ecosystem. A strategic gift from \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.creations.vc\u0022\u003ECreationsVC\u003C\/a\u003E will support these efforts by creating a pilot program that provides funding for the startup projects of five CreationsVC Fellows per year for three years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECreationsVC is a venture capital firm that\u0026nbsp;specializes in investing in space tech, AI, and related technologies. CreationsVC sponsors Creation-Space, an Israeli-based global innovation hub that is fostering innovation to enable humanity\u2019s expansion beyond Earth. Steve Braverman, who heads CreationsVC, said the gift is focused on \u0022identifying innovative technologies that support research on life in space, combined with a focus on climate efficiency. This will help improve both expansion of space-centric industry as well as efforts that address challenges on Earth.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBraverman said he was attracted to Georgia Tech\u2019s focus on entrepreneurship and its track record in aerospace innovation. \u201cI am impressed with the depth and breadth of technical expertise and energized by the passionate commitment of faculty and students to see their innovations have real-world impact. This gift is intended to supercharge efforts over the next three years to launch several startups that can grow quickly and have impact in Atlanta and Israel.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EQuadrant-i has worked closely with the SRI in its formation and made space commercialization an important and embedded pillar of the new activity. \u201cWe are thrilled to work with Steve and the CreationsVC team in identifying and accelerating nascent technologies that will have dual-use value propositions in space, climate, and AI applications,\u201d said Quadrant-i\u2019s director Jonathan Goldman. \u201cWe have a fantastic well of innovation from our faculty and graduate students and an amazing fountain of entrepreneurial talent from our \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/create-x.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECREATE-X\u003C\/a\u003E program for our undergrads. We are excited to see this relationship blossom.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/commercialization.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EOffice of Commercialization\u003C\/a\u003E announces a gift from CreationsVC of $375,000 to accelerate the development of space-related and space-adjacent startup companies based on Georgia Tech intellectual property.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Gift to accelerate development of space-related and space-adjacent startup companies based on Georgia Tech IP"}],"uid":"34602","created_gmt":"2025-09-15 19:26:42","changed_gmt":"2025-09-26 17:10:40","author":"Georgia Parmelee","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-09-15T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-09-15T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678003":{"id":"678003","type":"image","title":"Space shuttle in orbit","body":null,"created":"1758023741","gmt_created":"2025-09-16 11:55:41","changed":"1758023741","gmt_changed":"2025-09-16 11:55:41","alt":"Space shuttle in orbit","file":{"fid":"261975","name":"STS115_Atlantis_undock_ISS_edit2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/16\/STS115_Atlantis_undock_ISS_edit2_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/16\/STS115_Atlantis_undock_ISS_edit2_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":579337,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/09\/16\/STS115_Atlantis_undock_ISS_edit2_0.jpg?itok=oAm_T_c-"}}},"media_ids":["678003"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"660370","name":"Space"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192255","name":"go-commercializationnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193658","name":"Commercialization"},{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAnne Stanford\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003Eanne.stanford@dev.gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"685137":{"#nid":"685137","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Opens New Aircraft Prototyping Laboratory ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech celebrates the opening of its new Aircraft Prototyping Laboratory, a facility dedicated to advancing research in electric and autonomous flight in collaboration with academic, government, and industry partners. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place on Sept. 25, marking an important step forward for the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EDaniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E and highlighting Georgia Tech\u2019s role in strengthening the state\u2019s aerospace sector through technical research, engineering expertise, and student training.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis facility demonstrates Georgia Tech\u2019s long-term commitment to pioneering the technologies that will shape the future of aviation,\u201d said \u00c1ngel Cabrera, president of Georgia Tech. \u201cAerospace products are Georgia\u2019s No. 1 export, and the Institute\u2019s top-ranked Guggenheim School produces some of the nation\u2019s top aerospace engineering talent. With this advanced laboratory, we\u2019re making strategic investments that will grow our state\u2019s and our Institute\u2019s national leadership in aerospace innovation and advanced manufacturing.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe 10,000-square-foot facility, located in Georgia Tech\u2019s North Avenue Research Area, has been purpose-built to accelerate innovation in electric and hybrid-electric aircraft propulsion as well as autonomous flight systems. Designed as a hands-on research and teaching environment, the Aircraft Prototyping Laboratory includes a suite of specialized laboratories: an electric powertrain lab, a propulsion system test cell, an avionics lab, a composites fabrication area, and a high-bay integration space capable of housing prototype aircraft with wingspans up to 20 feet.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the facility\u2019s first major projects is RAVEN (Research Aircraft for eVTOL Enabling techNologies), a collaboration with NASA to design, build, and fly an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) research aircraft in the 1,000-pound weight class. The aircraft will serve as a research platform for electric propulsion reliability, flight controls, noise reduction, and autonomy. Systems integration and test activities for RAVEN will take place within the new lab, underscoring the facility\u2019s central role in shaping the national agenda for advanced air mobility.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe Aircraft Prototyping Laboratory is the centerpiece of an ecosystem of flight research that we are building at Georgia Tech, focused on eVTOLs, drones, and other advanced air vehicles,\u201d said Brian German, professor of aerospace engineering at Georgia Tech. \u201cWe greatly appreciate the long-term partnership we\u2019ve had with NASA in the development of RAVEN, and we\u2019ve designed the facility specifically to support RAVEN and aircraft of a similar scale.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOther projects underway in the Aircraft Prototyping Laboratory include a solar-electric aircraft demonstrator and SETTER, a subscale eVTOL testbed focused on developing software for safety-critical applications. These projects support Georgia Tech\u2019s expanding ecosystem for flight testing and research, including collaborations with regional test facilities in the metro Atlanta area.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThese projects exemplify our commitment to advancing the technologies that will define the future of flight. Powered by the ingenuity of our faculty and students, the Aircraft Prototyping Laboratory ensures that Georgia Tech and the state of Georgia remain leaders in aerospace innovation and economic development,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/mitchell-l-r-walker-ii-phd\u0022\u003EMitchell Walker\u003C\/a\u003E, William R.T. Oakes Professor and chair of the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThrough the Aircraft Prototyping Laboratory, Georgia Tech continues to develop research in electric and autonomous aircraft, supporting both the Institute\u2019s and Georgia\u2019s role in the aerospace industry. The school educates more than 2,000 aerospace students and is ranked No. 1 among public universities for aerospace engineering.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech celebrates the opening of its new Aircraft Prototyping Laboratory, a facility dedicated to advancing research in electric and autonomous flight in collaboration with academic, government, and industry partners.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech celebrates the opening of its new Aircraft Prototyping Laboratory, a facility dedicated to advancing research in electric and autonomous flight in collaboration with academic, government, and industry partners."}],"uid":"35797","created_gmt":"2025-09-22 12:10:36","changed_gmt":"2025-09-24 18:09:05","author":"Siobhan Rodriguez","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-09-23T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-09-23T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678088":{"id":"678088","type":"image","title":"01_Joby-Aviation_Aircraft.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EJoby is one of more than a dozen companies worldwide that are developing the next generation of aircraft\u0026nbsp;that could be whisking you around the city bypassing any traffic. (Courtesy of Joby)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1758543047","gmt_created":"2025-09-22 12:10:47","changed":"1758740323","gmt_changed":"2025-09-24 18:58:43","alt":"Joby Aviation Aircraft","file":{"fid":"262071","name":"01_Joby-Aviation_Aircraft.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/22\/01_Joby-Aviation_Aircraft.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/22\/01_Joby-Aviation_Aircraft.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":5795333,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/09\/22\/01_Joby-Aviation_Aircraft.jpg?itok=sqV30tGu"}}},"media_ids":["678088"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"},{"id":"194612","name":"Workforce Development"}],"keywords":[{"id":"194773","name":"eVTOL"},{"id":"194774","name":"air taxis"},{"id":"194775","name":"Archer Aviation"},{"id":"194776","name":"Joby Aviation"},{"id":"194777","name":"autonomous flight"},{"id":"194778","name":"electric aircraft"},{"id":"194779","name":"aerospace innovation"},{"id":"109","name":"Georgia Tech"},{"id":"194780","name":"Aircraft Prototyping Laboratory"},{"id":"194781","name":"RAVEN project"},{"id":"194782","name":"NASA collaboration"},{"id":"179801","name":"urban air mobility"},{"id":"194783","name":"electric propulsion"},{"id":"194784","name":"hybrid-electric aircraft"},{"id":"194785","name":"flight research"},{"id":"2082","name":"aerospace engineering"},{"id":"38351","name":"Advanced Manufacturing"},{"id":"194786","name":"drone technology"},{"id":"72211","name":"avionics"},{"id":"194787","name":"composites fabrication"},{"id":"194788","name":"propulsion systems"},{"id":"194789","name":"aerospace ecosystem"},{"id":"194790","name":"future of flight"},{"id":"194791","name":"aviation research"},{"id":"194792","name":"aerospace education"},{"id":"194793","name":"Daniel Guggenheim School"},{"id":"194794","name":"aircraft integration"},{"id":"194795","name":"solar-electric aircraft"},{"id":"194796","name":"SETTER testbed"},{"id":"194797","name":"flight controls"},{"id":"194798","name":"noise reduction"},{"id":"170673","name":"autonomy"},{"id":"194799","name":"aerospace exports"},{"id":"11426","name":"Georgia Economy"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAngela Barajas Prendiville\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EDirector, Media Relations\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["media@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"685239":{"#nid":"685239","#data":{"type":"news","title":"A Beacon of Light to the State","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESpace has long served as a powerful gateway for sparking curiosity and igniting passion in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Globally, STEM fields are in high demand. In Georgia, aerospace is the state\u2019s top export \u2014 a thriving landscape that underscores the importance of cultivating a robust STEM pipeline. Georgia Tech has played a central role in fueling that pipeline through the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gasgc.org\/wp\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Space Grant Consortium\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (GSGC)Georgia Space Grant Consortium (GSGC)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince 1989, Georgia Tech has successfully managed GSGC, a statewide network of higher education institutions, nonprofits, strategic industry allies, and partners who develop and administer STEM programs. Established in 1988 by Congress and implemented by NASA, GSGC has grown into a powerful source for STEM innovation and opportunity.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEach year, GSGC receives federal funding to support a wide range of programs, including fellowships and scholarships for college students, research initiatives, internships, hands-on STEM activities for K-12 students, professional development for educators, and workforce development programs.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInitially, there were only four affiliate institutions: Clark Atlanta University, Georgia State University, Tuskegee University, and Kennesaw State University. Today, that number has grown to more than 21 affiliate institutions and an additional six partner organizations. Affiliates are elected to membership and actively advance the program\u2019s mission through the financial support of GSGC.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022There is a tremendous need for the nation\u2019s workforce to be innovative and highly skilled to support a wide range of business, defense, and critical societal needs. \u0026nbsp;In this, America is competing on a worldwide stage. Georgia has an aerospace industry of its own that needs a skilled workforce, and we\u2019re helping to fuel it,\u0022 said \u003Cstrong\u003EStephen Ruffin, \u003C\/strong\u003EGSGC director, professor in Georgia Tech\u2019s Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering (AE), and an associate dean in the College of Lifetime Learning.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESetting the Foundation\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESetting the Foundation\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOver 35 years ago, AE Professor \u003Cstrong\u003EDavid Peters\u003C\/strong\u003E submitted a Space Grant proposal to NASA on behalf of Georgia. NASA accepted the proposal, setting the stage for incredible work to come. As he implemented and administered the program, Program Manager \u003Cstrong\u003EWanda Pierson\u003C\/strong\u003E, was by his side.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cInviting Apollo astronaut \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/duke_charles.pdf\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECharlie Duke\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E to our first GSGC gathering and to visit K-12 schools was one of the highlights of my career. He discussed his experience of being on the moon. Seeing the children\u2019s faces light up, I knew we were onto something important. \u0026nbsp;Another one of my fondest memories was the kiosk we had in Centennial Olympic Park for our Space to Sports exhibit during the 1996 Olympics. It was so amazing,\u201d said Pierson.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EExpanding the Vision \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EProfessor \u003Cstrong\u003EErian Armanios\u003C\/strong\u003E became GSGC director in 1991, driven by a passion for Ph.D. fellowships for nontraditional doctoral scholars because he saw a lack of representation. The program provided these scholars with graduate research assistantships, reduced tuition, and access to professional conferences and organizations. During Armanios\u2019 tenure, over 23 Ph.D. students from various backgrounds graduated with STEM degrees, made possible with GSGC support.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Education, research, and\u0026nbsp;progress in society are\u0026nbsp;never the product of\u0026nbsp;a single thread \u2014 they are woven from the collective talents\u0026nbsp;of many. At GSGC, we wanted to\u0026nbsp;ensure that every ounce of\u0026nbsp;talent\u0026nbsp;across Georgia had\u0026nbsp;the chance to shine and contribute\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;discovery,\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\/strong\u003EArmanios\u0026nbsp;said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGSGC developed a speaker series in which GSGC fellows presented to middle and high school students. One of the fellows included \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/mark-francis-costello\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMark Costello\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, an AE graduate student who later served as AE chair from 2018 to 2023.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGSGC Ph.D. students formed tight bonds, and the program provided a sanctuary during their studies because they could pop into the GSGC office anytime to study or for friendly conversation. Even though the students came from various schools at Georgia Tech, they found their way into Pierson\u2019s office.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cTo this day, I can probably track 25 of the graduate students easily and say what is going on with them,\u201d said Pierson.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne such graduate is \u003Cstrong\u003ECalvin Mackie\u003C\/strong\u003E, ME 1990, M.S. ME 1992, Ph.D. ME 1996. Mackie spent countless hours studying in the GSGC offices, and he brought along his little brother, Anthony Mackie, who later rose to fame as an acclaimed actor. Calvin Mackie founded and now runs\u0026nbsp;STEM NOLA, a program providing STEM activities to students in New Orleans.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPurpose Driven\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2009, Ruffin took the GSGC helm and developed a strategic plan to unite the consortium under a clear vision and a strong mission statement.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Our mission is to maximize the number of Georgia students from all backgrounds who are well prepared in STEM fields and motivated to support space and aeronautics programs vital to this nation,\u0022 Ruffin said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gasgc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/2022-2023-Annual-Report-Final-1.pdf\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E2022-2023\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, GSGC programs served 6,214 K-12 students, 1,043 K-12 educators, 439 undergraduate students, 70 graduate students, and awarded 57 fellowships, scholarships, and internships. In \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gasgc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/2023-2024-Annual-Report-Final.pdf\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E2023-2024\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, GSGC programs served over 9,184 K-12 students, 4,848 K-12 educators, 2,012 undergraduates, 114 graduate students, and 12 post-doctoral students in Georgia. The consortium also awarded 179 fellowships, assistantships, scholarships, and internships across the state. It shows the reach the program is having throughout the state.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/lori-skillings\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELori Skillings\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E administers the program now and keeps it running like a well-oiled machine. She works closely with GSGC Program Coordinator \u003Cstrong\u003EAlysia Watson\u003C\/strong\u003E and AE Senior Lecturer and K-12 Outreach Lead\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/kelly-griendling\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKelly Griendling\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI\u2019m grateful to be a part of a program that inspires students in Georgia to seek STEM degrees. Witnessing the growth of students is the most rewarding experience I\u2019ve ever had. I\u2019m like a proud mom,\u201d Skillings said. She especially enjoys when she hears about the successes of former students as they forge their career paths.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAround the State\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGSGC funds its affiliate institutions and partners across Georgia to carry out the program mission. Affiliate directors bring their ideas to the table to serve their communities in both rural and urban areas of the state. Orchestrating collaboration with affiliate institutions and partners has been crucial to the consortium\u0027s growth and longevity. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Working with GSGC has allowed me to open doors to fields students may never have explored before,\u201d said AE graduate student \u003Cstrong\u003EErik Goeke\u003C\/strong\u003E. In addition to mentoring students, Goeke accompanied the GSGC staff to Capitol Hill to promote the program while also working on \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ceismc.gatech.edu\/studentprograms\/nasa-ml-bots\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENASA\u2019s ML-Bots,\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E a Georgia Tech created program focused on machine learning missions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAt Georgia Tech, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/about-ae-school\/ae-school-k-12-outreach\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESTEP Summer Camp\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E brings over 50 high school students to campus to learn engineering design and complete a NASA-inspired project in two weeks. The program started 10 years ago with 20 students and now has almost 60; this year, under Griendling\u2019s leadership, STEP received more than 500 applications. They bring space to life for Georgia high school students.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAt Athens, University of Georgia graduate student \u003Cstrong\u003EMatthew Olson\u003C\/strong\u003E worked on a project to develop and test a compact thermal vacuum chamber, using thermoelectric coolers for CubeSat environmental testing. Meanwhile, at the Griffin campus, a program developed CyanoSense 2.0 \u2014 a satellite-connected sensor system designed to detect the location and size of harmful algal blooms using space-based communication. CyanoSense 2.0 has been deployed at six locations across the country.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMercer University collaborated with the Warner Robins Air Force Base\u2013STARBASE program, the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts, and the Hines Family Foundation to create a summer camp for middle school kids that introduces students to climate science and agriculture.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EFarther south, Georgia Southern University hosts the Eagle Engineering Ambassadors program. There, students mentor local high school students and teachers each semester through various engineering projects like design prototyping using CAD, 3D printing, Arduino programming, and autonomous robots.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI\u0027ve worked with GSGC since my first year, as an undergraduate student,\u201d said graduate student \u003Cstrong\u003EJalen Caluey,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003EAE 2025, \u201cI\u2019ve done logistical and technical work in STEP. I\u2019ve mentored K-12 students, but I also learned more technical skills while doing so.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGSGC also offers \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gasgc.org\/wp\/for-everyone\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eactivities\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E for the public throughout the year, including presentations at the University of West Georgia\u2019s Planetarium, STEM Summer Camps at the Museum of Aviation next to Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins and solar system walks at Georgia Southern University and the University of North Georgia.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith aerospace being the state of Georgia\u0027s No. 1 export, the consortium helps to\u0026nbsp;cultivate Georgia\u2019s next generation of skilled STEM professionals. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"NASA\u2019s Georgia Space Grant Consortium celebrates 35 years of service "}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEach year, GSGC receives federal funding to support a wide range of programs, including fellowships and scholarships for college students, research initiatives, internships, hands-on STEM activities for K-12 students, professional development for educators, and workforce development programs.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Since 1989, Georgia Tech has successfully managed GSGC, a statewide network of higher education institutions, nonprofits, strategic industry allies, and partners who develop and administer STEM programs."}],"uid":"36345","created_gmt":"2025-09-24 17:06:44","changed_gmt":"2025-09-24 18:05:42","author":"gwaddell3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-09-24T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-09-24T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678130":{"id":"678130","type":"image","title":"GSGC-Timeline-Graphic.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThis is a timeline for the Georgia Space Grant Consortium team.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1758736997","gmt_created":"2025-09-24 18:03:17","changed":"1758736997","gmt_changed":"2025-09-24 18:03:17","alt":"GSGC Timeline","file":{"fid":"262116","name":"GSGC-Timeline-Graphic.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/24\/GSGC-Timeline-Graphic_3.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/24\/GSGC-Timeline-Graphic_3.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":125696,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/09\/24\/GSGC-Timeline-Graphic_3.jpg?itok=PObc77tr"}}},"media_ids":["678130"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/news\/2024\/07\/ae-step-camp-going-strong-after-10-years","title":"AE STEP Camp Going Strong After 10 Years"},{"url":"https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/news\/2023\/10\/georgia-tech-students-share-wonders-science-young-minds-space-day-atlanta","title":"Georgia Tech Students Share the Wonders of Science with Young Minds at Space Day Atlanta"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"}],"keywords":[{"id":"1325","name":"aerospace"},{"id":"136451","name":"Georgia Space Grant Consortium"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMonique Waddell\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["monique.waddell@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"683175":{"#nid":"683175","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Study Hopes to Prevent Cislunar Collisions as Moon Missions Increase","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAs more satellites launch into space, the satellite industry has sounded the alarm about the danger of collisions in low Earth orbit (LEO).\u0026nbsp; What is less understood is what might happen as more missions head to a more targeted destination: the moon.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to The Planetary Society, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.planetary.org\/worlds\/the-moon\u0022\u003Emore than 30 missions are slated\u003C\/a\u003E to launch to the moon between 2024 and 2030, backed by the U.S., China, Japan, India, and various private corporations. That compares to over 40 missions to the moon between 1959 and 1979 and a scant three missions between 1980 and 2000.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA multidisciplinary team at Georgia Tech has found that while collision probabilities in orbits around the moon are very low compared to Earth orbit, spacecraft in lunar orbit will likely need to conduct multiple costly collision avoidance maneuvers each year. The \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/389764842_Cislunar_Orbit_Collision_Probability_Analysis\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EJournal of Spacecraft and Rockets\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E published the Georgia Tech collision-avoidance study in March.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe number of close approaches in lunar orbit is higher than some might expect, given that there are only tens of satellites, rather than the thousands in low Earth orbit,\u201d says paper co-author \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/mariel-borowitz\u0022\u003EMariel Borowitz\u003C\/a\u003E, associate professor in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs in the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBorowitz and other researchers attribute these risky approaches in part to spacecraft often choosing a limited number of favorable orbits and the difficulty of monitoring the exact location of spacecraft that are more than 200,000 miles away.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere is significant uncertainty about the exact location of objects around the moon. This, combined with the high cost associated with lunar missions, means that operators often undertake maneuvers even when the probability is very low \u2014 up to one in 10 million,\u201d Borowitz explains.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Tech research is the first published study showing short- and long-term collision risks in \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/cislunar\u0022\u003Ecislunar\u003C\/a\u003E orbits. Using a series of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/topics\/economics-econometrics-and-finance\/monte-carlo-simulation\u0022\u003EMonte Carlo simulations\u003C\/a\u003E, the researchers modeled the probability of various outcomes in a process that cannot be easily predicted because of random variables.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur analysis suggests that satellite operators must perform up to four maneuvers annually for each satellite for a fleet of 50 satellites in low lunar orbit (LLO),\u201d said one of the study\u2019s authors, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/brian-c-gunter\u0022\u003EBrian Gunter\u003C\/a\u003E, associate professor in the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe noted that with only 10 satellites in LLO, a satellite might still need a yearly maneuver. This is supported by what current cislunar operators have reported.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFavored Orbits\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMost close encounters are expected to occur near the moon\u2019s equator, an intersection point between the orbit planes of commonly used \u201cfrozen\u201d and low lunar orbits, which are preferred by many operators. Other possible regions of congestion can occur at the Lagrangian points, or regions where the gravitational forces of Earth and the moon balance out. Stable orbits in these regions have names such as Halo and Lyapunov orbits.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cLagrangian points are an interesting place to put a satellite because it can maintain its orbit for long periods with very little maneuvering and thrusting. Frozen orbits, too. Anywhere outside these special areas, you have to spend a lot of fuel to maintain an orbit,\u201d he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGunter and other researchers worry that if operators aren\u2019t coordinated about how they plan lunar missions, opportunities for collision will increase in these popular orbits.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe close approaches were much more common than I would have intuitively anticipated,\u201d says lead study author Stef Crum.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe 2024 graduate of Georgia Tech\u2019s aerospace engineering doctoral program notes that, considering the small number of satellites in lunar orbit, the need for multiple maneuvers was \u201creally surprising.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECrum, who is also co-founder of Reditus Space, a startup he founded in 2024 to provide reusable orbital re-entry services, adds that the cislunar environment is so challenging because \u201cit\u2019s incredibly vast.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHis research also examines ways to improve object monitoring in cislunar space. Maintaining continuous custody of these objects is difficult because a target\u2019s position must be monitored over the entire duration of its trajectory.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThat wasn\u2019t feasible for translunar orbits, given the vast volume of cislunar orbit, which stretches multiple millions of kilometers in three dimensions,\u201d he says.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy estimating a satellite\u2019s orbit using observed data and constraining the presumed location and direction of the satellite, rather than continuous tracking (a process known as continuous custody), Crum greatly simplified the process.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cYou no longer need thousands of satellites or a set of enormous satellites to cover all potential trajectories,\u201d he explains. \u201cInstead, one or a few satellites are required, and operators can lose custody for a time as long as the connection is reacquired later.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince the team started their study, there has been a lot of interest in the moon and cislunar activity \u2014 both NASA and China\u2019s National Space Administration are planning to send humans to the moon. In the last two years, India, Japan, the U.S., China, Russia, and four private companies have attempted missions to the moon.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy the Moon\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESpacefaring nations\u2019 intense interest in exploring the lunar surface comes as no surprise given that the moon offers a variety of resources, including solar power, water, oxygen, and metals like iron, titanium, and uranium. It also contains Helium-3, a potential fuel for nuclear fusion, and rare earth metals vital for modern technology. With the recent discovery of water ice, it could be a plentiful source for \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/press.princeton.edu\/ideas\/why-going-to-the-moon-still-matters\u0022\u003Erocket fuel\u003C\/a\u003E that can be created from liquifying oxygen and hydrogen needed to launch deep space missions to destinations like Mars. In February, Georgia Tech announced that researchers have developed \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ae.gatech.edu\/news\/2025\/02\/new-algorithms-developed-georgia-tech-are-lunar-bound\u0022\u003Enew algorithms\u003C\/a\u003E to help Intuitive Machines\u2019 lunar lander find water ice on the moon.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECommercial space companies like Axiom Space and Redwire Space, as well as space agencies, are actively building lunar infrastructure, from satellite constellations to orbital platforms to support communication, navigation, scientific research, and eventually space tourism.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA key project involves the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/gateway\/#:~:text=Gateway%20is%20central%20to%20the,missions%20to%20Mars%20and%20beyond.\u0022\u003ELunar Gateway\u003C\/a\u003E, a joint venture of NASA and international space agencies like ESA, JAXA, and CSA, as well as commercial partners. Humanity\u2019s first space station around the moon will serve as a central hub for human exploration of the moon and is considered a stepping stone for future deep space missions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGetting Ahead of a Gold Rush to the Moon\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAll this activity underscores the urgency to get out in front of potential crowding issues \u2014 something that hasn\u2019t occurred in LEO, where near-miss collisions, or conjunctions, are frequent. LEO, which is 100 to 1,200 miles above the Earth\u2019s surface, is host to more than 14,000\u0026nbsp; satellites and 120 million pieces of debris from launches, collisions, and wear and tear, reports \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/science\/global-push-cooperation-space-traffic-crowds-earth-orbit-2024-12-02\/#:~:text=Low%20Earth%20orbit%20is%20densely,(336%2D354%20miles).\u0022\u003EReuters\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cUsing the near-Earth environment as an example, the space object population has gone from approximately 6,000 active satellites in the early 2020s to an anticipated 60,000 satellites in the coming decade if the projected number of large satellite constellations currently in the works gets deployed. That poses many challenges in terms of how we can manage that sustainably,\u201d observed Gunter. \u201cIf something similar happens in the lunar environment, say if \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/artemis\/\u0022\u003EArtemis\u003C\/a\u003E (NASA\u2019s program to establish the first long-term presence on the moon) is successful and a lunar base is established, and there is discovery of volatiles or water deposits, it could initiate a kind of gold rush effect that might accelerate the number of actors in cislunar space.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor this reason, Borowitz argues for the need to begin working on coordination, either in the planning of the orbits for future missions or by sharing information about the location of objects operating in lunar orbit. She pointed out that spacecraft outfitted for moon missions are expensive, making a collision highly costly. Also, debris from such a scenario would spread in an unpredictable way, which could be problematic for other objects.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGunter agreed, noting, \u201cIf we\u2019re not careful, we could be putting a lot of things in this same path. We must ensure we build out the cislunar orbital environment in a smart way, where we\u2019re not intentionally putting spacecraft in the same orbital spaces. If we do that, everyone should be able to get what they want and not be in each other\u2019s way.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBorowitz says some coordination efforts are underway with the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and the creation of an action team on lunar activities; however, international diplomacy is a time-consuming process, and it can be a challenge to keep pace with advancements in technology.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe contends that the Georgia Tech study could provide baseline data that \u201ccould be helpful for international coordination efforts, helping to ensure that countries better understand potential future risks.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGunter and Borowitz say that follow-on research for the team could involve looking into the Lunar Gateway orbit and other special orbits to see how crowded that space will likely get, and then do an end-to-end simulation of these orbits to determine the most effective way to build them out to avoid collision risks. Ultimately, they intend to develop guidelines to help ensure that future space actors headed to the moon can operate safely.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA Georgia Tech study warns that rising lunar traffic could lead to costly collision avoidance maneuvers, urging better coordination to manage growing risks in cislunar space.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A Georgia Tech study warns that rising lunar traffic could lead to costly collision avoidance maneuvers, urging better coordination to manage growing risks in cislunar space."}],"uid":"34760","created_gmt":"2025-07-18 13:43:22","changed_gmt":"2025-09-16 13:55:10","author":"Laurie Haigh","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-07-18T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-07-18T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677453":{"id":"677453","type":"image","title":"NASA\u0027s Lunar Trailblazer in Orbit Around the Moon (Artist\u0027s Concept)","body":"\u003Cp\u003ENASA\u0027s Lunar Trailblazer in Orbit Around the Moon (Artist\u0027s Concept). Image furnished by NASA.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1752845189","gmt_created":"2025-07-18 13:26:29","changed":"1752846149","gmt_changed":"2025-07-18 13:42:29","alt":"NASA\u0027s Lunar Trailblazer in Orbit Around the Moon (Artist\u0027s Concept)","file":{"fid":"261352","name":"nasa-lunar-trailblazer.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/18\/nasa-lunar-trailblazer.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/18\/nasa-lunar-trailblazer.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":99515,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/07\/18\/nasa-lunar-trailblazer.jpg?itok=_26i8LJR"}}},"media_ids":["677453"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"660370","name":"Space"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"194767","name":"go-cspir"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENews Contact:\u003C\/strong\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: laurie.haigh@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ELaurie Haigh\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWriter: \u003C\/strong\u003EAnne Wainscott-Sargent\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"683133":{"#nid":"683133","#data":{"type":"news","title":"LIGO Detects Most Massive Binary Black Hole to Date","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ligo.caltech.edu\/news\/ligo20240405\u0022\u003ELaser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO)\u2019s LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA (LVK) collaboration\u003C\/a\u003E has detected an extremely unusual binary black hole merger \u2014 a phenomenon that occurs when two black holes are pulled into each other\u0027s orbit and combine. Announced yesterday in a\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.caltech.edu\/about\/news\/ligo-detects-most-massive-black-hole-merger-to-date\u0022\u003ECalifornia Institute of Technology press release\u003C\/a\u003E, the binary black hole merger, GW231123, is the largest ever detected with gravitational waves.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EBefore merging, both black holes were spinning exceptionally fast, and their masses fell into a range that should be very rare \u2014 or impossible.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cMost models don\u0027t predict black holes this big can be made by supernovas, and our data indicates that they were spinning at a rate close to the limit of what\u2019s theoretically possible,\u201d says\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/margaret-millhouse\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMargaret Millhouse\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a research scientist in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Physics\u003C\/a\u003E who played a key role in the research. \u201cWhere could they have come from? It raises interesting questions.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EA binary black hole merger absorbs characteristics from both of the contributors, she adds. \u201cAs a result, this is not only the most massive binary black hole ever seen but also the fastest-spinning binary black hole confidently detected with gravitational waves.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cGW231123 is a record-breaking event,\u201d says School of Physics Professor\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/laura-cadonati\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELaura Cadonati\u003C\/strong\u003E,\u003C\/a\u003E who has been a member of the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ligo.caltech.edu\/page\/ligo-scientific-collaboration\u0022\u003ELIGO Scientific Collaboration\u003C\/a\u003E since 2002. \u201cLIGO has been observing the cosmos for 10 years now. This discovery underscores that there is still so much that this instrument can help us learn.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Cosmic View\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe findings challenge current theories on how smaller black holes form, says School of Physics Assistant Professor and LIGO collaborator\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/surabhi-sachdev\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESurabhi\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ESachdev\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. Smaller black holes are the result of supernovae: dying and collapsing stars. During that collapse, explosions can tear apart or eject part of the star\u2019s mass \u2014 limiting the size of the black hole that forms.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cBlack holes from supernovae can weigh up to about 60 times the mass of our Sun,\u201d she says. \u201cThe black holes in this merger were likely the mass of\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003Ehundreds\u003C\/em\u003E of suns.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EBecause of its size, GW231123 also allowed the team to study the merger in unprecedented detail. \u201cLIGO has observed scores of black hole mergers,\u201d says Cadonati. \u201cOf these, GW231123 has provided us with the clearest view of the \u2018grand finale\u2019 of a merger thus far. This adds a new clue to solve the puzzle that are black holes, including their origins and properties.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cWhile we saw that our expectations matched the data, the extreme nature of this event pushed our models to their limits,\u201d Millhouse adds. \u201cA massive, highly spinning system like this will be of interest to researchers who study how binary black holes form.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDecoding a Split-Second Signal\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EMillhouse and School of Physics Postdoctoral Fellow\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EPrathamesh Joshi\u003C\/strong\u003E used Einstein\u2019s equations for general relativity to confirm LIGO\u2019s detections.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ETo find black holes, LIGO measures distortions in spacetime \u2014 ripples that are created when two black holes collide. These patterns in gravitational waves can be used to find the signature signal of black hole collisions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cIn this case, the signal lasted for just one-tenth of a second, but it was very clear,\u201d says Joshi. \u0022Previously, we designed a special study to detect these interesting signals, which accounted for all the unusual properties of such massive systems \u2014 and it paid off!\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cTo ensure it wasn\u2019t noise, the Georgia Tech team first reconstructed the signal in a model-agnostic way,\u201d Millhouse adds. \u201cWe then compared those reconstructions to a model that uses Einstein\u0027s equations of general relativity, and both reconstructions looked very similar, which helped confirm that this highly unusual phenomenon was a genuine detection.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ESachdev says that seeing the signal at both LIGO Observatories \u2014 placed in Hanford, Washington and Livingston, Louisiana \u2014 was also critical. \u201cThese short signals are very hard to detect, and this signal is so unlike any of the other binary black holes that we\u0027ve seen before,\u201d she says. \u201cWithout both detectors, we would have missed it.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Decade of Discovery\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EWhile the team has yet to determine how the original black holes formed, one theory is that they may have resulted from mergers themselves. \u201cThis could have been a chain of mergers,\u201d Sachdev explains. \u201cThis tells us that they could have existed in a very dense environment like a nuclear star cluster or an active galactic nucleus.\u201d Their spins provide another clue as spinning is a characteristic usually seen in black holes resulting from a merge.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe team adds that GW231123 could provide clues on how larger black holes are formed \u2014 including the mysterious supermassive black holes at the center of galaxies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cGravitational wave science is almost a decade old, and we\u0027re still making fundamental discoveries,\u201d says Millhouse. \u201cIt\u2019s exciting that LIGO is continuing to detect new phenomena,\u0026nbsp; and this is at the edge of what we\u0027ve seen thus far. There\u0027s still so much we can learn.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe team expects to update their catalogue of black holes in August 2025, which will provide another window into how this exceptionally heavy black hole might fit into the universe, and what we can continue to learn from it.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFunding\u003C\/strong\u003E: The LIGO Laboratory is supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation and operated jointly by Caltech and MIT.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EBefore merging, both black holes were spinning exceptionally fast, and their masses fell into a range that should be very rare \u2014 or impossible.\u0026nbsp;The result of the merge, GW231123, is the largest binary black hole merger ever detected with gravitational waves.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Before merging, both black holes were spinning exceptionally fast, and their masses fell into a range that should be very rare \u2014 or impossible. "}],"uid":"35599","created_gmt":"2025-07-15 02:50:57","changed_gmt":"2025-07-20 23:41:24","author":"sperrin6","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-07-15T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-07-15T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677428":{"id":"677428","type":"image","title":"An illustration of the binary black hole merger. (Image credit: Raul Perez and Davis Newell)","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAn illustration of the binary black hole merger. (Image credit: Raul Perez and Davis Newell)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1752677703","gmt_created":"2025-07-16 14:55:03","changed":"1752677703","gmt_changed":"2025-07-16 14:55:03","alt":"An illustration of the binary black hole merger. (Image credit: Raul Perez and Davis Newell)","file":{"fid":"261324","name":"blackhole.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/16\/blackhole.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/16\/blackhole.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":817859,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/07\/16\/blackhole.jpg?itok=hDsfUKTq"}}},"media_ids":["677428"],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"126011","name":"School of Physics"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"150","name":"Physics and Physical Sciences"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192252","name":"cos-planetary"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193653","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"},{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWritten by Selena Langner\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EContact: \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: jess.hunt@cos.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJess Hunt-Ralston\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"683097":{"#nid":"683097","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Pancaked Water Droplets Help Launch Europe\u2019s Fastest Supercomputer","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJUPITER became the world\u2019s fourth fastest supercomputer when it debuted last month. Though housed in Germany at the J\u00fclich Supercomputing Centre (JSC), Georgia Tech played a supporting role in helping the system land on the latest\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/top500.org\/lists\/top500\/2025\/06\/\u0022\u003ETOP500 list\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn November 2024, JSC granted Assistant Professor Spencer Bryngelson exclusive access to the system through the JUPITER Research and Early Access Program (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.fz-juelich.de\/en\/ias\/jsc\/jupiter\/jureap\u0022\u003EJUREAP\u003C\/a\u003E).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy preparing\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.fz-juelich.de\/en\/news\/archive\/press-release\/2025\/jupiter-supercomputer-propels-european-computing-power\u0022\u003EEurope\u2019s fastest supercomputer\u003C\/a\u003E for launch, the joint project yielded valuable simulation data on the effects of shock waves in medicine and transportation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe shock-droplet problem has been a hallmark test problem in fluid dynamics for some decades now. It is sufficiently challenging to study that it keeps me scientifically interested, though the results are manifestly important,\u201d Bryngelson said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cUnderstanding the droplet behavior in some extreme regimes remains an open scientific problem of high engineering value.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThrough JUREAP, JSC engineers tested Bryngelson\u2019s Multi-Component Flow Code (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/mflowcode.github.io\/\u0022\u003EMFC\u003C\/a\u003E) on their computers. The project simulated how liquid droplets behave when struck by a large, high-velocity shock wave moving much faster than the speed of sound.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETests produced visualizations of droplets deforming into pancake shapes before ejecting vortex rings as they broke apart from the shock wave. The experiments measured the swirls of air flow formed behind the droplets, known as vorticity.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EVorticity is one variable aerospace engineers consider when building aircraft designed to fly at supersonic and hypersonic speeds. Small droplets and vortices pose significant hazards for high-Mach vessels.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese computer models reduce the risk and cost associated with physical test runs. By simulating extreme scenarios, the JUREAP project demonstrated a safer and more efficient way to evaluate aerospace systems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe human body is another fluid space where fast, high-energy flows can occur.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESimulations help medical researchers create less invasive shock wave treatments. This technology can be further applied for uses ranging from breaking up kidney stones to treating inflammation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMFC\u2019s versatility for large- and small-scale applications made it suitable for testing JUPITER in its early stages. The project\u2019s success even earned it a JUREAP certificate for scaling efficiency and node performance.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe use of application codes to test supercomputers is common. We\u2019ve participated in similar programs for OLCF Frontier and LLNL El Capitan,\u201d said Bryngelson, a faculty member with Georgia Tech\u2019s School of Computational Science and Engineering.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cEngineers at supercomputer sites usually find and sort most problems on their own. But deploying workloads characteristic of what the JUPITER will run in practice stresses it in new ways. In these instances, we usually end up identifying some failure modes.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe JSC and Georgia Tech researchers named their joint project Exascale Multiphysics Flows (ExaMFlow).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EExaMFlow helps keep JUPITER on pace to become Europe\u2019s first exascale supercomputer. This designation refers to any machine capable of computing one exaflop, or one quintillion (\u201c1\u201d followed by 18 zeros) calculations per second.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAll three systems that rank ahead of JUPITER are exascale supercomputers. They are\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/asc.llnl.gov\/exascale\/el-capitan\u0022\u003EEl Capitan\u003C\/a\u003E at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.olcf.ornl.gov\/frontier\/\u0022\u003EFrontier\u003C\/a\u003E at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.anl.gov\/aurora\u0022\u003EAurora\u003C\/a\u003E at Argonne National Laboratory.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJUPITER calculates more than 60 billion operations per watt. This makes the supercomputer the most energy-efficient system among the top five.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EExaMFlow ran Bryngelson\u2019s software on JSC\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.fz-juelich.de\/en\/ias\/jsc\/systems\/supercomputers\/juwels\u0022\u003EJUWELS Booster\u003C\/a\u003E and JUPITER Exascale Transition Instrument (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.fz-juelich.de\/en\/news\/archive\/press-release\/2024\/new-jupiter-module-strengthens-leading-position-of-europe2019s-upcoming-exascale-supercomputer\u0022\u003EJETI\u003C\/a\u003E). The two modules form the backbone of JUPITER\u2019s full design.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EExaMFlow\u2019s report showed that MFC performed with near-ideal scaling behavior on JUWELS and JETI compared to similar systems based on NVIDIA A100 GPUs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccess to NVIDIA hardware at Georgia Tech played a key role in ExaMFlow\u2019s success.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Institute hosts the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pace.gatech.edu\/phoenix-cluster\/\u0022\u003EPhoenix Research Computing Cluster\u003C\/a\u003E, which includes A100 GPUs among its arsenal of components. Bryngelson\u2019s lab owns NVIDIA A100 GPUs and four\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/researchers-blazing-new-trails-superchip-named-after-computing-pioneer\u0022\u003EGH200 Grace Hopper Superchips\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince JUPITER is equipped with around 24,000 Grace Hopper Superchips, Bryngelson\u2019s work with the hardware proved especially insightful for the ExaMFlow project.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe Grace Hopper chip is interesting. It\u2019s not challenging to use like a regular GPU device when one is familiar with running NVIDIA hardware. The more fun part is using its tightly coupled CPU to GPU interconnect to make use of the CPU as well,\u201d Bryngelson said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s not immediately obvious how to best do this, though we used a few tricks to tune its use to our application. They appear to work nicely.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJSC researchers \u003Cstrong\u003ELuis Cifuentes\u003C\/strong\u003E, \u003Cstrong\u003ERakesh Sarma\u003C\/strong\u003E, \u003Cstrong\u003ESeong Koh\u003C\/strong\u003E, and \u003Cstrong\u003ESohel Herff\u003C\/strong\u003E played important roles in running Bryngelson\u2019s MFC software on early JUPITER modules.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe ExaMFlow team included NVIDIA scientists \u003Cstrong\u003ENikolaos Tselepidis\u003C\/strong\u003E and \u003Cstrong\u003EBenedikt Dorschner\u003C\/strong\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe pair observed their company\u2019s hardware used in the field. They return to NVIDIA with notes that help the corporation build the next devices tailored to the need of scientific computing researchers.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe try to be prepared for the latest, biggest computers. Being able to take immediate advantage of the largest systems is a valuable capability,\u201d Bryngelson said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhen the early access systems arrive, it\u2019s a great opportunity for the teams involved to test the machines, demonstrate and tune scientific software, and meet very capable new collaborators.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJUPITER became the world\u2019s fourth fastest supercomputer when it debuted last month. Though housed in Germany at the J\u00fclich Supercomputing Centre (JSC), Georgia Tech played a supporting role in helping the system land on the latest\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/top500.org\/lists\/top500\/2025\/06\/\u0022\u003ETOP500 list\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn November 2024, JSC granted Assistant Professor Spencer Bryngelson exclusive access to the system through the JUPITER Research and Early Access Program (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.fz-juelich.de\/en\/ias\/jsc\/jupiter\/jureap\u0022\u003EJUREAP\u003C\/a\u003E).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy preparing\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.fz-juelich.de\/en\/news\/archive\/press-release\/2025\/jupiter-supercomputer-propels-european-computing-power\u0022\u003EEurope\u2019s fastest supercomputer\u003C\/a\u003E for launch, the joint project yielded valuable simulation data on the effects of shock waves in medicine and transportation.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Assistant Professor Spencer Bryngelson participated in the JUPITER Research and Early Access Program, which innovated his fluid dynamics software while stress testing Europe\u0027s fastest supercomputer in preparation for launch."}],"uid":"36319","created_gmt":"2025-07-11 13:05:43","changed_gmt":"2025-07-11 13:14:02","author":"Bryant Wine","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-07-11T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-07-11T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677392":{"id":"677392","type":"image","title":"SHB-Pancaked-Droplet.png","body":null,"created":"1752239195","gmt_created":"2025-07-11 13:06:35","changed":"1752239195","gmt_changed":"2025-07-11 13:06:35","alt":"ExaMFlow 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Bryngelson","file":{"fid":"261289","name":"SHB.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/11\/SHB.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/11\/SHB.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":97248,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/07\/11\/SHB.jpeg?itok=FCxuiSy2"}}},"media_ids":["677392","677393","677394"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/pancaked-water-droplets-help-launch-europes-fastest-supercomputer","title":"Pancaked Water Droplets Help Launch Europe\u2019s Fastest Supercomputer"}],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"50877","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"654","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"166983","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"},{"id":"9153","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"181991","name":"Georgia Tech News Center"},{"id":"15030","name":"high-performance computing"},{"id":"168929","name":"supercomputers"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBryant Wine, Communications Officer\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:bryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ebryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"682882":{"#nid":"682882","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Mars Rising as the New Frontier of Science and Strategy","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMore than half a century after the United States won the race to the moon, the White House is setting its sights on a new frontier: Mars. In a move reminiscent of the Apollo era, the administration has proposed landing Americans on the red planet by the end of 2026 \u2014 a bold initiative that has reignited national ambition and drawn comparisons to the space race of the 20th century.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt Georgia Tech, researchers are already considering the mission\u2019s implications, from engineering challenges to international diplomacy. While the White House has framed the mission as a demonstration of American leadership, experts say its success will depend on collaboration \u2014 across disciplines, sectors, and borders.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis is more than a space race,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/christos-e-athanasiou\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EChristos Athanasiou\u003C\/a\u003E, an assistant professor in the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering. \u201cMars isn\u2019t just the next step for space exploration \u2014 it\u2019s a stress test for everything we\u2019ve learned about sustainability, resilience, and engineering under uncertainty.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEngineering for the Red Planet\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Athanasiou, the Mars mission is a test of human ingenuity, creativity, and endurance. Unlike the moon, Mars is months away by spacecraft, with no quick return option. That distance introduces a host of engineering challenges that must be solved before a single boot touches Martian soil.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cEnsuring astronaut safety on such a long-duration mission requires us to understand how the Earth materials we will be using in our mission behave in extraterrestrial conditions,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn his recent \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Ds6hQXVpUCs\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ETEDx talk\u003C\/a\u003E, Athanasiou emphasized that the mission must also consider its environmental impact. Mars may be barren, but it is not immune to contamination. Athanasiou believes that strategies used for environmental remediation on Earth \u2014 such as waste recycling, habitat sustainability, and pollution control \u2014 can be adapted to protect the Martian environment.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIf we can build structures that survive Mars using recycled materials, AI, and Earth-born ingenuity, we\u2019ll unlock entirely new ways to live \u2014 both out there and back here,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EReading the Martian Landscape\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/wray.eas.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EJames Wray\u003C\/a\u003E, a professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, has spent years analyzing Mars\u2019 surface using data from orbiters and rovers. He sees the planet as both a scientific treasure trove and a logistical puzzle.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMars has vast lava plains, dust storms, and steep canyons that pose real risks to human settlement,\u201d Wray said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut beneath the challenges lies opportunity. Mars is home to significant deposits of water ice, especially near the poles and just below the surface in some mid-latitude regions. That water could be used not only for drinking but also for producing oxygen and rocket fuel \u2014 critical resources for long-term habitation and return missions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe presence of water ice near the surface is a game changer. It could support life, and more importantly, it could support us,\u201d Wray said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe also noted that Mars\u2019 thin atmosphere \u2014 just 1% the density of Earth\u2019s \u2014 complicates everything from landing spacecraft to shielding astronauts from cosmic radiation. \u201cWe\u2019ve learned a lot from robotic missions. Now it\u2019s time to apply that knowledge to human exploration.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDiplomacy Beyond Earth\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/Lincoln-Hines\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ELincoln Hines\u003C\/a\u003E, an assistant professor in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, says that the Mars mission could have significant diplomatic implications. \u201cThe Mars mission has little to no bearing on space security; it has no military value,\u201d he said. However, he noted that international cooperation could still play a valuable role in reducing the financial burden of such a costly endeavor.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHines warned that shifting U.S. priorities from the moon to Mars could strain the international partnerships built through the Artemis program. He explained that some countries may view the Mars initiative as a distraction from the more immediate and economically promising lunar goals. Political instability in the U.S., he added, could further erode trust in its long-term commitments. \u201cCountries may lose faith that the United States is a reliable partner to cooperate with for its lunar program if Mars seems to be the new priority,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe also pointed to existing legal frameworks like the Outer Space Treaty, which prohibits sovereign claims on celestial bodies, and the Rescue Agreement, which obliges nations to assist astronauts in distress. While these agreements provide a foundation, Hines emphasized that they don\u2019t fully address the complexities of future Mars missions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEstablishing international norms for Mars exploration, he said, will be challenging. \u201cNorms are really hard to develop,\u201d Hines explained, noting that countries often hesitate to commit to rules without assurance that others will do the same. Still, he suggested that Mars \u2014 with its limited material value \u2014 might offer a rare opportunity for cooperation, if nations are willing to engage in good faith.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Georgia Tech contributes to the national vision with research in engineering, science, and policy. "}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMore than half a century after the United States won the race to the moon, the White House is setting its sights on a new frontier: Mars. In a move reminiscent of the Apollo era, the administration has proposed landing Americans on the red planet by the end of 2026 \u2014 a bold initiative that has reignited national ambition and drawn comparisons to the space race of the 20th century.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"As the White House accelerates plans for a 2026 crewed mission to Mars, Georgia Tech experts highlight the engineering, scientific, and diplomatic challenges that will shape the success\u2014and sustainability\u2014of humanity\u2019s next giant leap."}],"uid":"35797","created_gmt":"2025-06-25 13:46:35","changed_gmt":"2025-07-07 14:22:22","author":"Siobhan Rodriguez","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-06-25T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-06-25T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677344":{"id":"677344","type":"image","title":"mars-news-img-2.jpg","body":null,"created":"1751898074","gmt_created":"2025-07-07 14:21:14","changed":"1751898074","gmt_changed":"2025-07-07 14:21:14","alt":"the planet mars with a satellite flying in front of it","file":{"fid":"261236","name":"mars-news-img-2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/07\/mars-news-img-2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/07\/mars-news-img-2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1914579,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/07\/07\/mars-news-img-2.jpg?itok=ZkvQ7Rjs"}}},"media_ids":["677344"],"related_links":[{"url":"entity:node\/682660","title":"Volcano \u0027Hidden in Plain Sight\u0027 Could Help Date Mars \u2014 and its Habitability"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"},{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"194610","name":"National Interests\/National Security"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"194614","name":"Mars mission"},{"id":"194615","name":"White House space policy"},{"id":"194616","name":"2026 Mars landing"},{"id":"109","name":"Georgia Tech"},{"id":"192170","name":"Christos Athanasiou"},{"id":"52181","name":"James Wray"},{"id":"194617","name":"Lincoln Hines"},{"id":"408","name":"NASA"},{"id":"194618","name":"Artemis program"},{"id":"167098","name":"space exploration"},{"id":"194619","name":"international cooperation"},{"id":"194620","name":"Outer Space Treaty"},{"id":"194621","name":"space diplomacy"},{"id":"167990","name":"space security"},{"id":"194622","name":"lunar vs. Mars priorities"},{"id":"194623","name":"U.S.\u2013China space relations"},{"id":"194624","name":"environmental impact on Mars"},{"id":"194625","name":"human spaceflight"},{"id":"194626","name":"Mars geology"},{"id":"167707","name":"Space Policy"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"},{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESiobhan Rodriguez\u003Cbr\u003ESenior Media Relations\u0026nbsp;Representative\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EInstitute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["media@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"682660":{"#nid":"682660","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Volcano \u0027Hidden in Plain Sight\u0027 Could Help Date Mars \u2014 and its Habitability","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech scientists have uncovered evidence that a mountain on the rim of Jezero Crater \u2014 where NASA\u2019s Perseverance Rover is currently collecting samples for possible return to Earth \u2014 is likely a volcano. Called Jezero Mons,\u003Cem\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003Eit is nearly half the size of the crater itself and could add critical clues to the habitability and volcanism of Mars, transforming how we understand Mars\u2019 geologic history.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe study, \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s43247-025-02329-7\u0022\u003EEvidence for a composite volcano on the rim of Jezero crater on Mars\u003C\/a\u003E,\u201d was published this May in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003ENature\u003C\/em\u003E-family journal\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003ECommunications Earth \u0026amp; Environment,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003Eand\u003Cem\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003Eunderscores\u003Cem\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003Ehow much we have left to learn about one of the most well-studied regions of Mars.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ELead author\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/deeps.brown.edu\/people\/sara-cuevas-quinones\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESara C. Cuevas-Qui\u00f1ones\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E completed the research as an undergraduate during a summer program at Georgia Tech; she is now a graduate student at Brown University. The team also included corresponding author Professor\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/wray.eas.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJames J. Wray\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E (\u003C\/strong\u003ESchool of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences), Assistant Professor\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eas.gatech.edu\/people\/rivera-hernandez-dr-frances\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFrances Rivera-Hern\u00e1ndez\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E(School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences), and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/search.asu.edu\/profile\/2095063\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJacob Adler\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Ethen a postdoctoral fellow at Georgia Tech and now an assistant research professor at Arizona State University.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cVolcanism on Mars is intriguing for a number of reasons \u2014 from the implications it has on habitability, to better constraining the geologic history,\u201d Wray says. \u201cJezero Crater is one of the best studied sites on Mars. If we are just now identifying a volcano here, imagine how many more could be on Mars. Volcanoes may be even more widespread across Mars than we thought.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA mountain in the margins\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EWray\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Efirst noticed\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Ethe mountain in 2007, while considering Jezero Crater as a graduate student.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cI was looking at low-resolution photos of the area and noticed a mountain on the crater\u2019s rim,\u201d he recalls. \u201cTo me, it looked like a volcano, but it was difficult to get additional images.\u201d At the time, Jezero Crater was newly discovered, and imaging focused almost entirely on its intriguing water history, which is on the opposite side of the 28-mile-wide crater.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThen, Jezero Crater, due to these lake-like sedimentary deposits, was selected as the landing spot for the 2020 Perseverance Rover \u2014 an\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/mars-2020-perseverance\/\u0022\u003Eongoing NASA mission seeking signs of ancient Martian life and collecting rock samples for possible return to Earth\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EHowever, after landing, some of the first rocks Perseverance encountered were not the sedimentary deposits one might expect from a previously-flooded area \u2014 they were volcanic. Wray suspected he might know the origin of these rocks, but to make a case for it, he would need to show that the mountain on the edge of Jezero Crater could indeed be a volcano.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA new researcher \u2014 and old data\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe opportunity presented itself several months after Perseverance landed when Cuevas-Qui\u00f1ones applied to a\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/easreu.eas.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESummer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program hosted by the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E to work with Wray.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0019103518306067?via%3Dihub\u0022\u003EA previous study\u003C\/a\u003E led by\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EBriony Horgan\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E(professor of planetary science at Purdue University) had also suggested that Jezero Mons could be volcanic,\u201d Cuevas-Qui\u00f1ones says. \u201cI began wondering if there was a way to home in on these suspicions.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe team partnered with study coauthor Rivera-Hern\u00e1ndez, who specializes in characterizing the surface of planets and their habitability. They decided to use datasets gathered from spacecraft orbiting Mars to compare the properties of Jezero Mons to other, known, volcanoes. \u201cWe can\u2019t visit Mars and definitively prove that Jezero Mons is a volcano, but we can show that it shares the same properties with existing volcanoes \u2014 both here on Earth and Mars,\u201d Wray explains.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cWe used data from the Mars Odyssey Orbiter, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, and Perseverance Rover, all in combination to puzzle this out,\u201d he adds. \u201cI think this shows that these older spacecraft can be extremely valuable long after their initial missions end \u2014 these old spacecraft can still make important discoveries and help us answer tricky questions.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EFor Cuevas-Qui\u00f1ones, it also underscores the importance of REU programs and opportunities for undergraduates. \u201cI was an undergraduate student at the time, and this was my first time conducting research,\u201d she says. \u201cIt was fascinating to learn how different data sets could be used to decode the origin of a landscape. After Jezero Mons, it became clear to me that I would continue to study Mars and other planetary bodies.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe search for life \u2014 and determining Mars\u2019 age\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe discovery makes the crater even more intriguing in the search for past life on Mars. A volcano so close to watery Jezero Crater could add a critical source of heat on an otherwise cold planet, including the potential for hydrothermal activity \u2014 energy that life could use to thrive.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThis type of system also holds interest for Mars as a whole. \u201cThe coalescence of these two types of systems makes Jezero more interesting than ever,\u201d shares Wray. \u201cWe have samples of incredible sedimentary rocks that could be from a habitable region alongside igneous rocks with important scientific value.\u201d If returned to Earth, igneous rocks can be radioisotope dated to know their age very precisely. Dating the Jezero Crater samples could be used to calibrate age estimates, providing an unprecedented window into the geologic history of the planet.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe take home message? \u201cMars is the best place we have to look in our solar system for signs of life, and thanks to the Perseverance Rover collecting samples in Jezero, the United States has samples from the best rocks in the best place on Mars,\u201d Wray says. \u201cIf these samples are returned to Earth, we can do incredible, groundbreaking science with them.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EDOI: \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s43247-025-02329-7\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Ehttps:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s43247-025-02329-7\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EFunding: Cuevas-Qui\u00f1ones was supported by Georgia Tech\u2019s 2021 Research Experience for Undergraduates program sponsored by NSF and 3M corporation. Wray was supported by NASA funding for Co-Investigators on HiRISE and CaSSIS. CaSSIS is a project of the University of Bern and funded through the Swiss Space Office via ESA\u2019s PRODEX program. The instrument hardware development was also supported by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) (ASI-INAF agreement 2020-17-HH.0), INAF\/Astronomical Observatory of Padova, and the Space Research Center (CBK) in Warsaw. Support from SGF (Budapest), the University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Lab, and NASA are also gratefully acknowledged. Operation support from the UK Space Agency is also acknowledged.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EResearchers have discovered evidence that a mountain on the rim of Jezero Crater \u2014 where NASA\u2019s Perseverance Rover is currently collecting samples for possible return to Earth \u2014 is likely a volcano. The research could add critical clues to the habitability and volcanism of Mars, transforming how we understand Mars\u2019 geologic history.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech scientists have uncovered evidence that a mountain on the rim of Jezero Crater \u2014 where NASA\u2019s Perseverance Rover is currently collecting samples for possible return to Earth \u2014 is likely a volcano."}],"uid":"35599","created_gmt":"2025-06-05 13:27:33","changed_gmt":"2025-06-06 14:10:08","author":"sperrin6","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-06-05T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-06-05T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677188":{"id":"677188","type":"image","title":"A view of Jezero Mons from the publication. The mountain is ~21\u2009km across.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EA view of Jezero Mons from the publication. The mountain is ~21\u2009km across.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1749130319","gmt_created":"2025-06-05 13:31:59","changed":"1749130319","gmt_changed":"2025-06-05 13:31:59","alt":"A view of Jezero Mons from the publication. The mountain is ~21\u2009km across.","file":{"fid":"261062","name":"JezeroMons.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/06\/05\/JezeroMons.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/06\/05\/JezeroMons.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":121995,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/06\/05\/JezeroMons.jpg?itok=shnhPfCc"}},"677189":{"id":"677189","type":"image","title":"An image from the publication showing an oblique view from north-northeast of Jezero crater, with topography exaggerated ~3x","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAn image from the publication showing an oblique view from north-northeast of Jezero crater, with topography exaggerated ~3x\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1749130628","gmt_created":"2025-06-05 13:37:08","changed":"1749130628","gmt_changed":"2025-06-05 13:37:08","alt":"An image from the publication showing an oblique view from north-northeast of Jezero crater, with topography exaggerated ~3x","file":{"fid":"261063","name":"JezeroMons2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/06\/05\/JezeroMons2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/06\/05\/JezeroMons2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":297855,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/06\/05\/JezeroMons2.jpg?itok=GbDAiEfg"}},"677190":{"id":"677190","type":"image","title":"An illustration of Jezero Crater as it may have looked billions of years go on Mars, when it was a lake. Jezero Mons is visible on the front right-side of the crater rim. (Credit: NASA)","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAn illustration of Jezero Crater as it may have looked billions of years go on Mars, when it was a lake. Jezero Mons is visible on the front right-side of the crater rim. (Credit: NASA)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1749130808","gmt_created":"2025-06-05 13:40:08","changed":"1749130808","gmt_changed":"2025-06-05 13:40:08","alt":"An illustration of Jezero Crater as it may have looked billions of years go on Mars, when it was a lake. Jezero Mons is visible on the front right-side of the crater rim. (Credit: NASA)","file":{"fid":"261064","name":"JezeroCrater3.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/06\/05\/JezeroCrater3.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/06\/05\/JezeroCrater3.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":965001,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/06\/05\/JezeroCrater3.jpg?itok=-IU8GxrG"}}},"media_ids":["677188","677189","677190"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/mars-stars-james-wray-wins-simons-fellowship-study-interstellar-objects","title":"From Mars to the Stars: James Wray Wins Simons Fellowship to Study Interstellar Objects"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"364801","name":"School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS)"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"146","name":"Life Sciences and Biology"},{"id":"150","name":"Physics and Physical Sciences"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192252","name":"cos-planetary"},{"id":"192249","name":"cos-community"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193653","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"},{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWritten by \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: sperrin6@gatech.edu\u0022\u003ESelena Langner\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"682416":{"#nid":"682416","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Preparing to Study Venus\u2019 Clouds ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAs Rocket Lab prepares to launch a mission to Venus next year, a multidisciplinary research team led by Georgia Tech braved an erupting volcano recently to test an instrument custom-built to explore Venus\u2019 clouds and look for signs of organic chemistry. If successful, the 2026 launch will mark the first private spacecraft to reach Venus, and the first U.S. mission to study its sulfuric acid-filled clouds in nearly 40 years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe instrument, the autofluorescence nephelometer (AFN) built by Droplet Measurement Technologies, will fire a laser beam out a window and use light scattering from individual particles to measure the size and composition of the planet\u2019s aerosols, the tiny particles that make up the clouds. The AFN will only have about five minutes to collect data as the small probe falls through the clouds, and another 15 minutes to send data back to Earth before things get too extreme. The probe is not expected to reach the surface, where it is hot enough to melt lead, and the pressure is 90 times that of Earth\u2019s surface.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech oversees all of the instrument\u2019s field tests and modeling. The project, called VENUSIAN, is led by Christopher E. Carr, assistant professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EDaniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E, with funding from NASA\u2019s PSTAR program. Carr holds a joint appointment in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eas.gatech.edu\/\u0022 id=\u0022menur53u\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022https:\/\/eas.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESchool of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENASA also built a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/image-article\/nasa-installs-heat-shield-on-first-private-spacecraft-bound-for-venus\/\u0022\u003Eheat shield\u003C\/a\u003E for Rocket Lab\u2019s spacecraft and will provide navigation and communications support through the Deep Space Network.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIs there life in the clouds of Venus? I don\u2019t think so, but if it\u2019s there, I want to find it,\u201d says Carr, who admits that the more he studies Venus, the more interesting it becomes.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECollecting Volcanic Molecules\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn March, his team tested the AFN in the field, flying it on a drone through Hawaii\u2019s volcanic fog, a haze that forms because of volcanic emissions. The droplets are rich with sulfuric acid, similar to Venus\u2019 atmosphere.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe got some valuable data,\u201d says Carr. \u201cThis was the first time for our whole team from different institutions to be together in one place.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECollaborators from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of Colorado-Boulder, which managed and flew the drones, and Droplet Measurement Technologies joined the Georgia Tech contingent in Hawaii.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESara Seager, professor of physics, professor of aeronautics and astronautics, and Class of 1941 Professor of Planetary Science at MIT, who serves as the science principal investigator for the Rocket Lab mission, emphasized the critical testing role Georgia Tech is playing ahead of the mission to Venus.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cBuilding the instrument is important, but what is also important is knowing how you\u2019re going to interpret data when you get back. To understand that you need to use the instrument over and over again here on Earth. Professor Carr taking a lead on that from a science perspective is important,\u201d says Seager, who will oversee two subsequent \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.morningstarmissions.space\/\u0022\u003EMorning Star Missions to Venus\u003C\/a\u003E that the team envisions will culminate in an atmosphere sample return.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Kilauea volcano, located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island, began erupting as soon as the team started their first drone flight. The eruption grew more intense on the second day, giving the researchers a chance to run the AFN through its paces. While the flight test results are still preliminary, the team indicated that the instrument did detect volcanic ash and volcanic smog, which bodes well for the Venus mission.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt was cool to see our instrument in action,\u201d says Snigdha Nellutla, a research engineer and data modeler, who recently finished her master\u2019s in aerospace engineering. She simulates the AFN\u2019s output in different environmental conditions, both during the Hawaii field tests and on the actual mission to Venus.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIn Search of a Carbon Cycle\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe\u2019re seeking evidence of a carbon cycle in the Venus atmosphere,\u201d she said. \u201cLife as we know it on Earth is carbon-based. Carbon compounds are delivered to Venus from meteorites. Are they rapidly degraded or do they persist in some form?\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBillions of years ago, Venus may have had as much water as Earth \u2014 but at some point in its evolution, carbon dioxide in the planet\u0027s atmosphere triggered an intense runaway greenhouse effect. This sent temperatures soaring, causing the planet\u0027s water to evaporate, and the hydrogen part of the water (H2O) was lost to space.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2020, astronomers detected phosphine in Venus\u2019 atmosphere. This gas, often associated with biological activity on Earth, could signal signs of life. While the presence of phosphine is now debated, a rash of recent discoveries suggests that organic chemistry in the clouds could be much more complex than previously considered.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile Venus\u2019 extreme surface temperatures are well documented, the one exception is found in the middle cloud layers, which have habitable temperatures. By looking at individual particles within the Venus atmosphere, researchers hope to learn about other compounds that could exist, including organic molecules that could influence a carbon cycle. The Hawaii measurements will serve as an important baseline to compare against what will be gathered on Venus.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Smoking Gun of Organics\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe mission to Venus will also measure fluorescence, considered \u201ca smoking gun\u201d for possible organic materials, says Carr.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn Venus\u2019 super-rotating atmosphere, clouds take four Earth days to travel around the planet, while the planet spins in the same direction approximately 50 times slower.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe differences with Venus\u2019s atmosphere compared with Earth have forced our whole team to look at how we approach astrobiology completely differently,\u201d he explains. \u201cWhen we think of finding signs of life, we follow the water, but Venus has no water; it\u2019s sulfuric acid.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo Carr, the importance of the mission is to better understand Venus\u2019 chemistry, given that sulfuric acid and water have different properties, which can contribute to or limit the kind of chemistry that can occur.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cBy understanding what might be possible, we can learn if different types of life might be possible. It also helps us know what to look for when we look for life,\u201d he says. Even if there is no life in the clouds of Venus, there is likely to be interesting chemistry, based on extensive testing by members of the science team. This chemistry could be detected by the AFN as fluorescent aerosol particles.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EVENUSIAN has enabled Georgia Tech aerospace engineering students to get a rare opportunity to test and model hardware that will fly in space.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStudents Celebrate Teamwork, Space Aspirations \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAs a first-year, I\u2019ve had a variety of tasks, and that\u2019s been fun for me as someone who is just starting to explore my career possibilities,\u201d says Violet Oliver, who oversees the ground sampling tests. \u201cThis has been a really good introduction \u2014 getting my feet wet in what future space missions might look like and, more broadly, what the engineering test cycle looks like.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe biggest thing we learned was how to work together as a team,\u201d adds Cassius Tunis, a senior in aerospace engineering. He managed the logistics, designed hardware to integrate the AFN and the drone, and served as the field study\u2019s test engineer during the flights, where he communicated with the pilots and tracked their flight pattern.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s been a goal of mine to work in the space industry since high school,\u201d he said, crediting VENUSIAN with helping him pinpoint his career direction. \u201cI see myself as the resident test engineer. Test engineering is a very operational, multidisciplinary field within aerospace. You get to wear a lot of different hats and interact with people of all different backgrounds.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECarr indicated that the team will return to Hawaii later this year for final AFN field testing before the Venus mission.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELooking to the 2026 launch, Seager says, \u201cI\u2019m looking forward to a safe launch and getting exciting data back. It\u2019s Venus\u2019 moment to shine,\u201d she added, calling Venus the \u201cquiet, overlooked gem\u201d to Mars and Earth.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECarr expressed admiration for Rocket Lab\u2019s founder and CEO, Peter Beck, whose passion for the Venus mission is well documented.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cHe exudes the true curiosity of a scientist and explorer. In Rocket Lab, we have a partner that is excited by discovery.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech braves an active volcano to field test an instrument for a private space mission to Venus.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech braves an active volcano to field test an instrument for a private space mission to Venus. "}],"uid":"34760","created_gmt":"2025-05-16 11:05:25","changed_gmt":"2025-06-06 13:57:39","author":"Laurie Haigh","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-05-16T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-05-16T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677081":{"id":"677081","type":"image","title":"VENUSIAN","body":null,"created":"1747339776","gmt_created":"2025-05-15 20:09:36","changed":"1747342260","gmt_changed":"2025-05-15 20:51:00","alt":"VENUSIAN team travels to Hawaii to field test autofluorescence nephelometer ","file":{"fid":"260946","name":"Venusian.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/15\/Venusian.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/15\/Venusian.png","mime":"image\/png","size":4081561,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/05\/15\/Venusian.png?itok=buXMbI8B"}}},"media_ids":["677081"],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"364801","name":"School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS)"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENews Contact: \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: laurie.haigh@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ELaurie Haigh\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWriter: \u003C\/strong\u003EAnne Wainscott-Sargent\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"682537":{"#nid":"682537","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Unraveling the Mysteries of the Universe One Asteroid at a Time","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat secrets lie in the universe\u2019s fossils? \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/lucy.swri.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENASA\u2019s Lucy mission\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E has the potential to make groundbreaking discoveries about the solar system\u2019s start. By studying ancient asteroids, NASA scientists expect to uncover clues about the conditions that led to the formation of the solar system.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/lucy\/spacecraft\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELucy spacecraft\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E launched on October 16, 2021, embarking on a 12-year journey to explore several asteroids during flybys or when the spacecraft flies by the three main belt asteroids and eight Trojan asteroids. Lucy, named after one of the most significant 3.2-million-year-old ancient, fossilized skeletons, embodies the mission\u0027s aim to discover the \u0022fossils\u0022 of planetary formation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn February, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/missions\/lucy\/nasa-selects-participating-scientists-to-join-lucy-asteroid-mission\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENASA selected eight participating scientists\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E to join its Lucy mission, including Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering Associate Professor \u003Cstrong\u003EMasatoshi Hirabayashi\u003C\/strong\u003E. The team will explore the Jupiter Trojan asteroids using highly specialized cameras to capture these ancient celestial bodies considered \u0022fossils\u0022 of the solar system because they have remained relatively unchanged since their formation. These asteroids share Jupiter\u0027s orbit around the Sun, called the Sun-Jupiter Lagrange points, L4 and L5. Hirabayashi will support investigations of Lucy\u2019s targets around L4.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELucy\u2019s Scientific Instruments\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELucy is equipped with a suite of advanced scientific instruments that make this research possible. The Lucy Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (L\u2019LORRI), a black and white camera, will capture high-resolution images of the targeted asteroids. The Terminal Tracking Camera (TTCAM) will ensure precise navigation and tracking of the asteroids during the mission. Lucy\u2019s\u0026nbsp;Thermal\u0026nbsp;Emission\u0026nbsp;Spectrometer (L\u0027TES) will detect the infrared radiation. The L\u2019Ralph instrument, a visible\/near infrared multi-spectral imager and a short wavelength infrared hyperspectral imager, will collect data from the Trojan asteroids\u2019 surface for organic compounds, ices, and other minerals to determine their surface makeup.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EInvestigating the Data\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHirabayashi will support Lucy\u2019s science operations and investigations by analyzing instrument data including three-dimensional topography about the asteroids\u2019 surfaces. He will apply such data to gain insights into the asteroids\u2019 interiors. His expertise in interior analysis is particularly valuable for the mission. Hirabayashi played an essential role in \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/dart\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENASA\u2019s DART\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E mission, and he is currently supporting the European Space Agency\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.heramission.space\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHERA mission\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, studying the binary asteroid Didymos. He is particularly interested in understanding whether the environment of these asteroids was favorable for the formation of life, which closely ties up with Georgia Tech\u2019s efforts in astrobiology (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/astrobiology.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ehttps:\/\/astrobiology.gatech.edu\/\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E). Based on his findings, his dream is to develop and support future interplanetary large-scale missions to further solar system exploration.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAsteroid Visits and Timeline\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe mission will visit four asteroid systems whose names are derived from Greek mythology in the L4 Sun-Jupiter Lagrange point. Two of these systems are binary, meaning they consist of a large asteroid and a smaller satellite asteroid. Key flyby dates include:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAugust 12, 2027:\u003C\/strong\u003E Visit to Eurybates and Queta\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESeptember 15, 2027:\u003C\/strong\u003E Visit to Polymele\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EApril 18, 2028:\u003C\/strong\u003E Visit to Leucus\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENovember 11, 2028:\u003C\/strong\u003E Visit to Orus\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the primary operational complexities they anticipate involves aiming the instruments at the asteroids. Lucy must navigate autonomously, making real-time decisions to ensure the instruments are correctly oriented. This requires sophisticated navigation, control, and guidance systems. From a data standpoint, they will have a finite number of images from which to theorize.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere are a lot of unknowns, and getting information from very limited data or few images for analysis will be challenging,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDonaldjohanson Asteroid\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn April 20, Lucy did a flyby to capture high-resolution photos of the asteroid \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/image-article\/nasas-lucy-spacecraft-images-asteroid-donaldjohanson\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDonaldjohanson\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, which was believed to have formed 150 million years ago. Lucy continuously captured images while passing by the asteroid, eventually reaching about 600 miles from it.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese asteroid visits will provide a wealth of data for the Lucy team to explore. Hirabayashi is supporting the team by better understanding the asteroid\u2019s surface and interior environments, the process of which will be directly applied to Lucy\u2019s Trojan targets.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cDonaldjohanson is our practice target. I am using this opportunity to test how my expertise contributes to the team and getting ready for our real targets at L4,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn February, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/missions\/lucy\/nasa-selects-participating-scientists-to-join-lucy-asteroid-mission\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENASA selected eight participating scientists\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E to join its Lucy mission, including Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering Associate Professor \u003Cstrong\u003EMasatoshi Hirabayashi\u003C\/strong\u003E. The team will explore the Jupiter Trojan asteroids using highly specialized cameras to capture these ancient celestial bodies considered \u0022fossils\u0022 of the solar system because they have remained relatively unchanged since their formation. These asteroids share Jupiter\u0027s orbit around the Sun, called the Sun-Jupiter Lagrange points, L4 and L5. Hirabayashi will support investigations of Lucy\u2019s targets around L4.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Masatoshi Hirabayashi will utilize data from ancient asteroids to gain a deeper understanding of the history of space. "}],"uid":"36345","created_gmt":"2025-05-27 14:22:13","changed_gmt":"2025-06-05 12:55:47","author":"gwaddell3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-05-19T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-05-19T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677130":{"id":"677130","type":"image","title":"LUCY-MISSION-KSC-20211016-PH-KNO03_0026-orig.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELucy LiftoffNASA\u003C\/strong\u003E ID: KSC-20211016-PH-KNO03_0026\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPhotographer\u003C\/strong\u003E: NASA\/Kevin O\u0027Connell and Bob Lau\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA United Launch Alliance V 401 rocket, with NASA\u2019s Lucy spacecraft atop, powers off the pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station\u2019s Space Launch Complex 41 in Florida at 5:34 a.m. EDT on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021. The launch was managed by NASA\u2019s Launch Services Program, based at Kennedy Space Center. Lucy will embark on a 12-year primary mission to explore a record-breaking number of asteroids, including the Jupiter Trojan asteroids. Named after a fossilized human ancestor whose skeleton provided discoverers insight into humanity\u2019s evolution, the Lucy mission will do much of the same, providing scientists and researchers a look into the origins of our solar system.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1748355781","gmt_created":"2025-05-27 14:23:01","changed":"1748355781","gmt_changed":"2025-05-27 14:23:01","alt":"Lucy Lift Off","file":{"fid":"260998","name":"LUCY-MISSION-KSC-20211016-PH-KNO03_0026-orig.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/27\/LUCY-MISSION-KSC-20211016-PH-KNO03_0026-orig.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/27\/LUCY-MISSION-KSC-20211016-PH-KNO03_0026-orig.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":6138712,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/05\/27\/LUCY-MISSION-KSC-20211016-PH-KNO03_0026-orig.jpg?itok=ikFzi-_g"}},"677131":{"id":"677131","type":"image","title":"Donaldjohanson-Asteroid.png","body":"\u003Cp\u003EImage courtesy of NASA via \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/image-article\/nasas-lucy-spacecraft-images-asteroid-donaldjohanson\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENASA\u2019s Lucy Spacecraft Images Asteroid Donaldjohanson - NASA Science\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;The asteroid Donaldjohanson as seen by the Lucy Long-Range Reconnaissance Imager (L\u2019LORRI). This is one of the most detailed images returned by NASA\u2019s Lucy spacecraft during its flyby. This image was taken at 1:51 p.m. EDT (17:51 UTC), April 20, 2025, near closest approach, from a range of approximately 660 miles (1,100 km). The spacecraft\u2019s closest approach distance was 600 miles (960 km), but the image shown was taken approximately 40 seconds beforehand. The image has been sharpened and processed to enhance contrast. NASA\/Goddard\/SwRI\/Johns Hopkins APL\/NOIRLab\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1748355862","gmt_created":"2025-05-27 14:24:22","changed":"1748355862","gmt_changed":"2025-05-27 14:24:22","alt":"donaldjohanson asteroid","file":{"fid":"260999","name":"Donaldjohanson-Asteroid.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/27\/Donaldjohanson-Asteroid.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/27\/Donaldjohanson-Asteroid.png","mime":"image\/png","size":793184,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/05\/27\/Donaldjohanson-Asteroid.png?itok=OxCnNc3X"}}},"media_ids":["677130","677131"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/news\/2025\/02\/ae-professor-masatoshi-hirabayashi-studies-compelling-way-deflect-asteroids-earth","title":"AE Professor Masatoshi Hirabayashi Studies Compelling Way to Deflect Asteroids From Earth"},{"url":"https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/news\/2024\/06\/hirabayashi-chosen-nasa-join-european-space-agencys-planetary-mission-study-results","title":"Hirabayashi Chosen by NASA to Join European Space Agency\u2019s Planetary Mission to Study Results of Asteroid Deflection"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"}],"keywords":[{"id":"1325","name":"aerospace"},{"id":"174074","name":"Asteroid"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMonique Waddell\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["gwaddell3@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"682182":{"#nid":"682182","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Propelling Georgia Tech to the Final Frontier","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEarly on, Georgia Tech graduate students William Trenton Gantt and Hugh (Ka Yui) Chen imagined working in the space industry.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhen I was 14, I dreamed about being in space one day,\u201d recalls Chen, 22, a native of Hong Kong and a Ph.D. student in aerospace engineering. \u201cI think the industry has been making space more accessible to everyone. Commercialization is a big part of enabling this.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGantt, an engineer and former U.S. Army veteran graduating with an MBA from the Scheller College of Business this spring, remembered seeing the space shuttle retire and companies begin privatizing space as he entered young adulthood.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI\u2019ve always been interested in space, and a lot of it comes from the challenge of going to space,\u201d he observes. \u201cSeeing how hard it is to get to space and seeing it become achievable \u2014 that to me was the most attractive thing about it.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Gantt, the feeling always brings to mind John F. Kennedy\u2019s famous line that spelled out America\u2019s space ambitions: \u201cWe choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERecognizing Georgia Tech\u2019s aerospace strengths, Gantt didn\u2019t waste time building bridges within Scheller and in other parts of Georgia Tech. He founded the Scheller MBA Space Club, a first at the College, to track the industry as it grows and develops.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI came from a military background, so I had my eye on the defense industry going into the MBA program. Georgia Tech, being the No. 2 aerospace engineering undergraduate school in the nation, I knew they already had strong industry connections. Making connections was a big goal coming into this program.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAssessing Early-Stage Space Tech\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe took part in the Entrepreneurship Assistants Program (EAP), which pairs a Scheller MBA student with a faculty or student inventor to evaluate early-stage technology for potential commercialization. He evaluated two space-related technologies, one with Chen\u2019s support.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe EAs conduct technology commercialization assessments and develop a business model canvas. By applying an entrepreneurial strategy compass, they predict potential go-to-market strategies for new technology,\u201d says\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/paul-joseph\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPaul Joseph\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, principal in the Office of Commercialization\u2019s\u0026nbsp;Quadrant-\u003Cem\u003Ei\u003C\/em\u003E unit, who created the EAP.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u0026nbsp;(See sidebar to read more about the EAP and the specific technologies assessed.)\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETapping Into a Nearly $2T Industry\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to McKinsey \u0026amp; Co., the space technology market, fueled by advancements in satellite technology, commercial space travel, and 5G networks, is projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe\u0027re seeing an industry shifting from a multibillion-dollar market cap to a multitrillion-dollar market cap in less than a decade. If you look at this from a business perspective, this is a massive addressable market for entrepreneurs,\u0022 says Gantt.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrom its Center for Space Technology and Research to the new Center for Space Policy and International Relations and labs like the Space Systems Design Lab, which focuses on areas such as CubeSat propulsion, lunar research, and hypersonic flight, Georgia Tech excels in space research across disciplines. In July, Georgia Tech will launch the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/682182\u0022\u003ESpace Research Institute (SRI)\u003C\/a\u003E, one of its newest Interdisciplinary Research Institutes (IRI), to foster additional collaboration in this growing field.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAt Georgia Tech, there are competencies across every single College that will help to augment our understanding of space,\u201d says Alex Oettl, professor of strategy and innovation in Scheller College, whose interest in the new space economy spans the last 20 years. \u201cWhen you look at the technologies coming from Georgia Tech, they can impact this future trillion-dollar industry.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;An economist by training, Oettl led Georgia Tech\u2019s involvement in the Creative Destruction Lab-Atlanta, a multi-university program that helped commercialize early-stage scientific technologies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELeveraging Affordable Launch\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe emergence of affordable launch, spurred by SpaceX\u2019s introduction of the Falcon 9 rocket using reusable rocket technology, has made space much more accessible, from biomedical companies to academic institutions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cBecause there has been a drop in the cost of accessing space, it allows experimentation to flourish,\u201d says Oettl.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe recalls Mark Costello, former chair of the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, explaining how he could launch a CubeSat into Low Earth Orbit out of his research budget, whereas before it would have been cost-prohibitive.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToday, Georgia Tech students and researchers are poised to capitalize on the new space economy stack \u2014 from new launch capabilities to new development in propellants and in-space operations and maintenance to more powerful sensors on Earth-observation satellites.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI\u2019ve seen firsthand the traction occurring on the commercial side. There are a lot of social scientists waking up to the opportunity that exists and thinking about business dynamics that will emerge as a result of this great opportunity,\u201d he says.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech, an interdisciplinary, tech-focused university, brings significant capabilities across its Colleges to drive new and emerging technologies that have implications for space.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cSpace hits on all the strengths that exist at the various Colleges,\u201d Oettl explains. \u201cFaculty at Georgia Tech are pushing the boundary and showing our students innovations that will emerge in the space economy that are not immediately obvious \u2014 such as in adjacent industries.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOettl calls these first-order and spillover impacts of new technology. By first-order impacts, he means businesses can take advantage of these opportunities and create new products on top of the original innovation. By spillovers, he cites as an example an Earth-observation satellite enabling other industries to take advantage of data from the ground. For instance, insurance companies are one of the largest users of space technology by way of satellite imagery.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBringing Capabilities Together Through New Space IRI\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe SRI will bring together the best in engineering, computer science, policy, and business research across Georgia Tech. Along the way, it could help engineers and computer scientists think with a more business-minded approach to pitch their innovations to the commercial space sector.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cYou don\u2019t see a lot of engineers having that inherent ability,\u201d notes Gantt. \u201cThe Space IRI can shine by fostering collaboration between business students and engineers, enabling them to develop innovative go-to-market strategies and clearly define the unique value propositions these technologies offer to end users. You can bring these people together and create some forward momentum in the space industry.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ENew space IRI and commercialization activities showcase space as an exciting destination for students and faculty.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"New space IRI and commercialization activities showcase space as an exciting destination for students and faculty."}],"uid":"34760","created_gmt":"2025-05-01 21:22:32","changed_gmt":"2025-05-19 20:52:21","author":"Laurie Haigh","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-05-01T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-05-01T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677017":{"id":"677017","type":"image","title":"Space Commercialization","body":null,"created":"1746187901","gmt_created":"2025-05-02 12:11:41","changed":"1746188079","gmt_changed":"2025-05-02 12:14:39","alt":"Trenton Gantt and Hugh (Ka Yui) Chen work together in the lab","file":{"fid":"260876","name":"space-commercialization.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/02\/space-commercialization.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/02\/space-commercialization.png","mime":"image\/png","size":1612561,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/05\/02\/space-commercialization.png?itok=t7RqalhH"}}},"media_ids":["677017"],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1275","name":"School of Biological Sciences"},{"id":"85951","name":"School of Chemistry and Biochemistry"},{"id":"364801","name":"School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS)"},{"id":"126011","name":"School of Physics"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"139","name":"Business"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"},{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENews Contact:\u003C\/strong\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: laurie.haigh@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ELaurie Haigh\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWriter:\u003C\/strong\u003E Anne Wainscott-Sargent\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"682184":{"#nid":"682184","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Yuri\u0027s Day 2025: Shaping the Future of Space Research","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMore than 100 researchers, faculty, industry representatives, alumni, and students came together on April 14 to explore the future of space research and exploration at the 2025 Yuri\u0027s Day Symposium. Hosted by Georgia Tech\u2019s Space Research Initiative (SRI), Yuri\u2019s Day serves as an annual celebration of space research across the Institute, the state of Georgia, and beyond. It built on the success of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/georgia-techs-space-research-initiative-hosts-yuris-day-symposium\u0022\u003EYuri\u2019s Day 2024\u003C\/a\u003E, and was designed to be interactive and drive participation through panel discussions, a poster session, and networking opportunities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe day began with opening remarks from Georgia Tech\u2019s Executive Vice President of Research Tim Lieuwen, Vice President of Interdisciplinary Research Julia Kubanek, and the SRI executive committee, comprised of Professor Glenn Lightsey and Associate Professors Mariel Borowitz and Jennifer Glass. They provided an update on the SRI\u0027s latest achievements and its elevation to the Space Research Institute, one of Georgia Tech\u2019s Interdisciplinary Research Institutes, on July 1.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cSpace research is much broader than building spacecraft\u2026it includes science, policy, business, and culture. We are here to celebrate all aspects of space research at Georgia Tech,\u201d said Lightsey.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBorowitz lead a panel discussion on the implications of current space policies and the role of academic institutions in shaping the future of space exploration. It highlighted the importance of policy decisions in advancing space research and ensuring sustainable development. Jonathan Goldman, director of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/commercialization.gatech.edu\/quadrant-i\u0022\u003EQuadrant-i\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech, and his panel of entrepreneurs then discussed the commercialization of space technologies and the opportunities arising. They shared how collaboration between academia and industry can drive innovation and bring these new technologies to market.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) organized a space poster session during the lunch break to provide insight into the various space research projects happening there. This networking opportunity highlighted the breadth of work at GTRI and enabled researchers and students to present their projects to attendees.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Keynote speaker, Georgia Tech Alumnus Griff Russell, M.S. ME 1999, president of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gryphon-effect.com\/\u0022\u003EGryphon Effect\u003C\/a\u003E, LLC, and former SpaceX F9 vehicle manager, shared his personal journey to inspire future researchers. His talk, \u201cFrom a letter to an astronaut to the trenches of Falcon 9 and beyond: Setting the foundation for accelerated Moon to Mars exploration\u201d followed Russell\u2019s path to the space industry, chronicling a letter he wrote to an astronaut early in his career to his current role as an entrepreneur. Russell shared his thoughts on the future of space exploration and encouraged students in the room to move fast and develop innovative new space technologies. \u201cThe time is now for you to make a difference,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EProfessor Thom Orlando then led a panel of experts from other Georgia universities on the Human Space Initiative in the State of Georgia. Orlando and the panelists discussed the state\u0027s contributions to human spaceflight and the potential for future missions. This was followed by a panel on Earth analog field studies led by Assistant Professor Frances Rivera-Hernandez. Panelists including students explained how studying Earth analogs, like lava tubes and deserts, can help researchers better understand other planetary environments. Georgia Tech graduate students gave brief presentations chronicling recent fieldtrips and the data they gather in the field. The final session of the day led by Professor Lightsey showcased Georgia Tech\u2019s space-related student organizations and the importance of engaging the next generation of scientists and engineers in space exploration.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs the Space Research Initiative transitions into the Space Research Institute, Georgia Tech is prepared to lead groundbreaking research, and Yuri\u2019s Day gave attendees a preview of things to come. For more information about the SRI and the research at Georgia Tech, visit our \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003Ewebsite\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EHosted by Georgia Tech\u2019s Space Research Initiative (SRI), Yuri\u2019s Day serves as an annual celebration of space research across the Institute, the state of Georgia, and beyond.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Hosted by Georgia Tech\u2019s Space Research Initiative (SRI), Yuri\u2019s Day serves as an annual celebration of space research across the Institute, the state of Georgia, and beyond."}],"uid":"34760","created_gmt":"2025-05-02 12:46:51","changed_gmt":"2025-05-19 17:02:03","author":"Laurie Haigh","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-05-02T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-05-02T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677016":{"id":"677016","type":"image","title":"Space Research Photo","body":null,"created":"1746135498","gmt_created":"2025-05-01 21:38:18","changed":"1746135586","gmt_changed":"2025-05-01 21:39:46","alt":"Space Commercialization Panel ","file":{"fid":"260875","name":"Yuri-s-Day-2025.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/01\/Yuri-s-Day-2025.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/01\/Yuri-s-Day-2025.png","mime":"image\/png","size":6934441,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/05\/01\/Yuri-s-Day-2025.png?itok=_egVGILB"}}},"media_ids":["677016"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: laurie.haigh@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ELaurie Haigh\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EResearch Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"682447":{"#nid":"682447","#data":{"type":"news","title":"APS Graduation Ceremonies Bring Increased Traffic to Campus","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMcCamish Pavilion will host Atlanta Public Schools (APS) graduation ceremonies throughout the week, bringing additional traffic to the Georgia Tech campus.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrom Tuesday, May 20, to Friday, May 23, the Georgia Tech Police Department will close Fowler Street between Sixth and 10th streets daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. to accommodate graduates and guests. Drivers are encouraged to seek alternate routes through campus during the road closures. Additional congestion is likely to occur around designated parking decks.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EADA parking will be available for attendees on Fowler Street and W23: North Deck at 939 State St. NW. VIP parking will be available at E65: McCamish Pavilion and on Eighth Street.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAll other guest parking for the graduation ceremonies is available at five campus locations:\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EE40: Klaus Deck\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EE52: Peters Deck\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EER66: Family Housing\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EW22: Dalney Deck\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EW23: North Deck\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor a map of parking locations, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com\/sites.gatech.edu\/dist\/9\/2756\/files\/2024\/09\/Georgia-Tech-Parking-Map-2024.pdf\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eclick here\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. Attendees must have a ticket to enter each graduation ceremony, and guests must adhere to McCamish Pavilion\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ramblinwreck.com\/clearbag\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eclear bag policy\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. For additional information and a full schedule of events, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.atlantapublicschools.us\/gradnation\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eclick here\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ERoad closures will occur from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Road closures will occur from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.  "}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2025-05-19 12:31:18","changed_gmt":"2025-05-19 15:17:03","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-05-19T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-05-19T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674036":{"id":"674036","type":"image","title":"McCamish Pavilion","body":null,"created":"1715978795","gmt_created":"2024-05-17 20:46:35","changed":"1715978795","gmt_changed":"2024-05-17 20:46:35","alt":"McCamish Pavilion","file":{"fid":"257502","name":"13C4114-P1-004-Web Use - 1,000px Wide.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/05\/17\/13C4114-P1-004-Web%20Use%20-%201%2C000px%20Wide.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/05\/17\/13C4114-P1-004-Web%20Use%20-%201%2C000px%20Wide.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":228159,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/05\/17\/13C4114-P1-004-Web%20Use%20-%201%2C000px%20Wide.jpg?itok=WFj856r4"}}},"media_ids":["674036"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.pts.gatech.edu\/2025\/05\/14\/apsandcyberacademygraduation\/","title":"Additional Parking Information"}],"groups":[{"id":"1303","name":"GT Police Department"},{"id":"1317","name":"News Briefs"},{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"681216":{"#nid":"681216","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech to Collaborate on $6.7 Million NASA University Leadership Initiative","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EProfessor \u003Cstrong\u003EKyriakos Vamvoudakis \u003C\/strong\u003Ewill collaborate with colleagues from academia and industry on a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/armd\/tacp\/ui\/uli\/2025-university-teams\/\u0022\u003ENASA University Leadership Initiative (ULI) grant\u003C\/a\u003E to create intelligent systems for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) that can independently learn and make safe decisions. These systems will be designed to consistently be aware of safety and ensure that the vehicles operate reliably and securely.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe four-year $6.7 million Safety Aware Learning Assured Autonomy for Aviation project will be headed up by \u003Cstrong\u003EHever Moncayo\u003C\/strong\u003E from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and include collaborations with Georgia Tech, the University of Texas, Arlington, the University of Southern California, and Collins Aerospace.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI\u2019m thrilled to join forces and combine our multifaceted expertise to enhance the safety of Advanced Air Mobility vehicles. Our research is paving the way to make them a reality,\u201d Vamvoudakis stated. \u201cThis ULI will bring together experts from academia and industry to speed up progress in aviation safety, improve the reliability and autonomy of future air mobility, and facilitate the integration of autonomous safety systems into commercial and regulatory standards.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe project will investigate the significant knowledge gaps that have slowed down the national airspace\u2019s use of AAM vehicles such as drones and air taxis. Vamvoudakis and his team will create smart safety system software that can learn independently. This system will help monitor, manage, and control these vehicles safely and reliably. It will also produce national safety guidelines to ensure the vehicles follow safe flight paths and make harmless decisions based on their own learning. Additionally, they will allow vehicles to autonomously adjust their own actions to ensure safety within specific operational limits. The idea is that future AAM vehicles will use smart, non-traditional components to stay safe and perform well, even in unexpected situations and emergencies. Establishing an intelligent system that can diagnose and predict issues independently will be crucial. This system will help ensure these vehicles meet their mission goals safely, despite challenges like unpredictable environments.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis ULI research effort will support the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/armd\/\u0022\u003EAeronautics Research Mission Directorate\u2019s\u003C\/a\u003E (ARMD) outcome for 2020-2035: Initial safe and efficient integration of highly automated vehicles into the National Airspace System (NAS) by introducing aviation systems with bounded autonomy, capable of carrying out function-level goals.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is Vamvoudakis\u2019 second ULI. He is a part of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/uli.arc.nasa.gov\/projects\/10\/\u0022\u003ESafe and Secure Autonomy Project\u003C\/a\u003E that is still active.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECo-Pis: K. \u003Cstrong\u003EMerve Dogan, Maj Mirmirani, \u003C\/strong\u003Eand \u003Cstrong\u003EVictor Fraticelli \u003C\/strong\u003E(Embry Riddle Aeronautical University), \u003Cstrong\u003EKyriakos G. Vamvoudakis\u003C\/strong\u003E (Georgia Institute of Technology), \u003Cstrong\u003ENicholas Gans\u003C\/strong\u003E and\u003Cstrong\u003E Yijing Xie\u003C\/strong\u003E (University of Texas, Arlington), P\u003Cstrong\u003Eetros Ioannou\u003C\/strong\u003E (University of Southern California), and\u003Cstrong\u003E Kevin Kronfeld\u003C\/strong\u003E (Collins Aerospace) will play a crucial role in this collaborative effort.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Vamvoudakis and researchers will enhance Advanced Air Mobility safety. "}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EProfessor \u003Cstrong\u003EKyriakos Vamvoudakis \u003C\/strong\u003Ewill collaborate with colleagues from academia and industry on a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/armd\/tacp\/ui\/uli\/2025-university-teams\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENASA University Leadership Initiative (ULI) grant\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E to create intelligent systems for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) that can independently learn and make safe decisions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Vamvoudakis and researchers will enhance Advanced Air Mobility safety. "}],"uid":"36345","created_gmt":"2025-03-18 19:56:10","changed_gmt":"2025-03-18 19:59:27","author":"gwaddell3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-03-14T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-03-14T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676581":{"id":"676581","type":"image","title":"Vamvoudakis-K-Headshot-h.png","body":"\u003Cp\u003EDutton-Ducoffee Professor \u003Cstrong\u003EKyriakos Vamvoudakis\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1742327867","gmt_created":"2025-03-18 19:57:47","changed":"1742327867","gmt_changed":"2025-03-18 19:57:47","alt":"Professor Kyriakos Vamvoudakis ","file":{"fid":"260385","name":"Vamvoudakis-K-Headshot-h.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/18\/Vamvoudakis-K-Headshot-h.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/18\/Vamvoudakis-K-Headshot-h.png","mime":"image\/png","size":80126,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/03\/18\/Vamvoudakis-K-Headshot-h.png?itok=XhFPgd0S"}}},"media_ids":["676581"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/news\/2025\/03\/georgia-tech-collaborate-67-million-nasa-university-leadership-initiative","title":"Georgia Tech to Collaborate on $6.7 Million NASA University Leadership Initiative"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1239","name":"School of Aerospace Engineering"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"},{"id":"137","name":"Architecture"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186313","name":"Aerospace Engineering School"},{"id":"1325","name":"aerospace"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMonique Waddell\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["monique.waddell@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"680676":{"#nid":"680676","#data":{"type":"news","title":"New lunar sample research could help protect astronauts and uncover the origins of water on the moon","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EDust and rocks residing on the surface of the moon take a beating in space. Without a protective magnetosphere and atmosphere like Earth\u2019s, the lunar surface faces continual particle bombardment from solar wind, cosmic rays, and micrometeoroids. This constant assault leads to space weathering.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENew NASA-funded research by Georgia Tech offers fresh insights into the phenomenon of space weathering. Examining Apollo lunar samples at the nanoscale, Tech researchers have revealed risks to human space missions and the possible role of space weathering in forming some of the water on the moon.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMost previous studies of the moon involved instruments mapping it from orbit. In contrast, this study allowed researchers to spatially map a nanoscale sample while simultaneously analyzing optical signatures of Apollo lunar samples from different regions of the lunar surface \u2014 and to extract information about the chemical composition of the lunar surface and radiation history.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers recently \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-024-83392-6.epdf?sharing_token=UCgX-V-MzadVoWXYlZq2ZdRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0Ne3MCghkgBGl99Rjd-RnouR2l7wcVDCEevxJ4PxfCXp8fnfCeJbC4UMC1dmG9V23l6nI7cb5rQpxbH8ItjLa9FOf2lZ4pClqlbt2BcdoQtcR_s9LejmcOMvf2qHhDR7GU%3D\u0022\u003Epublished\u003C\/a\u003E their findings in \u003Cem\u003EScientific Reports\u003C\/em\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe presence of water on the moon is critical for the Artemis program. It\u2019s necessary for sustaining any human presence and it\u2019s a particularly important source for oxygen and hydrogen, the molecules derived from splitting water,\u201d said Thomas Orlando, Regents\u2019 Professor in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, co-founder and former director of the Georgia Tech Center for Space Technology and Research, and principal investigator of Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gatech.edu\/news\/2023\/05\/18\/georgia-tech-lead-nasa-center-lunar-research-and-exploration\u0022\u003ECenter for Lunar Environment and Volatile Exploration Research (CLEVER)\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBuilding on a Decade of Lunar Science Research\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs a NASA SSERVI (Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute), CLEVER is an approved NASA laboratory for analysis of lunar samples and includes investigators from multiple institutes and universities across the U.S. and Europe. Research areas include how solar wind and micrometeorites produce volatiles, such as water, molecular oxygen, methane, and hydrogen, which are all crucial to supporting human activity on the moon.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech has built a large portfolio in human exploration and lunar science over the last decade with two NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institutes: CLEVER and its predecessor, REVEALS (Radiation Effects on Volatiles and Exploration of Asteroids and Lunar Surfaces).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStudying Moon Samples at the Nanoscale Level\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s labs are world-renowned, particularly for analyzing surfaces and semiconductor materials. For this work, the Georgia Tech team also tapped the University of Georgia (UGA) Nano-Optics Laboratory run by Professor Yohannes Abate in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. While UGA is a member of CLEVER, its nano-FTIR spectroscopy and nanoscale imaging equipment was historically used for semiconductor physics, not space science.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis is the first time these tools have been applied to space-weathered lunar samples, and it\u2019s the first we\u2019ve been able to see good signatures of space weathering at the nanoscale,\u201d says Orlando.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENormal spectrometers are at a much larger scale, with the ability to see more bulk properties of the soil, explains Phillip Stancil, professor and head of the UGA physics department.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe UGA equipment enabled the study of samples \u201cin tens of nanometers.\u201d To illustrate how small nanoscale is, Stancil says a hydrogen atom is .05 nanometers, so 1 nm is the size of 20 atoms if placed side by side. The spectrometers provide high-resolution details of the lunar grains down to hundreds of atoms.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe can look at an almost atomistic level to understand how this rock was formed, its history, and how it was processed in space,\u201d Stancil says.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cYou can learn a lot about how the atom positions change and how they are disrupted due to radiation by looking at the tiny sample at an atomistic level,\u201d says Orlando, noting that a lot of damage is done at the nanoscale level. They can determine if the culprit is space weathering or from a process left over during the rock\u2019s formation and crystallization.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFinding Radioactive Damage, Evidence of Water\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers found damage on the rock samples, including changes in the optical signatures. That insight helped them understand how the lunar surface formed and evolved but also provided \u201ca really good idea of the rocks\u2019 chemical composition and how they changed when irradiated,\u201d says Orlando.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome of the optical signatures also showed trapped electron states, which are typically missing atoms and vacancies in the atomic lattice. When the grains are irradiated, some atoms are removed, and the electrons get trapped. The types of traps and how deep they are, in terms of energy, can help determine the radiation history of the moon. The trapped electrons can also lead to charging, which can generate an electrostatic spark. On the moon, this could be a problem for astronauts, exploration vehicles, and equipment.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere is also a difference in the chemical signatures. Certain areas had more neodymium (a chemical element also found in the Earth\u2019s crust) or chromium (an essential trace mineral), which are made by radioactive decay,\u201d Orlando says. The relative amounts and locations of these atoms imply an external source like micrometeorites.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETranslating Research to Human Risks on the Moon\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERadiation and its effects on the dust and lunar surface pose dangers to people, and the main protection is the spacesuit.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOrlando sees three key risks. First, the dust could interfere with spacesuits\u2019 seals. Second, micrometeorites could puncture a spacesuit. These high-velocity particles form after breaking off from larger chunks of debris. Like solar storms, they are hard to predict, and they\u2019re dangerous because they come in at high-impact velocities of 5 kilometers per second or higher. \u201cThose are bullets, so they will penetrate the spacesuits,\u201d Orlando says. Third, astronauts could breathe in dust left on the suits, causing respiratory issues. NASA is studying many approaches for dust removal and mitigation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMapping the Moon: Going from Nanoscale to Macroscale\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe next research phase will involve combining the UGA analysis tools with a new tool from Georgia Tech that will be used to analyze Apollo lunar samples that have been in storage for over 50 years.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe will combine two very sophisticated analysis tools to look at these samples in a level of detail that I don\u2019t think has been done before,\u201d Orlando says.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe goal is to build models that can feed into orbital maps of the moon. To get there, the Georgia Tech and UGA team will need to go from nanoscale to the full macro scale to show what\u2019s happening on the lunar surface and the location of water and other key resources, including methane, needed to support humanity\u2019s moon and deep-space exploration goals.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ENew NASA-funded research by Georgia Tech offers fresh insights into the phenomenon of space weathering.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"New NASA-funded research by Georgia Tech offers fresh insights into the phenomenon of space weathering. "}],"uid":"34760","created_gmt":"2025-02-21 17:25:45","changed_gmt":"2025-03-17 17:09:15","author":"Laurie Haigh","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-02-28T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-02-28T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676434":{"id":"676434","type":"image","title":"Lunar Samples","body":null,"created":"1740771414","gmt_created":"2025-02-28 19:36:54","changed":"1740771522","gmt_changed":"2025-02-28 19:38:42","alt":"Photo of the moon with a lunar sample","file":{"fid":"260220","name":"Lunar-samples-image.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/02\/28\/Lunar-samples-image.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/02\/28\/Lunar-samples-image.png","mime":"image\/png","size":474710,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/02\/28\/Lunar-samples-image.png?itok=i5DRaDEp"}}},"media_ids":["676434"],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"85951","name":"School of Chemistry and Biochemistry"},{"id":"126011","name":"School of Physics"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: laurie.haigh@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ELaurie Haigh\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWriter: \u003C\/strong\u003EAnne Wainscott-Sargent\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["laurie.haigh@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"680735":{"#nid":"680735","#data":{"type":"news","title":"New Algorithms Developed at Georgia Tech are Lunar Bound","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn the past five years, five lunar landers have launched into space, marking a series of first successful landings in decades. The future will see more of these type of missions, including \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/artemis\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENASA\u2019s Artemis program\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and various private ventures. These missions need reliable and quick navigation abilities to successfully complete missions, especially if ground stations on Earth are overburdened or disconnected.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/seal.ae.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESpace Exploration and Analysis Laboratory\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (SEAL) has developed new algorithms that are headed to the Moon, as part of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.intuitivemachines.com\/im-2\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIntuitive Machine\u2019s\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E IM-2 mission. The mission is sending a Nova-C class lunar lander named Athena to the Moon\u2019s south pole region to test technologies and collect data that aim to enable future exploration. The mission is part of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/commercial-lunar-payload-services\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENASA\u2019s Commercial Lunar Payload Services\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (CLPS) initiative.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESEAL\u2019s Space Odyssey\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESEAL, led by AE professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/john-christian\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJohn Christian\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, collaborated with Intuitive Machines to develop algorithms to guide Athena to the Shackleton crater: a region known for its limited sunlight and cold temperatures. In coordination with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.spacex.com\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESpaceX\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, launch of the company\u2019s IM-2 mission is targeted for a multi-day launch window that opens no earlier than February 26 from Launch Complex 39A at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAthena will transport NASA\u0027s\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/polar-resources-ice-mining-experiment-1-prime-1\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPRIME-1\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (Polar Resources Ice Mining Experiment-1) which includes two instruments: a drill and spectrometer. The Regolith and Ice Drill for Exploring New Terrain (TRIDENT) is designed to drill up to three feet of lunar surface to extract soil, while the mass spectrometer (MSOLO) will measure the amount of ice in the soil samples.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter launch, Athena will separate from the rocket and begin a roughly five-to-four-day cruise to the Moon\u2019s orbit. The lander will orbit the Moon for approximately three to 1.5 days before its descent to the south pole.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn Fall 2022, Research Engineer \u003Cstrong\u003EAva Thrasher\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E(AE 2022, M.S. AE 2024)\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Ebegan working on IM-2, developing new algorithms to guide Athena to the Shackleton crater using optical terrain relative navigation (TRN). Her approach looked at developing a crater detection algorithm (CDA) using image processing techniques that capture crater center locations on the Moon which are then used to determine Athena\u0027s position estimations.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThen, she developed a crater identification algorithm (CIA) to match craters found in the image to a catalog of known lunar craters. By using CDA and CIA in tandem, Athena is able to estimate its location and orientation with a single photo, autonomously, and in real-time.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe wanted to strike a balance between creating something that would be done quickly on board, but also something that was reliable,\u201d she explained. \u201cWe ended up using simple crater geometry and knowledge of the sun angle to render what we expect a crater to look like in the image.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe CDA finds craters by calculating a similarity score between the image and the rendered crater at each image pixel point. This process, also known as template matching, marks crater centers at points of very high similarity. CIA then uses these crater center locations to match them with known craters in a catalog. By matching pixel locations in an image to known three-dimensional positions on the Moon, the spacecraft is able to produce an estimation of its position.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter two years of research and testing, Thrasher, Christian, and the Intuitive Machines team successfully demonstrated the CDA and CIA on synthetic imagery and Thrasher handed off the algorithms to Intuitive Machines to convert them into flight software for Athena.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe first got involved with optical navigation (OPNAV) research after she took AE 4342: Senior Design with Prof. Christian as an undergraduate student. \u201cI found optical navigation to be really interesting. I liked the idea of being able to figure out where you are and how you\u2019re moving in real-time based on a picture,\u201d she said. In Fall 2022, she started her first graduate semester at Tech and was a new member of SEAL, where she quickly began demonstrating the idea of detecting craters and prototyping the CDA and CIA programmed into Athena. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter she graduated with her master\u2019s degree in aerospace engineering in May 2024, \u0026nbsp;she loved what she did so much, that she decided to stay and work as a full-time research engineer in SEAL. Now, she\u2019s gearing up to see her work make its way to the Moon.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u0027s been really exciting and humbling to contribute to the massive task of putting a lander on the Moon. I never really appreciated the scale of work and collaboration needed to make it happen until I was lucky enough to be a part of it. I\u0027ll certainly be watching the launch and tracking the mission with great anticipation of both the engineering and scientific results,\u201d said Thrasher.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIM-1 Makes History\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs part of a multi-year collaboration, Christian helped \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ae.gatech.edu\/news\/2024\/02\/georgia-tech-algorithm-headed-moon\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Edevelop a key navigation algorithm for Intuitive Machines\u2019 first space mission (IM-1\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E) which launched a Nova-C lunar lander named Odysseus to the Malapert A crater on the Moon\u2019s south pole region; about 11 miles away from IM-2\u2019s targeted Shackleton crater.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe IM-1 mission launched from Kennedy Space Center on February 15, 2024 and soft-landed on the Moon on February 22, 2024---making Odysseus the first U.S. lunar landing since the Apollo program and the first-ever successful commercial lunar landing. Odysseus had a rougher-than-expected soft landing due to an anomaly with the altimeter that was supposed to provide insight into the lander\u2019s height above the lunar surface. In the absence of these altimeter measurements, Odysseus relied critically on the visual odometry technique that was jointly developed by Christian and Intuitive Machines.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDespite these challenges, Odysseus captured images of the Moon during landing and operated on the lunar surface for 144 hours before entering standby mode.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EProf. Christian and SEAL have more projects on the horizon to develop new technologies for exploring our Moon, other planets, asteroids, and the solar system. These technologies will enable future scientific missions to safely explore challenging destinations and answer scientific questions that were impossible with yesterday\u2019s technology.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/seal.ae.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESpace Exploration and Analysis Laboratory\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (SEAL) has developed new algorithms that are headed to the Moon, as part of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.intuitivemachines.com\/im-2\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIntuitive Machine\u2019s\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E IM-2 mission. The mission is sending a Nova-C class lunar lander named Athena to the Moon\u2019s south pole region to test technologies and collect data that aim to enable future exploration. The mission is part of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/commercial-lunar-payload-services\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENASA\u2019s Commercial Lunar Payload Services\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (CLPS) initiative.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESEAL, led by Professor \u003Cstrong\u003EJohn Christian\u003C\/strong\u003E, collaborated with Intuitive Machines to develop algorithms to guide Athena to the Shackleton crater: a region known for its limited sunlight and cold temperatures. Research Engineer \u003Cstrong\u003EAva Thrasher\u003C\/strong\u003E (AE 2022, M.S. AE 2024) led Georgia Tech\u0027s SEAL team on developing the algorithms used for Athena\u0027s flight software.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"AE researchers have developed new algorithms to help Intuitive Machine\u2019s lunar lander find water ice on the Moon.  "}],"uid":"34736","created_gmt":"2025-02-26 16:19:31","changed_gmt":"2025-02-26 16:27:39","author":"Kelsey Gulledge","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-02-25T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-02-25T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676397":{"id":"676397","type":"image","title":"54284511327_9ca21c7337_o.jpg","body":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIntuitive Machines\u0027 IM-2 mission lunar lander, Athena, in the company\u0027s Lunar Production and Operations Center. Credit: Intuitive Machines\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","created":"1740586783","gmt_created":"2025-02-26 16:19:43","changed":"1740586783","gmt_changed":"2025-02-26 16:19:43","alt":"Intuitive Machines\u0027 IM-2 mission lunar lander, Athena, in the company\u0027s Lunar Production and Operations Center. Credit: Intuitive Machines","file":{"fid":"260181","name":"54284511327_9ca21c7337_o.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/02\/26\/54284511327_9ca21c7337_o.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/02\/26\/54284511327_9ca21c7337_o.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":5213520,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/02\/26\/54284511327_9ca21c7337_o.jpg?itok=-2RtZOQq"}},"676398":{"id":"676398","type":"image","title":"Christian-John.jpg","body":null,"created":"1740586840","gmt_created":"2025-02-26 16:20:40","changed":"1740586840","gmt_changed":"2025-02-26 16:20:40","alt":"Headshot of John Christian, AE School Professor","file":{"fid":"260182","name":"Christian-John.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/02\/26\/Christian-John.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/02\/26\/Christian-John.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1385478,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/02\/26\/Christian-John.jpg?itok=E0GH0VXB"}},"676399":{"id":"676399","type":"image","title":"HeadShotThrasher.JPG","body":null,"created":"1740586878","gmt_created":"2025-02-26 16:21:18","changed":"1740586878","gmt_changed":"2025-02-26 16:21:18","alt":"Headshot of Ava Thrasher, AE School alumna and research engineer","file":{"fid":"260183","name":"HeadShotThrasher.JPG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/02\/26\/HeadShotThrasher.JPG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/02\/26\/HeadShotThrasher.JPG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":630760,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/02\/26\/HeadShotThrasher.JPG?itok=P_w4muA9"}},"676401":{"id":"676401","type":"image","title":"AAS_2024_CraterDetection_final-2.png","body":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIllustration of the steps used to detect and identify craters to ultimately determine the vehicles state estimation. Credit: Georgia Tech\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E","created":"1740587067","gmt_created":"2025-02-26 16:24:27","changed":"1740587067","gmt_changed":"2025-02-26 16:24:27","alt":"Illustration of the steps used to detect and identify craters to ultimately determine the vehicles state estimation. Credit: Georgia Tech ","file":{"fid":"260185","name":"AAS_2024_CraterDetection_final-2.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/02\/26\/AAS_2024_CraterDetection_final-2.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/02\/26\/AAS_2024_CraterDetection_final-2.png","mime":"image\/png","size":201361,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/02\/26\/AAS_2024_CraterDetection_final-2.png?itok=neltaeuF"}}},"media_ids":["676397","676398","676399","676401"],"groups":[{"id":"660364","name":"Aerospace Engineering"},{"id":"1237","name":"College of Engineering"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"},{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"146","name":"Life Sciences and Biology"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"152","name":"Robotics"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EKelsey Gulledge\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["kelsey.gulledge@aerospace.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"680685":{"#nid":"680685","#data":{"type":"news","title":"AE Professor Masatoshi Hirabayashi Studies Compelling Way to Deflect Asteroids From Earth","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESmall rocks and debris fly near Earth, many just passing by. Some, however, come too close to Earth, with a potential threat of collision. Defending Earth from these unwanted objects is a growing concern globally. Planetary defense explores threat characterization, risk mitigation, and policy to defend Earth. One mitigation approach is sending an impactor to collide with the target object to deflect its trajectory from the original course toward Earth. This approach, known as kinetic deflection, is practical for intruders with a diameter up to a few hundred meters.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/dart\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENASA\u2019s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART),\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E led by Johns Hopkins University\u2019s Applied Physics Laboratory, was the first full-scale kinetic deflection mission to test how kinetic deflection could effectively push an asteroid measuring 150 meters in diameter. The 580-kg spacecraft (impactor) collided with the target asteroid, Dimorphos, at a speed of 6.1 km\/second on September 26, 2022, making the target\u2019s speed 2.7 mm\/s. This speed change could gradually make the course deviate from the original one. The more time that elapses after impact, the further it moves away from the Earth. Even though Dimorphos was not a threat before the impact, it was chosen as a test target for DART\u2019s kinetic deflection test.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/masatoshi-toshi-hirabayashi\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMasatoshi Hirabayashi\u2019s\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E critical contribution to DART was recently published in \u003Cem\u003ENature Communications\u003C\/em\u003E. The study, \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-025-56010-w\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EElliptical ejecta of asteroid Dimorphos is due to its surface curvature\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u201d analyzed the behavior of fragments coming out by the high-speed DART impact and their push of the asteroid. This work was in collaboration with Professor \u003Cstrong\u003EFabio Ferrari\u003C\/strong\u003E from Politecnico di Milano, who jointly published the study, \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-025-56551-0\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMorphology of ejecta features from the impact on asteroid Dimorphos.\u201d\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EImagine a cannonball flying through the air and hitting a concrete wall. The wall shutters and fragmented pieces disperse at high speeds. Those smaller fragments, called ejecta, are known to be a key factor in controlling the asteroid push.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe study found that the ejecta from the impact site on Dimorphos highly depends on the asteroid\u2019s shape. As a rule of thumb, a cannonball hitting a flat concrete wall creates ejecta departing from the wall at an angle of about 45 degrees from the wall\u2019s surface. The cloud of ejecta thus looks like a waffle cone. However, if the concrete wall\u2019s surface is tilted against the impact direction, the fragment ejection changes, making the ejecta structure differ even if the impactor has the same mass and speed.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis changes the asteroid push dramatically. Dimorphos has a squashed round shape, like an M\u0026amp;M,\u201d Hirabayashi explained, \u201cIf the impact is large, more ejecta fly out of the surface but are more affected by surface tilts. This process makes the ejecta deviate from the ideal direction, reducing the asteroid push.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor the DART impact on Dimorphos, the study identified the impact scale and the asteroid\u2019s rounded surface lowered the asteroid push by 56% compared to when Dimorphos was tested as an entirely flat wall. Thus, sending a large impactor does not mean a big push, and considering how to send impactors strategically is necessary. One way to keep the asteroid push effective is to send multiple small impactors rather than a single large impactor. This way, each small impactor may avoid the target\u2019s rounded shape, and the net asteroid push by multiple impacts can be more efficient than the single impactor.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cSending multiple smaller impactors not only results in a higher asteroid push but also potentially saves operational cost and \u0026nbsp;increases tactical flexibility for deflection,\u0022 Hirabayashi said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFerrari\u2019s study offered crucial information for Hirabayashi\u2019s conclusions. \u201cWe used Hubble Space Telescope\u2019s images and numerical simulations to quantify a viable mechanism of the ejecta evolution and successfully estimated ejected particles\u2019 mass, velocity, and size. We also found complex interactions of such particles with the asteroid system and solar radiation pressure, i.e., sunlight pushing ejecta particles,\u201d Ferrari said. \u201cDocumenting how ejecta looks over time offers crucial insights into how the DART impact acted on ejecta, giving tight constraints on the target asteroid\u2019s properties.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENASA\u2019s DART mission was a success, and Hirabayashi\u2019s study discovered an innovative approach to kinetic deflection, offering new potential for its future demonstration in space. He is building a new capability of characterizing a target\u2019s properties beneficial for planetary defense, such as mass, size, composition, etc., at limited observational conditions. This is aligned with the fast reconnaissance concept, a new community effort that develops planetary defense strategies to identify these properties within a limited time and resources. This work continues to evolve Georgia Tech into a key player in planetary defense, connecting international communities.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/masatoshi-toshi-hirabayashi\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMasatoshi Hirabayashi\u2019s\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E critical contribution to DART was recently published in \u003Cem\u003ENature Communications\u003C\/em\u003E. The study, \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-025-56010-w\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EElliptical ejecta of asteroid Dimorphos is due to its surface curvature\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u201d analyzed the behavior of fragments coming out by the high-speed DART impact and their push of the asteroid. This work was in collaboration with Professor \u003Cstrong\u003EFabio Ferrari\u003C\/strong\u003E from Politecnico di Milano, who jointly published the study, \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-025-56551-0\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMorphology of ejecta features from the impact on asteroid Dimorphos.\u201d\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A Georgia Tech study analyzes NASA\u2019s DART mission and proposes an innovative approach for kinetic deflection."}],"uid":"36345","created_gmt":"2025-02-21 19:40:26","changed_gmt":"2025-02-21 19:52:51","author":"gwaddell3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-02-19T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-02-19T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/news\/2024\/06\/hirabayashi-chosen-nasa-join-european-space-agencys-planetary-mission-study-results","title":"Hirabayashi Chosen by NASA to Join European Space Agency\u2019s Planetary Mission to Study Results of Asteroid Deflection"},{"url":"https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/news\/2022\/11\/aes-third-space-imaging-workshop-creates-hub-imaging-experts","title":"AE\u2019s Third Space Imaging Workshop Creates Hub for Imaging Experts"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1239","name":"School of Aerospace Engineering"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"}],"keywords":[{"id":"1325","name":"aerospace"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMonique Waddell\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["monique.waddell@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"680480":{"#nid":"680480","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Turning to CubeSats in the Search for Life Thousands of Light-Years from Earth","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA new NASA-funded project will have Georgia Tech aerospace engineers developing new technology to one day study planets outside our solar system.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt\u0027s a $10 million joint mission led by the University of Michigan called STARI \u2014 STarlight Acquisition and Reflection toward Interferometry. Georgia Tech\u2019s engineers will build the propulsion systems for a pair of briefcase-sized CubeSats that will fly in orbit a few hundred yards away from one another, bouncing starlight back and forth.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe technology could be used someday to better understand if any known exoplanets are capable of supporting life as we know it.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInterferometry is already used to study stars, gas clouds, and galaxies. Instead of using one large telescope, several smaller telescopes work as a team. The machines swap starlight to create higher resolution images than are possible from a single telescope.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EScientists and engineers have recently proposed using interferometry to locate exoplanets.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ESTARI will determine if the same type of coordination and light transmission can be done using less expensive CubeSats.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/news\/2025\/02\/turning-cubesats-search-life-thousands-light-years-earth\u0022\u003ERead the entire story on the College of Engineering website.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Georgia Tech plays a starring role in NASA\u2019s STARI mission to determine if telescope technology that studies exoplanets can be implemented in briefcase-sized spacecraft. "}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA new NASA-funded project will have Georgia Tech aerospace engineers developing new technology to one day study planets outside our solar system.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt\u0027s a $10 million joint mission led by the University of Michigan called STARI \u2014 STarlight Acquisition and Reflection toward Interferometry. Georgia Tech\u2019s engineers will build the propulsion systems for a pair of briefcase-sized CubeSats that will fly in orbit a few hundred yards away from one another, bouncing starlight back and forth.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A new NASA-funded project will have Georgia Tech aerospace engineers developing new technology to one day study planets outside our solar system. "}],"uid":"27560","created_gmt":"2025-02-13 20:15:07","changed_gmt":"2025-02-13 20:42:50","author":"Jason Maderer","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-02-13T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-02-13T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676286":{"id":"676286","type":"image","title":"STARI CubeSats","body":null,"created":"1739477448","gmt_created":"2025-02-13 20:10:48","changed":"1739477516","gmt_changed":"2025-02-13 20:11:56","alt":"a rendering of two CubeSats in space, beaming light","file":{"fid":"260040","name":"stari_concept.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/02\/13\/stari_concept.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/02\/13\/stari_concept.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":97742,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/02\/13\/stari_concept.jpg?itok=eC-29PXQ"}}},"media_ids":["676286"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"}],"keywords":[{"id":"188776","name":"go-research"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJason Maderer\u003Cbr\u003ECollege of Engineering\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:maderer@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Emaderer@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["maderer@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"680141":{"#nid":"680141","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Yang Awarded with AIAA\u2019s Highest Honor for Achievements in Aeronautics","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDaniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering (AE) Regents Professor\u003Cstrong\u003E Vigor Yang\u003C\/strong\u003E has been selected to receive the 2025 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Reed Aeronautics Award. The award recognizes Yang\u2019s significant contributions to the understanding of combustion physics in aerospace systems, technological innovation in aerospace propulsion, and advancement of aerospace engineering education and literature.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYang will be presented with the award in Washington, D.C., on April 30, 2025, at the AIAA Awards Gala.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cReceiving this award is a profound honor that reflects not just personal achievement but the collective efforts of an incredible community. I am grateful and also humbled by this recognition, which would not have been possible without the enormous support from my mentors, colleagues, and students over the years. They have been a continuous source of energy and inspiration,\u201d said Yang. \u201cIn aerospace engineering, the sky is not the limit, and I am privileged to collaborate with and learn from people worldwide to extend our field\u0027s frontier.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe award, named after Dr. \u003Cstrong\u003ESylvanus A. Reed\u003C\/strong\u003E, aeronautical engineer, designer, and founding member of the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences in 1932, is the highest honor AIAA bestows for notable achievements in aeronautics.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYang\u2019s illustrious career spans over forty years. He has expertise in a variety of topics, including combustion dynamics in propulsion and power-generation systems; multi-fidelity modeling and simulations of fluid flows and combustion; combustion of energetic materials; high-pressure transport phenomena, thermodynamics, and combustion; nano technologies for propulsion and energetic applications; and data science and technology.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe served as the William R.T. Oakes Professor and Chair of AE from 2009 through 2018, and he has been the principal or co-principal investigator on over 70 research projects, including nine of the Department of Defense\u2019s Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) projects.\u003Cbr\u003ENotably, he has published 12 comprehensive volumes and numerous technical papers on combustion, propulsion, energetics, and data science and technology.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECurrently, he is the editor of the\u003Cem\u003E Aerospace Book Series \u003C\/em\u003Eof Cambridge University Press, Deputy Editor of the \u003Cem\u003EAIAA Journal\u003C\/em\u003E, and founding editor of the \u003Cem\u003EMachine Learning in Science, Technology, Technology, and Mathematics (ML-in-STEM) Book Series\u003C\/em\u003E of de Gruyter Academic Publishing GmbH.\u003Cbr\u003EIn 2014, AE Regents Professor Emeritus Professor Ben T. Zinn was selected for the Reed Aeronautics Award.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2014, AE Regents Professor Emeritus Professor\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/news\/2016\/02\/prof-ben-zinn-selected-aiaa-2014-reed-aeronautics-award-0\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBen T. Zinn\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\/strong\u003Ewas selected for the Reed Aeronautics Award.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Regents Professor Vigor Yang will receive the 2025 Reed Aeronautics Award for his substantial work in combustion research and education."}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EDaniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering (AE) Regents Professor\u003Cstrong\u003E Vigor Yang\u003C\/strong\u003E has been selected to receive the 2025 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Reed Aeronautics Award. The award recognizes Yang\u2019s significant contributions to the understanding of combustion physics in aerospace systems, technological innovation in aerospace propulsion, and advancement of aerospace engineering education and literature.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Regents Professor Vigor Yang will receive the 2025 Reed Aeronautics Award for his substantial work in combustion research and education."}],"uid":"36345","created_gmt":"2025-02-03 18:37:30","changed_gmt":"2025-02-03 18:47:33","author":"gwaddell3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-01-30T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-01-30T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676193":{"id":"676193","type":"image","title":"Yang header.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERegents Professor Vigor Yang\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1738608230","gmt_created":"2025-02-03 18:43:50","changed":"1738608230","gmt_changed":"2025-02-03 18:43:50","alt":"Vigor Yang","file":{"fid":"259929","name":"Yang header.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/02\/03\/Yang%20header_1.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/02\/03\/Yang%20header_1.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":113376,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/02\/03\/Yang%20header_1.jpg?itok=o7zgGhHA"}}},"media_ids":["676193"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/news\/2024\/09\/ae-professors-koki-ho-and-kai-james-named-associate-fellows-aiaa","title":"AE Professors Koki Ho and Kai James Named Associate Fellows by AIAA"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1239","name":"School of Aerospace Engineering"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"}],"keywords":[{"id":"2082","name":"aerospace engineering"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39541","name":"Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMonique Waddell\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["monique.waddell@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"679916":{"#nid":"679916","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Space Research Institute Begins Search for Executive Director","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Space Research Institute (SRI) at Georgia Tech has initiated an internal search for its inaugural executive director. This new Interdisciplinary Research Institute (IRI) will build upon the foundation laid by the\u202fSpace Research Initiative.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe SRI is dedicated to advancing cutting-edge research in space-related fields, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, and establishing strong partnerships with industry, government, academic, and international organizations. As leader of the newly established IRI, the executive director will lead the Institute\u0027s strategic vision, nurture a culture of innovation, and champion initiatives that position Georgia Tech, via the SRI, as a global leader in space research and exploration.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe SRI is composed of faculty and staff across campus who have a common interest in space exploration and discovery. Collectively, SRI will research a wide range of topics on space and how it relates to human perspective and be an ultimate hub of all things space related at Georgia Tech. It will connect all the research institutes, labs, facilities, and colleges to pioneer the conversation about space in the state of Georgia. By working hand-in-hand with academics, business partners, and students we are committed to staying at the cutting edge of innovation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/space-research-institute-executive-director-search\u0022\u003EClick here\u003C\/a\u003E to learn more about this position and how to apply.\u003C\/h2\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe internal search will identify an inaugural executive director for the new Interdisciplinary Research Institute.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The internal search will identify an inaugural executive director for the new Interdisciplinary Research Institute."}],"uid":"34760","created_gmt":"2025-01-23 22:42:55","changed_gmt":"2025-01-23 23:13:12","author":"Laurie Haigh","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-01-23T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-01-23T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676116":{"id":"676116","type":"image","title":"Space Research Photo","body":null,"created":"1737673671","gmt_created":"2025-01-23 23:07:51","changed":"1737673706","gmt_changed":"2025-01-23 23:08:26","alt":"Image of the earth from space","file":{"fid":"259838","name":"earth pic_0.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/23\/earth%20pic_0.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/23\/earth%20pic_0.png","mime":"image\/png","size":600587,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/01\/23\/earth%20pic_0.png?itok=myU6RAfx"}}},"media_ids":["676116"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFor any further details, please contact Rob Kadel at \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:%20rob.kadel@gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERob Kadel\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["laurie.haigh@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"678660":{"#nid":"678660","#data":{"type":"news","title":"College of Sciences Welcomes New Astrophysics Major, Minor","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Physics\u003C\/a\u003E will launch the new B.S. in Astrophysics program in summer 2025. This new major is the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/college-sciences-announces-new-minors-phd-program-and-curriculum-additions\u0022\u003Elatest addition to the College of Sciences\u2019 academic offerings\u003C\/a\u003E and responds to increased student demand for courses and research opportunities in astrophysics. A minor in astrophysics will also be offered starting next summer.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAccording to\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/david-ballantyne\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDavid Ballantyne\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, associate chair for Academic Programs and professor in the School of Physics, the new major is unique because it focuses on the future of astronomy and astrophysics, especially in the era of discoveries made by the James Webb Space Telescope and the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cWe made a concerted effort when crafting this degree to make it modern and forward-facing,\u201d says Ballantyne. \u201cIt is very much focused on the next decade of astronomy and astrophysics, providing a strong emphasis on computational skills, data analysis, and big data.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe new degree includes coursework on the fundamental physical processes and laws that govern planetary systems, stars, galaxies, and the Universe as a whole. These core topics are complemented by training in computational and data analysis techniques that can be applied to a variety of disciplines.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EFor Ballantyne, the degree program should appeal to students who are interested in pursuing careers in space science research as well as those interested in non-research career paths.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThis program prepares students to solve complex problems in a very quantitative, rigorous way. Such problem solving and computational skills are highly marketable for a range of career paths,\u201d he adds.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe evolution of astrophysics at Tech\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EWhile astronomy coursework and\u0026nbsp;outreach have long existed at the Institute, astrophysics officially began in 2008, when the School of Physics launched the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cra.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECenter for Relativistic Astrophysics\u003C\/a\u003E (CRA). Today, the Center boasts more than\u0026nbsp;a dozen faculty and research scientists, with expertise spanning\u0026nbsp;high-energy astrophysics, extrasolar planets, gravitational-wave astronomy, and astroparticle physics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAs the CRA\u2019s faculty roster grew, the School expanded its offering of astrophysics courses. A concentration in astrophysics for physics majors was launched during the 2013-14 academic year. A short time later, the School introduced an astrophysics certificate for non-majors. The new astrophysics major and minor \u2014 which will replace the concentration and certificate, respectively \u2014 reflects a new chapter in the history of astrophysics education and research at Georgia Tech.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cMost of our peer institutions have an astronomy or astrophysics degree so the creation of this program at Georgia Tech was a natural fit,\u201d says\u0026nbsp;Ballantyne. \u201cOur program fills a critical need considering that there are few options in the U.S. Southeast for students to obtain this type of training at an institution of Georgia Tech\u2019s caliber.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDeclaring the astrophysics major and minor\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cem\u003ECurrent students\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ECurrent students can declare the astrophysics major starting next semester, following the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/registrar.gatech.edu\/info\/change-major-form-undergraduate-students\u0022\u003Estandard major change process for undergraduates\u003C\/a\u003E. The astrophysics minor will be available to all Georgia Tech undergraduates starting summer 2025.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cem\u003EIncoming students\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAstrophysics will be added to the list of majors beginning with the admissions application for Summer 2025 (transfer students) and the 2026-27 academic year (first-year students).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EIn the interim, transfer students enrolling for the Spring 2025 semester should follow the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/registrar.gatech.edu\/info\/change-major-form-undergraduate-students\u0022\u003Estandard major change process for undergraduates\u003C\/a\u003E. Students applying to Georgia Tech for the 2025-26 academic year should select \u201cphysics\u201d as their major during the application process and choose \u201castrophysics\u201d once admitted, during the major confirmation process.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;School of Physics will launch the new B.S. in Astrophysics program in summer 2025. This new major is the\u0026nbsp;latest addition to the College of Sciences\u2019 academic offerings and responds to increased student demand for courses and research opportunities in astrophysics. A minor in astrophysics will also be offered starting next summer.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The\u00a0School of Physics will launch the new B.S. in Astrophysics program in summer 2025. This new major is the\u00a0latest addition to the College of Sciences\u2019 academic offerings and responds to increased student demand for courses and research opportunities in "}],"uid":"36583","created_gmt":"2024-11-26 16:16:19","changed_gmt":"2024-12-05 16:41:22","author":"lvidal7","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2024-11-26T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2024-11-26T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675734":{"id":"675734","type":"image","title":"Astronomers using NASA\u0027s James Webb Space Telescope found candidates for the first brown dwarfs outside of our galaxy in a young star cluster in the Small Magellanic Cloud (NGC 602). (ESA\/Webb, NASA \u0026 CSA, P. Zeidler, E. Sabbi, A. Nota, M. Zamani)","body":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAstronomers using NASA\u0027s James Webb Space Telescope found candidates for the first brown dwarfs outside of our galaxy in a young star cluster in the Small Magellanic Cloud (NGC 602). (ESA\/Webb, NASA \u0026amp; CSA, P. Zeidler, E. Sabbi, A. Nota, M. Zamani)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1732637927","gmt_created":"2024-11-26 16:18:47","changed":"1732637927","gmt_changed":"2024-11-26 16:18:47","alt":"Astronomers using NASA\u0027s James Webb Space Telescope found candidates for the first brown dwarfs outside of our galaxy in a young star cluster in the Small Magellanic Cloud (NGC 602). (ESA\/Webb, NASA \u0026 CSA, P. Zeidler, E. Sabbi, A. Nota, M. Zamani)","file":{"fid":"259395","name":"NGC 602 Star Cluster_James Webb Space Telescope.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/26\/NGC%20602%20Star%20Cluster_James%20Webb%20Space%20Telescope.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/26\/NGC%20602%20Star%20Cluster_James%20Webb%20Space%20Telescope.png","mime":"image\/png","size":26843373,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/11\/26\/NGC%20602%20Star%20Cluster_James%20Webb%20Space%20Telescope.png?itok=6fyI44kX"}}},"media_ids":["675734"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/school-physics-announces-two-new-academic-programs","title":"School of Physics Announces Two New Academic Programs"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"126011","name":"School of Physics"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"150","name":"Physics and Physical Sciences"}],"keywords":[{"id":"4896","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"166937","name":"School of Physics"},{"id":"4079","name":"astrophysics"},{"id":"91741","name":"Center for Relativistic Astrophysics"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELindsay C. Vidal\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAssistant Director of Communications\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003ECollege of Sciences\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["lvidal7@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"678585":{"#nid":"678585","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Engineering the Origin of the Wheel","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESome historians believe the wheel is the most significant invention ever created. Historians and archeologists have artifacts from the wheel\u2019s history that go back thousands of years, but knowing that the wheel first originated back in 3900 B.C. doesn\u2019t tell the entire story of this essential technology\u2019s development.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA recent \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/royalsocietypublishing.org\/doi\/epdf\/10.1098\/rsos.240373\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Estudy\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E by Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering Associate Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/kai-james\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKai James\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Lee Alacoque, and Richard Bulliet analyzes the wheels\u2019 invention and its evolution. Their analysis supports a new theory that copper miners from the Carpathian Mountains in southeastern Europe may have invented the wheel. However, the study also recognizes that the wheel\u2019s evolution occurred incrementally over time \u2014 and likely through considerable trial and error. The findings suggest that the original developers of the wheel benefited from uniquely favorable environmental conditions that augmented their human ingenuity. The study, published in the journal \u003Cem\u003ERoyal Society Open Science,\u003C\/em\u003E has gained the worldwide attention of experts and more than 58 media outlets, including \u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/ct.moreover.com\/?a=55120414867\u0026amp;p=1pl\u0026amp;v=1\u0026amp;x=Nn7Ozxhhg37uXpWFulhboQ\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPopular Mechanics\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/ct.moreover.com\/?a=55102419746\u0026amp;p=1pl\u0026amp;v=1\u0026amp;x=_kLNRH7aRiViqfL4AYBuBg\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EInteresting Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, and \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/ct.moreover.com\/?a=55113970190\u0026amp;p=1pl\u0026amp;v=1\u0026amp;x=fhgi-6KEXPwy_HmdSgcyVg\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENational Geographic\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E en Espa\u00f1ol.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe way technology evolves is very complex. It\u0027s never as simple as somebody having an epiphany, going to their lab, drawing up a perfect prototype, and manufacturing it \u2014 and then end of story,\u201d said James. \u201cThe evidence, even before our theory, suggests that the wheel evolved over centuries, across a very broad geographical range, with contributions from many different people, and that\u0027s true of all engineering systems. Understanding this complexity and seeing the process as a journey, rather than a moment in time, is one of the main outcomes of our study.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENecessity Is the Mother of Invention\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 3900 B.C., the Neolithic copper miners from the Carpathian Mountains lacked written language, and they were not advanced mathematically or scientifically. However, they discovered the wheel as a means to an end.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERecently, archeologists uncovered a series of small drinking mugs that rolled on wheels. There were features on the mugs, like wickerwork patterns, indicative of woven basketry used by miners around 3900 B.C. These replicas represent the earliest known depictions of wheeled transport.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETools of Engagement\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJames and his team use computational analysis and design as a forensic tool to learn about the past, studying engineered systems designed by prehistoric people. Computational analysis offers a deeper understanding of how these systems were created.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe have to interpret clues from ancient societies without a writing system \u2014 artifacts like bows and arrows, flutes, or boats \u2014 but we need to use additional tools to do this,\u201d James explained. \u201cCarbon dating tells us when, but it doesn\u0027t tell us how or why. Using solid mechanics and computational modeling to recreate these environments and scenarios that gave rise to these technologies is a potential game-changer.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETheir theory suggests that the wheel evolved from simple rollers, which took the form of a series of untethered cylinders, poles, or tree trunks. These rollers were arranged side-by-side in a row on the ground, and the workers would transport their cargo on top of the rollers to avoid the friction caused by dragging.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cOver time, the shape of these rollers evolved such that the central portion of the cylinder grew progressively narrower, eventually leaving only a slender axle capped on either end by round discs, which we now refer to as wheels,\u201d James explained.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers derived a series of mathematical equations that describe the physics of the rollers. They then created a computer algorithm that simulates the progression from roller to wheel-and-axle by repeatedly solving these equations. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur investigation also indicates that environmental conditions played a key role in this evolutionary process,\u201d he said. \u201cPrevious studies have shown that rollers are only effective under very specific circumstances. \u0026nbsp;They require flat, firm, and level terrain, as well as a straight path. \u0026nbsp;Neolithic mines, with their human-made tunnels and covered terrain would have offered an environment highly conducive to roller-based transport.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe research was funded by National Science Foundation grant # 2311078.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECitation:\u003C\/strong\u003E Alacoque, L. R., Bulliet, R. W., \u0026amp; James, K. A. (2024). Reconstructing the invention of the wheel using computational structural analysis and Design. \u003Cem\u003ERoyal Society Open Science,\u003C\/em\u003E 11(10). https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1098\/rsos.240373\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOther Research on the Horizon\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJames\u2019 research group is currently working to create algorithms to design aircraft structures for crashworthiness, focusing on helicopters. He uses these algorithms to design vehicles that can withstand impact with minimal structural damage and minimal passenger injury.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe is also designing 3D-printed morphing mechanisms. \u0026nbsp;These mechanisms contain active materials that change shape in response to heating. \u0026nbsp;By systematically combining active and passive materials in a precise spatial arrangement, James\u2019 group is able to encode specific motions into the material layout. In this way, they create specialized mechanisms that transform into pre-programmed shapes upon being submerged in a heated water bath.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA recent \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/royalsocietypublishing.org\/doi\/epdf\/10.1098\/rsos.240373\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Estudy\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E by Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering Associate Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/kai-james\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKai James\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Lee Alacoque, and Richard Bulliet analyzes the wheels\u2019 invention and its evolution.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A multidisciplinary team of researchers used structural mechanics and computational design to understand how the wheel was invented.  "}],"uid":"36345","created_gmt":"2024-11-21 16:18:54","changed_gmt":"2024-11-21 16:30:14","author":"gwaddell3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2024-11-21T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2024-11-21T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675698":{"id":"675698","type":"image","title":"cropped james kai.jpg","body":null,"created":"1732206039","gmt_created":"2024-11-21 16:20:39","changed":"1732206039","gmt_changed":"2024-11-21 16:20:39","alt":"Ass","file":{"fid":"259352","name":"cropped james kai.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/21\/cropped%20james%20kai_1.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/21\/cropped%20james%20kai_1.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":308972,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/11\/21\/cropped%20james%20kai_1.jpg?itok=fmpsvkzj"}},"675694":{"id":"675694","type":"image","title":"Figure - Artifacts.png","body":"\u003Cp\u003EA series of small drinking mugs that rolled on wheels.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1732203452","gmt_created":"2024-11-21 15:37:32","changed":"1732203452","gmt_changed":"2024-11-21 15:37:32","alt":"Artifacts","file":{"fid":"259347","name":"Figure - Artifacts.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/21\/Figure%20-%20Artifacts.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/21\/Figure%20-%20Artifacts.png","mime":"image\/png","size":245517,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/11\/21\/Figure%20-%20Artifacts.png?itok=bpsOMeeR"}},"675699":{"id":"675699","type":"image","title":"Figure - Wheel Evolution 3.jpg","body":null,"created":"1732206426","gmt_created":"2024-11-21 16:27:06","changed":"1732206426","gmt_changed":"2024-11-21 16:27:06","alt":"Wheel Evolution","file":{"fid":"259353","name":"Figure - Wheel Evolution 3.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/21\/Figure%20-%20Wheel%20Evolution%203.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/21\/Figure%20-%20Wheel%20Evolution%203.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":979228,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/11\/21\/Figure%20-%20Wheel%20Evolution%203.jpg?itok=PT7zr9Ho"}}},"media_ids":["675698","675694","675699"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/news\/2024\/09\/ae-professors-koki-ho-and-kai-james-named-associate-fellows-aiaa","title":"AE Professors Koki Ho and Kai James Named Associate Fellows by AIAA"},{"url":"https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/news\/2024\/02\/georgia-tech-algorithm-headed-moon","title":"A Georgia Tech Algorithm is Headed to the Moon"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1239","name":"School of Aerospace Engineering"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"}],"keywords":[{"id":"1325","name":"aerospace"},{"id":"173670","name":"computational design"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39541","name":"Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003Emonique.waddell@gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["monique.waddell@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"677784":{"#nid":"677784","#data":{"type":"news","title":"AE Professor\u2019s Research Aims to Improve Decision-Making in Artificial Intelligence","body":[{"value":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EImproving Safety for Learning Enabled Systems\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EVamvoudakis received $400,000 from the National Science Foundation for his proposal, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nsf.gov\/awardsearch\/showAward?AWD_ID=2415479\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u201cImproving Safety by Synthesizing Interacting Model-based and Model-free Learning Approaches\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u201d This is the first grant on \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/new.nsf.gov\/funding\/opportunities\/safe-learning-enabled-systems\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESafe Learning-enabled Systems (SLES)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E awarded to Georgia Tech from NSF. He and his team will establish a framework that leads to the design and implementation of SLES in which safety is ensured with high confidence levels. The framework will leverage tools from control theory, multi-agent autonomy, and formal methods for rigorously probabilistic reasoning to create safe learning-enabled systems. Before anyone releases an autonomous machine, the public expects it to be safe for those around it. For example, sensors in drones and other machines are sensitive to infiltration, malfunction, and the environment. If the wind is strong, the drone would need to be\u0026nbsp;able to adjust to the environment, stay on course, and perhaps change altitude. If the drone encounters a telephone pole or even a person in its path, it would be able to adjust accordingly without waiting for human control.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHis research approach will take elements from various theories and combine them to improve the safety of these LES within the machine.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur approach algorithmically combines model-based and model-free reinforcement learning for enhancing safety by using the learned model to predict how well a safe policy will behave and then update the resulting actions,\u201d Vamvoudakis explained. \u201cAs a result, our approach does not rely on improving the model and does not require an infinite amount of time for convergence. Instead, our plan optimally enhances safety and combines the predefined time-convergent actions generated to achieve high performance in the specified task.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe fundamental knowledge created in his research could inform how future-assured autonomous systems with embodied intelligence can be built. Their results could inform the design of key enablers of the global economy, including smart and connected cities, networked actions of smart and autonomous systems by enabling system flexibility, efficiency, and capacity, and automated financial trading, such as creating automated news digests around finance.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGaming Strategies Inform Military LES Frameworks\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAutonomous machines are changing the way that the military operates. Uncrewed battles between autonomous systems require the systems to learn and adapt to unknown environments and to distinguish allies from enemies. Learning-enabled systems are trained to take the circumstances at hand and give recommendations for the desired response.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen humans have control over these machines, this is considered humans in the loop. When humans move further into the background and give the machines decision-making autonomy, it is called humans on the loop. Humans would still have oversight, but the machine could ultimately decide without human approval.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThrough his newly awarded $480,000\u0026nbsp;project \u201cEmbodied and Secure Physical Intelligence with Possible Humans-on-the Loop in Complex Adaptive Systems\u201d with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/arl.devcom.army.mil\/what-we-do\/#competencies\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EArmy Research Office\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (ARO),\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003EVamvoudakis and his team are developing decision-making algorithms to assist during conflict in adversarial environments. This is needed because military maneuvers can be unpredictable, and autonomous machines need to be able to adapt accordingly. He will use game-theoretic strategies to inform his work.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EVamvoudakis\u2019 team has created algorithms in the context of games, where a \u201cdefender\u201d wants to regulate a cyber-physical system around a trimming point, but an \u201cattacker\u201d intends to disrupt this regulation as much as possible.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey also employed level-k thinking to capture the behavior of the attacker. Particularly, instead of assuming that the attacker can reason perfectly about the behavior of the defender, the employed level-k thinking model imposed that the attacker can only make finitely-many (though arbitrarily many) steps of reasoning about what the defender might do, how the attacker can best respond to that, how the defender can then best respond.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe project is a continuation of his ARO YIP award that developed a way to understand different types of attackers in a unified framework. Attackers who think a little ahead are called low-level, while those who think more strategically, like those near a Nash equilibrium, are called high-level. This understanding helps create better defense strategies without assuming that attackers always act perfectly.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo demonstrate how this model works in real military situations, he and his students looked at it through the lens of a pursuit-evasion game. They found that using level-k thinking to understand and respond to attackers is more effective than assuming attackers always optimize their strategies perfectly.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMathWorks Gift to Enhance Learning for Artificial Intelligence\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECurrent methods for protecting closed-loop reinforcement learning systems (artificial intelligence where the system continuously learns and adapts based on feedback from the environment) don\u0027t work well against potential threats. These existing methods often rely on guesswork, need a deep understanding of the system, and require a lot of training time. They also fail to guarantee safety when facing adversaries.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EVamvoudakis\u2019\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mathworks.com\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMathWorks\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E gift, \u201cAdversarial Reinforcement Learning\u201d aims to create a new generation of smart, flexible, autonomous systems that can learn and adapt. This is the first-ever gift from MathWorks made to Georgia Tech.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe will develop the next generation of agile, highly adaptive autonomous systems that use mechanisms from cognition and learning to process information from distributed sensors. In particular, looking to autonomous systems appearing in nature for inspiration,\u201d he said. Specifically, behavioral scientists have validated the need for intermittent data sharing in learning tasks. They have shown that the central nervous system in human beings minimizes effort and sorts through impulses and stimuli by maintaining intermittent signaling. Specifically, the spinal cord transmits a channel of information and effectively exploits its neural resources via intermittent strategies to produce a sequence of muscle-bone interactions that induce movement.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy looking to such ideas, they will develop safe and strong reinforcement learning methods to handle teamwork, assign tasks, and manage resources effectively. They will also collaborate with MathWorks to create useful toolboxes and provide internship opportunities.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EProfessor Kyriakos Vamvoudakis is designing frameworks and algorithms to make autonomous systems safer and smarter. His research aims to improve decision-making in #ArtificialIntelligence.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Professor Vamvoudakis is designing frameworks and algorithms to make autonomous systems safer and smarter."}],"uid":"36345","created_gmt":"2024-10-21 17:17:10","changed_gmt":"2024-10-29 19:40:14","author":"gwaddell3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-10-21T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-10-21T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675377":{"id":"675377","type":"image","title":"KV headshot Picture1.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EDutton-Ducoffe Endowed Professor Kyriakos G. Vamvoudakis\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1729531047","gmt_created":"2024-10-21 17:17:27","changed":"1729531047","gmt_changed":"2024-10-21 17:17:27","alt":"Professor Vamvoudakis","file":{"fid":"258991","name":"KV headshot Picture1.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/21\/KV%20headshot%20Picture1.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/21\/KV%20headshot%20Picture1.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":305596,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/10\/21\/KV%20headshot%20Picture1.jpg?itok=JSz56Zrb"}},"675378":{"id":"675378","type":"image","title":"Picture2.png","body":null,"created":"1729531111","gmt_created":"2024-10-21 17:18:31","changed":"1729531111","gmt_changed":"2024-10-21 17:18:31","alt":"Research Model","file":{"fid":"258992","name":"Picture2.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/21\/Picture2.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/21\/Picture2.png","mime":"image\/png","size":1615031,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/10\/21\/Picture2.png?itok=PzOhEInQ"}},"675379":{"id":"675379","type":"image","title":"Picture3.png","body":"\u003Cp\u003EReinforcement Learning Embedded Agent\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1729531157","gmt_created":"2024-10-21 17:19:17","changed":"1729531157","gmt_changed":"2024-10-21 17:19:17","alt":"Reinforcement Learning Embedded Agent","file":{"fid":"258993","name":"Picture3.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/21\/Picture3.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/21\/Picture3.png","mime":"image\/png","size":65576,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/10\/21\/Picture3.png?itok=wqHceZi1"}}},"media_ids":["675377","675378","675379"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/news\/2019\/05\/kyriakos-vamvoudakis","title":"Kyriakos G. Vamvoudakis: Making Cyber-Physical Reality Real"},{"url":"https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/news\/2021\/04\/fighting-wildfires-drones","title":"Professor Kyriakos Vamvoudakis and researchers are developing UAVs for disaster management"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1239","name":"School of Aerospace Engineering"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"}],"keywords":[{"id":"1325","name":"aerospace"},{"id":"2556","name":"artificial intelligence"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMonique Waddell\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Emonique.waddell@gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["monique.waddell@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"676995":{"#nid":"676995","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Award-Winning Algorithm Used on Mars Rover Helps Scientists on Earth See Data in a New Way","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA new algorithm tested on NASA\u2019s Perseverance Rover on Mars may lead to better forecasting of hurricanes, wildfires, and other extreme weather events that impact millions globally.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech Ph.D. student\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.austinpwright.com\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAustin P. Wright\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E is first author of a paper that introduces Nested Fusion. The new algorithm improves scientists\u2019 ability to search for past signs of life on the Martian surface.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to supporting NASA\u2019s Mars 2020 mission, scientists from other fields working with large, overlapping datasets can use\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/dl.acm.org\/doi\/10.1145\/3637528.3671596\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENested Fusion\u2019s methods\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E toward their studies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWright presented Nested Fusion at the 2024 International Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/kdd2024.kdd.org\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKDD 2024\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E) where it was a\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/kdd2024.kdd.org\/awards\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Erunner-up for the best paper award\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. KDD is widely considered the world\u0027s most prestigious conference for knowledge discovery and data mining research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cNested Fusion is really useful for researchers in many different domains, not just NASA scientists,\u201d said Wright. \u201cThe method visualizes complex datasets that can be difficult to get an overall view of during the initial exploratory stages of analysis.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENested Fusion combines datasets with different resolutions to produce a single, high-resolution visual distribution. Using this method, NASA scientists can more easily analyze multiple datasets from various sources at the same time. This can lead to faster studies of Mars\u2019 surface composition to find clues of previous life.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe algorithm demonstrates how data science impacts traditional scientific fields like chemistry, biology, and geology.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEven further, Wright is developing Nested Fusion applications to model shifting climate patterns, plant and animal life, and other concepts in the earth sciences. The same method can combine overlapping datasets from satellite imagery, biomarkers, and climate data.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cUsers have extended Nested Fusion and similar algorithms toward earth science contexts, which we have received very positive feedback,\u201d said Wright, who studies machine learning (ML) at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cCross-correlational analysis takes a long time to do and is not done in the initial stages of research when patterns appear and form new hypotheses. Nested Fusion enables people to discover these patterns much earlier.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWright is the data science and ML lead for\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.pixlise.org\/public\/pixlise\u0022\u003EPIXLISE\u003C\/a\u003E, the software that NASA JPL scientists use to study data from the Mars Perseverance Rover.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPerseverance uses its Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry (PIXL) to collect data on mineral composition of Mars\u2019 surface. PIXL\u2019s two main tools that accomplish this are its X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) Spectrometer and Multi-Context Camera (MCC).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen PIXL scans a target area, it creates two co-aligned datasets from the components. XRF collects a sample\u0027s fine-scale elemental composition. MCC produces images of a sample to gather visual and physical details like size and shape.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA single XRF spectrum corresponds to approximately 100 MCC imaging pixels for every scan point. Each tool\u2019s unique resolution makes mapping between overlapping data layers challenging. However, Wright and his collaborators designed Nested Fusion to overcome this hurdle.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to progressing data science, Nested Fusion improves NASA scientists\u0027 workflow. Using the method, a single scientist can form an initial estimate of a sample\u2019s mineral composition in a matter of hours. Before Nested Fusion, the same task required days of collaboration between teams of experts on each different instrument.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI think one of the biggest lessons I have taken from this work is that it is valuable to always ground my ML and data science problems in actual, concrete use cases of our collaborators,\u201d Wright said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI learn from collaborators what parts of data analysis are important to them and the challenges they face. By understanding these issues, we can discover new ways of formalizing and framing problems in data science.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWright presented Nested Fusion at KDD 2024, held Aug. 25-29 in Barcelona, Spain. KDD is an official special interest group of the Association for Computing Machinery. The conference is one of the world\u2019s leading forums for knowledge discovery and data mining research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENested Fusion won runner-up for the best paper in the applied data science track, which comprised of over 150 papers. Hundreds of other papers were presented at the conference\u2019s research track, workshops, and tutorials.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWright\u2019s mentors,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scottdavidoff.com\/\u0022\u003EScott Davidoff\u003C\/a\u003E and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/poloclub.github.io\/polochau\/\u0022\u003EPolo Chau\u003C\/a\u003E, co-authored the Nested Fusion paper. Davidoff is a principal research scientist at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Chau is a professor at the Georgia Tech School of Computational Science and Engineering (CSE).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI was extremely happy that this work was recognized with the best paper runner-up award,\u201d Wright said. \u201cThis kind of applied work can sometimes be hard to find the right academic home, so finding communities that appreciate this work is very encouraging.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA new algorithm tested on NASA\u2019s Perseverance Rover on Mars may lead to better forecasting of hurricanes, wildfires, and other extreme weather events that impact millions globally.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech Ph.D. student\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.austinpwright.com\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAustin P. Wright\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E is first author of a paper that introduces Nested Fusion. The new algorithm improves scientists\u2019 ability to search for past signs of life on the Martian surface.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to supporting NASA\u2019s Mars 2020 mission, scientists from other fields working with large, overlapping datasets can use\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/dl.acm.org\/doi\/10.1145\/3637528.3671596\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENested Fusion\u2019s methods\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E toward their studies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWright presented Nested Fusion at the 2024 International Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/kdd2024.kdd.org\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKDD 2024\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E) where it was a\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/kdd2024.kdd.org\/awards\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Erunner-up for the best paper award\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. KDD is widely considered the world\u0027s most prestigious conference for knowledge discovery and data mining research.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Ph.D student Austin P. Wright wins a best paper runner-up award at an international conference for an algorithm used on the Mars Perseverance Rover than can be used in applications in earth science and other fields."}],"uid":"36319","created_gmt":"2024-09-19 18:01:05","changed_gmt":"2024-10-16 18:04:26","author":"Bryant Wine","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-09-19T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-09-19T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675051":{"id":"675051","type":"image","title":"perserverence_story graphic.v2.jpg","body":null,"created":"1726768880","gmt_created":"2024-09-19 18:01:20","changed":"1726768880","gmt_changed":"2024-09-19 18:01:20","alt":"KDD 2024","file":{"fid":"258640","name":"perserverence_story graphic.v2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/19\/perserverence_story%20graphic.v2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/19\/perserverence_story%20graphic.v2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":215743,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/09\/19\/perserverence_story%20graphic.v2.jpg?itok=vYR3AqeB"}},"675052":{"id":"675052","type":"image","title":"Nested Fusion Graphic copy.png","body":null,"created":"1726769003","gmt_created":"2024-09-19 18:03:23","changed":"1726769003","gmt_changed":"2024-09-19 18:03:23","alt":"KDD 2024","file":{"fid":"258642","name":"Nested Fusion Graphic copy.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/19\/Nested%20Fusion%20Graphic%20copy.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/19\/Nested%20Fusion%20Graphic%20copy.png","mime":"image\/png","size":348284,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/09\/19\/Nested%20Fusion%20Graphic%20copy.png?itok=m2tg1Jmy"}},"675053":{"id":"675053","type":"image","title":"AW Square copy.jpg","body":null,"created":"1726769033","gmt_created":"2024-09-19 18:03:53","changed":"1726769033","gmt_changed":"2024-09-19 18:03:53","alt":"KDD 2024 Austin P. Wright","file":{"fid":"258643","name":"AW Square copy.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/19\/AW%20Square%20copy.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/19\/AW%20Square%20copy.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":52877,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/09\/19\/AW%20Square%20copy.jpg?itok=AHCYZ8rp"}}},"media_ids":["675051","675052","675053"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/award-winning-algorithm-used-mars-rover-helps-scientists-earth-see-data-new-way","title":"Award-Winning Algorithm Used on Mars Rover Helps Scientists on Earth See Data in a New Way"}],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"50877","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192863","name":"go-ai"},{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"9153","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"166983","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"},{"id":"654","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"187812","name":"artificial intelligence (AI)"},{"id":"9167","name":"machine learning"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"},{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBryant Wine, Communications Officer\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:bryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ebryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"677445":{"#nid":"677445","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Researchers Achieve World-Record Resolution in Turbulence Simulations","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFrom the water that comes out of the faucet to the chemical reactions in jet engines that propel planes, turbulence affects our everyday lives. Researchers at Georgia Tech are studying the complex physics of turbulence in simplified settings that could help us better understand nature and engineering.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt its most basic, turbulence comprises disorderly fluctuations over a wide range of scales in both time and three-dimensional space. These complexities mean that many fundamental aspects are still not understood. Computers can help unravel the mystery, but direct numerical simulations based on exact physical laws have always been very resource-intensive. Their challenges are greatest when investigating rare, very large fluctuations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, Frontier, the world\u0027s first \u2014 and still fastest \u2014 Exascale computer, capable of a quintillion operations per second, is helping researchers to better understand turbulence.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cTurbulence is very complex, theories are incomplete, and laboratory measurements are arduous,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/yeung\u0022\u003EP.K. Yeung\u003C\/a\u003E, a professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EDaniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E with a courtesy joint appointment in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cA world-leading resolution of over 35 trillion grid points on Frontier is expected to lead to new discoveries, which in turn can facilitate advances in modeling where both assumptions and predictions can be tested numerically.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYeung and his team accessed Frontier, located at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, when it first went online and also received large allocations of time on the machine from the prestigious INCITE program, which is run by the U.S. Department of Energy\u0027s Office of Science. The power of Frontier resides primarily in powerful graphical processing units (GPUs), which compute rapidly. Yeung\u0027s group published a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.cpc.2024.109364\u0022\u003Ejournal article\u003C\/a\u003E that describes a highly successful algorithm specifically designed to take maximum advantage of Frontier\u0027s features to make simulations at extremely high resolution feasible and efficient.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIn many scientific fields, people thought calculations of this magnitude were not possible, but now we are there, perhaps earlier than anticipated,\u201d Yeung said. \u201cOur work on turbulence simulations also demonstrates several principles of advanced GPU programming of interest in other fields, especially those where so-called pseudo-spectral methods are important. The science impacts of our extreme scale simulations are expected to be further enhanced by public data-sharing in partnership with the National Science Foundation-supported Johns Hopkins Turbulence Database project.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EExascale computing can help unlock many puzzles concerning extreme fluctuations.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Exascale computing can help unlock many puzzles concerning extreme fluctuations."}],"uid":"34541","created_gmt":"2024-10-10 15:48:03","changed_gmt":"2024-10-11 14:04:44","author":"Tess Malone","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-10-10T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-10-10T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675278":{"id":"675278","type":"image","title":"2024-Yeungjpg.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003ER.\u0026nbsp; Vaideswaran,\u0026nbsp; Prof. P.K Yeung, and D.L. Dotson pictured at a recent User Meeting at the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility. [Photo Courtesy:\u0026nbsp;Carol Morgan\/Oak Ridge National Laboratory]\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1728576749","gmt_created":"2024-10-10 16:12:29","changed":"1728576749","gmt_changed":"2024-10-10 16:12:29","alt":"R.  Vaideswaran,  Prof. P.K Yeung, and D.L. Dotson pictured at a recent User Meeting at the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility. [","file":{"fid":"258884","name":"2024-Yeungjpg.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/10\/2024-Yeungjpg.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/10\/2024-Yeungjpg.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":4839027,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/10\/10\/2024-Yeungjpg.jpg?itok=jffSKTeG"}}},"media_ids":["675278"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ETess Malone, Senior Research Writer\/Editor\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Etess.malone@gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"676918":{"#nid":"676918","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Tim Lieuwen Honored by Royal Academy of Engineering","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EProfessor \u003Cstrong\u003ETim Lieuwen\u003C\/strong\u003E has been elected to the status of International Fellow by the U.K.\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/raeng.org.uk\/news\/royal-academy-of-engineering-welcomes-71-new-fellows\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERoyal Academy of Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. He is one of three other US engineers to receive this prestigious fellowship, which emphasizes enhancing the role of engineering in society and developing an inclusive future through research, education initiatives, and industry collaborations.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELieuwen is a Regents\u2019 Professor, the David S. Lewis, Jr. Chair in the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering (AE), a member of the National Academy of Engineering, and a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, among several others. For 12 years, he served as executive director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/energy\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStrategic Energy Institute\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E; he is \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/news\/2024\/07\/30\/regents-professor-tim-lieuwen-serve-georgia-techs-interim-evpr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ecurrently serving as Georgia Tech\u2019s interim executive vice president\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E for Research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cTim Lieuwen\u2019s groundbreaking research and leadership have been instrumental in advancing the AE School\u2019s mission,\u201d said \u003Cstrong\u003EMitchell Walker\u003C\/strong\u003E, AE chair. \u201cHis work in combustion dynamics, propulsion, and clean energy systems not only enhances our academic reputation but also drives significant, real-world impact, as recognized by the Academy.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELieuwen\u2019s research focuses on developing clean combustion technologies for power generation and propulsion. He works closely with industry and government professionals to address energy concerns and set the standard for clean tech manufacturing. The Georgia Tech alumnus will formally be admitted to the Academy at a special ceremony in London on November 27, 2024.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe 2024 class includes 60 Fellows, six International Fellows, and five Honorary Fellows, each of whom has made exceptional contributions to their own field, pioneering new innovations, leading progress in business or academia, providing high-level advice to government, or promoting wider understanding of engineering and technology.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe former interim chair for the AE School has been elected an International Fellow for his contributions to the aerospace and energy professions.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The former interim chair for the AE School has been elected an International Fellow for his contributions to the aerospace and energy professions."}],"uid":"34736","created_gmt":"2024-09-18 14:29:31","changed_gmt":"2024-09-18 14:35:53","author":"Kelsey Gulledge","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-09-18T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-09-18T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675007":{"id":"675007","type":"image","title":"0A6A1348.jpg","body":null,"created":"1726669777","gmt_created":"2024-09-18 14:29:37","changed":"1726669777","gmt_changed":"2024-09-18 14:29:37","alt":"Tim Lieuwen standing above one of the Strategic Energy Institute\u0027s (SEI) research areas. ","file":{"fid":"258592","name":"0A6A1348.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/18\/0A6A1348.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/18\/0A6A1348.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":12742305,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/09\/18\/0A6A1348.jpg?itok=bV7OepTd"}}},"media_ids":["675007"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/feature\/tim-lieuwen-interim-evpr","title":"Tim Lieuwen: Shaping the Future of Research at Georgia Tech"},{"url":"https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/news\/2018\/02\/profile-aes-newest-nae-member-prof-timothy-lieuwen","title":"A Profile of AE\u0027s Newest NAE Member: Prof. Timothy Lieuwen"}],"groups":[{"id":"660364","name":"Aerospace Engineering"},{"id":"1237","name":"College of Engineering"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"},{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"132","name":"Institute Leadership"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":["kelsey.gulledge@aerospace.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"676494":{"#nid":"676494","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Research Centers Supported by the Space Research Initiative","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAcross Georgia Tech, researchers are exploring the universe \u2014 its origins, possible futures, and humanity and Earth\u2019s place in it. These investigations are the efforts of hundreds of astrobiologists, astrophysicists, aerospace engineers, astronomers, and experts in space policy and science fiction \u2014 and all of this work is brought together under the Institute\u2019s new\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESpace Research Initiative\u003C\/a\u003E (SRI).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe SRI is the hub of all things space-related at Georgia Tech. It connects research institutes, labs, facilities, Schools, and Colleges to foster the conversation about space across Georgia and beyond.\u0026nbsp;As a budding\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/interdisciplinary-research-institutes\u0022\u003EInterdisciplinary Research Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (IRI), the SRI currently encompasses three core centers that contribute distinct interdisciplinary perspectives to space exploration.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cstar.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECenter for Space Technology and Research\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Center for Space Technology and Research (CSTAR) is a hub dedicated to furthering the expansion of Georgia\u2019s aerospace industry, which is already\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/news\/2023\/11\/peaches-satellites?utm_source=coe_homepage\u0026amp;utm_medium=web\u0026amp;utm_campaign=newsfeed\u0022\u003Ethe state\u2019s No. 1 economic driver\u003C\/a\u003E. The center\u0027s team at Georgia Tech conducts cutting-edge research in fields such as astrophysics, Earth science, planetary science, robotics, space policy, space technology, materials science, and space systems engineering.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECSTAR boasts a collaborative network of more than 100 Georgia Tech faculty members and research staff, supported by annual funding exceeding $20 million. Its contribution to space research is highlighted by its active multiyear research grants totaling over $100 million. Each year, CSTAR also contributes to the academic community with around 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and provides mentorship to dozens of graduate and undergraduate students, shaping the next generation of space research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMembers of CSTAR have contributed to a variety of spaceflight projects, from observing the atmosphere of Jupiter, to creating carbon nanotube-based technology on CubeSats, to building an innovative, dual-use antenna that is simultaneously a critical life-saving handrail and a radio emitter inside an airlock on the International Space Station. Several examples of this research will soon be part of a new permanent display in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe work done by the Georgia Tech research community in space is phenomenal,\u201d said CSTAR Director Jud Ready. \u201cWe have worked on the International Space Station, launched numerous free-flying CubeSats in low Earth orbit, as well as our current crowning achievement, the Lunar Flashlight CubeSat, which is the world\u2019s only heliocentric spacecraft currently owned and operated by an academic institution that recently demonstrated planetary optical navigation techniques for the first time, by any organization \u2014 including NASA.\u201d Future missions include materials demonstrations on a lunar lander, as well as additional orbital activities of both the Earth and moon.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe SRI will increase our reach and impact over and above these prior activities by at least an order of magnitude,\u201d he said. \u201cI am excited for what the future holds for Georgia Tech students, faculty, and research partners as a result of this new organization.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDirector:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/matter-systems.gatech.edu\/w-jud-ready\u0022\u003EJud Ready\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EAssociate Directors:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/morris-cohen\u0022\u003EMorris Cohen\u003C\/a\u003E and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/jennifer-glass\u0022\u003EJennifer Glass\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cra.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECenter for Relativistic Astrophysics\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Center for Relativistic Astrophysics (CRA) is housed within the College of Sciences\u2019 School of Physics. The center\u2019s mission is to provide students with education and training in the key research areas of astroparticle physics, theoretical astrophysics, and gravitational wave astrophysics.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECRA researchers study the breadth of space, ranging from the early universe\u2019s large-scale structure to particle interactions. They also study black holes and the merger of compact objects, the potential outcome of the evolution of stellar binary systems, and \u2014 closer to home \u2014 exoplanets and stars found in the Milky Way. Of \u003Ca\u003Eparticular strength\u003C\/a\u003E are computational astrophysics and multi-messenger astrophysical studies with neutrinos, photons, and gravitational waves.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition, CRA researchers actively participate in major international collaborations, such as the operations and development of existing and future detectors, including the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, the LIGO and LISA gravitational wave observatories, X-ray observatories NuSTAR and Athena, and gamma-ray detectors VERITAS and CTA.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cBringing together all space research under a single umbrella will be a huge boon to the CRA\u2019s research efforts and visibility,\u201d said John Wise, CRA director. \u201cI am excited about the opportunities the SRI will bring forth within such a collaborative environment, especially the prospect of Georgia Tech leading a space mission that can test the theoretical work performed within the CRA.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDirector:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/john-wise\u0022\u003EJohn Wise\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAssociate Director:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/tamara-bogdanovic\u0022\u003ETamara Bogdanovi\u0107\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/astrobiology.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech Astrobiology\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAstrobiology research at Georgia Tech, which includes experts in biochemistry, physics, aerospace engineering, planetary science, and astronomy, as well as others, seeks to answer these age-old questions: What is the origin of life? Does life exist on other worlds?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s astrobiology community includes students, staff, and faculty across campus, the educational curriculum, the Exploring Origins student-run group, an astrobiology fellows program, and keystone events.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany globally recognized researchers in this field are at Georgia Tech, and their recent discoveries hint at the potential for life on Mars and ocean worlds like Europa. Astrobiology at Tech brings together these faculty with scholars in the humanities and social sciences to share their research with the public and give it a broader cultural context.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/astrobiology.eas.gatech.edu\/graduate-certificate\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Astrobiology Graduate Certificate Program\u003C\/a\u003E, an interdisciplinary initiative across several Schools and Colleges, is designed to broaden student participation in astrobiology. An undergraduate minor is in development. The purpose of these programs is to expand opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students in the interdisciplinary field of astrobiology.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOne of the main reasons I came to Georgia Tech in 2020 is its vibrant astrobiology program,\u201d said Christopher E. Carr, co-director of Georgia Tech Astrobiology. \u201cIt\u2019s a true pleasure to have such amazing colleagues.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECo-directors: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eas.gatech.edu\/people\/rivera-hernandez-dr-frances\u0022\u003EFrances\u0026nbsp;Rivera Hern\u00e1ndez\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003Eand\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/christopher-e-carr\u0022\u003EChristopher E. Carr\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Space Research Institute is the hub of all things space-related at Georgia Tech, and it includes three core centers contribute distinct interdisciplinary perspectives to studying space.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Space Research Institute is the hub of all things space-related at Georgia Tech, and it includes three core centers contribute distinct interdisciplinary perspectives to studying space."}],"uid":"34760","created_gmt":"2024-09-03 19:57:25","changed_gmt":"2024-09-03 21:16:47","author":"Laurie Haigh","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-09-03T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-09-03T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674803":{"id":"674803","type":"image","title":"Space Research Initiative Centers Image","body":null,"created":"1725394601","gmt_created":"2024-09-03 20:16:41","changed":"1725394782","gmt_changed":"2024-09-03 20:19:42","alt":"Three photos in hexagons - one group photo outside, one seminar presentation, and one of someone in a lab.","file":{"fid":"258366","name":"Centers-feature-image.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/03\/Centers-feature-image.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/03\/Centers-feature-image.png","mime":"image\/png","size":1324861,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/09\/03\/Centers-feature-image.png?itok=oM_7ZFLv"}}},"media_ids":["674803"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: laurie.haigh@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ELaurie Haigh\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EResearch Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"675712":{"#nid":"675712","#data":{"type":"news","title":"A Yellow Jacket on Mars ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhen the door to the Mars Dune Alpha habitat at NASA\u0027s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, closed behind the crew members of the first Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) mission, Georgia Tech graduate Ross Brockwell was transported 152 million simulated miles to the Red Planet.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor the next 378 days, Brockwell, a 1999 civil engineering graduate, and three other crew members participated in the study designed to gain insights into the challenges of deep space exploration and its effects on human health and performance. The crew performed robotic operations, habitat maintenance, agricultural activities, and simulated surface walks in the \u0022sandbox\u0022 with the assistance of virtual reality while enduring intentional resource limitations, isolation, and confinement.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/inline-images\/beds1.jpg\u0022 data-align=\u0022center\u0022 data-entity-uuid=\u0022d382a175-cdb9-4af6-bd3e-e50a6cbacb2e\u0022 data-entity-type=\u0022file\u0022 alt=\u0022Mars habitat\u0022 width=\u00221280\u0022 height=\u0022856\u0022 data-caption=\u0022Mars habitat\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA structural engineer by day, he has always dreamed of space travel, and when a fellow Yellow Jacket alerted Brockwell to the application for the CHAPEA mission, he seized the opportunity.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Sometimes, you get chances in your lifetime, and if I don\u0027t get a chance to actually go to Mars, if I can take this chance to help us get there as a planet, I\u0027m honored,\u0022 he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnce inside the 1,700-square-foot habitat, Brockwell\u0027s role as the CHAPEA mission\u0027s flight engineer focused on infrastructure, building design, and organizational leadership. As much as he learned from his tasks throughout the mission, like anticipating possible failure points and contingency planning, NASA learned even more through physical and cognitive monitoring. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022There was a lot of science, but some of the science was focused on us as the participants \u2014 our physiology and our performance \u2014 to make the mission as realistic as possible,\u0022 he said.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECommunication is a key element in space travel. Getting a message from Mars back to family and friends or mission control on Earth took 20 minutes on average for the crew inside the habitat, testing their ability to isolate. Without constant communication with the outside world, the crew fostered camaraderie through team activities and celebrated birthdays and holidays together. Brockwell\u0027s ingenuity wasn\u0027t limited to official tasks; he used a 3D printer to create a bracket for mounting a mini-basketball hoop. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMeals inside the habitat mirrored the shelf-stable food system of the International Space Station. While cultivated crops like tomatoes supplemented their main supply, Brockwell says there is a common misconception about astronaut food. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022I say with all sincerity, it was delicious.\u0022 His favorite dish was a peanut chicken and wild rice mix, but the crew often got creative by mixing soups and proteins to create new dishes.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOther than the food, the biggest surprise to Brockwell was how quickly the mission was completed.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022I hoped and thought it would be that way, but we proved that a well-comprised crew can have a good time while doing this. There were a lot of clich\u00e9d expectations that there would be issues that we just didn\u0027t have. I think we demonstrated that a mission like this can be a huge success and an enjoyable, positive experience, not just something to be endured,\u0022 he said. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBrockwell says that his time at Georgia Tech allowed him to learn the fundamentals of engineering principles and taught him to keep an open mind when exploring how things work. After receiving a master\u0027s degree in aeronautics from the California Institute of Technology and completing the CHAPEA mission, he believes systems engineering can aid deep space exploration efforts for the next generation. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Thinking about the effect of every component on every other component and the emergent properties from complex systems is crucial. I think that systems thinking is going to become increasingly important. Ecology and ecological thinking need to be part of it, especially for aerospace. If you\u0027re thinking about deep space exploration, an understanding of ecological principles and closed-loop systems will be key,\u0022 he said.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the end of the mission, Brockwell savored the sights and smells of Earth for the first time in over a year, saying that\u0027s what he missed the most. But if the opportunity arose to take the 152-million-mile flight to Mars, he\u0027d be on the first ship out. \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"full_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"A Georgia Tech alum has emerged after living in a simulated Mars habitat at the Johnson Space Center in Houston for the past year. "}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA Georgia Tech alum has emerged after living in a simulated Mars habitat at the Johnson Space Center in Houston for the past year.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A Georgia Tech alum has emerged after living in a simulated Mars habitat at the Johnson Space Center in Houston for the past year. "}],"uid":"36418","created_gmt":"2024-07-31 21:03:35","changed_gmt":"2024-08-01 13:37:39","author":"sgagliano3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-07-31T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-07-31T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674462":{"id":"674462","type":"image","title":"Ross Brockwell exiting the Mars Dune Alpha habitat at NASA\u0027s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.","body":"\u003Cp\u003ERoss Brockwell exiting the Mars Dune Alpha habitat at NASA\u0027s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Photo credit: NASA\/CHAPEA\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1722460075","gmt_created":"2024-07-31 21:07:55","changed":"1722460075","gmt_changed":"2024-07-31 21:07:55","alt":"Ross Brockwell exiting the Mars Dune Alpha habitat at NASA\u0027s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.","file":{"fid":"257984","name":"jsc2024e044182.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/07\/31\/jsc2024e044182.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/07\/31\/jsc2024e044182.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":4829251,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/07\/31\/jsc2024e044182.jpg?itok=CoEByvXI"}}},"media_ids":["674462"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"},{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"1325","name":"aerospace"},{"id":"169176","name":"life on mars"},{"id":"167098","name":"space exploration"},{"id":"2479","name":"deep space mission"},{"id":"408","name":"NASA"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:Steven.gagliano@gatech.edu\u0022\u003ESteven Gagliano\u003C\/a\u003E - Institute Communications\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["Steven.gagliano@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"675680":{"#nid":"675680","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Regents\u2019 Professor Tim Lieuwen to Serve as Georgia Tech\u2019s Interim EVPR","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETimothy Lieuwen\u003C\/strong\u003E has been appointed interim executive vice president for Research (EVPR) by Georgia Tech President \u00c1ngel\u0026nbsp;Cabrera, effective September 10.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/timothy-charles-lieuwen\u0022\u003ELieuwen is a Regents\u2019 Professor, the David S. Lewis, Jr. Chair\u003C\/a\u003E in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EDaniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E, and executive director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/energy\u0022\u003EStrategic Energy Institute\u003C\/a\u003E. His research interests range from clean energy and propulsion systems to energy policy, national security, and regional economic development. He works closely with industry and government to address fundamental problems and identify solutions in the development of clean energy systems and alternative fuels.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA proud Georgia Tech alumnus, Lieuwen (M.S. ME 1997, Ph.D. ME 1999) has had a remarkable academic career. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and is a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the American Physical Society, the Combustion Institute, and the Indian National Academy of Engineering (foreign fellow). He has received numerous awards, including the ASME George Westinghouse Gold Medal and the AIAA Pendray Award. He serves on governing or advisory boards of three Department of Energy national labs: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Energy to the National Petroleum Council.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELieuwen has authored or edited four books on combustion and over 400 scientific publications. He also holds nine patents, several of which are licensed to industry, and is founder of an energy analytics company, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/turbinelogic.com\/\u0022\u003ETurbine Logic\u003C\/a\u003E, where he acts as chief technology officer.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn Lieuwen\u2019s appointment announcement, President Cabrera said, \u201cTim\u2019s extensive experience and knowledge of Georgia Tech makes him uniquely suited to lead our research enterprise as we search for a permanent EVPR. I am grateful for his willingness to serve the Institute during this period of remarkable growth, and I look forward to working with him and the rest of the team.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ELieuwen will begin his term as interim EVPR on September 10, 2024.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Lieuwen will begin his term as interim EVPR on September 10, 2024."}],"uid":"28766","created_gmt":"2024-07-30 13:25:36","changed_gmt":"2024-07-30 13:49:57","author":"Shelley Wunder-Smith","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-07-30T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-07-30T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674447":{"id":"674447","type":"image","title":"Tim Lieuwen, Regents\u0027 Professor and SEI executive director, has been named interim EVPR. ","body":null,"created":"1722344223","gmt_created":"2024-07-30 12:57:03","changed":"1722345762","gmt_changed":"2024-07-30 13:22:42","alt":"Tim Lieuwen, Regents\u0027 Professor and SEI executive director, has been named interim EVPR. ","file":{"fid":"257964","name":"Tim Lieuwen Headshot_PNG_0.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/07\/30\/Tim%20Lieuwen%20Headshot_PNG_0.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/07\/30\/Tim%20Lieuwen%20Headshot_PNG_0.png","mime":"image\/png","size":4320902,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/07\/30\/Tim%20Lieuwen%20Headshot_PNG_0.png?itok=ADi7C9Qb"}}},"media_ids":["674447"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"132","name":"Institute Leadership"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"},{"id":"185390","name":"go-COE"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith\u003Cbr\u003EDirector of Research Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"675256":{"#nid":"675256","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Hirabayashi Chosen by NASA to Join European Space Agency\u2019s Planetary Mission to Study Results of Asteroid Deflection","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMasatoshi (Toshi) Hirabayashi\u003C\/strong\u003E, an associate professor in the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering,\u0026nbsp;has been selected by\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/science-research\/planetary-science\/nasa-selects-participating-scientists-to-join-esas-hera-mission\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENASA\u2019s Hera Participating Scientist Program (HERA-PSP)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E to join \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.heramission.space\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ethe European Space Agency\u2019s (ESA) Hera mission\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. Together, with an international consortium of 11 other scientists, Hirabayashi will perform a multi-faceted, detailed, post-impact study of NASA\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/dart\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDouble Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. The DART mission was led\u0026nbsp;by\u0026nbsp;the Johns Hopkins University\u2019s Applied Physics Laboratory.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe DART mission targeted the binary asteroid system where Dimorphos (the smaller secondary) orbits Didymos (the larger primary), to intentionally cause a spacecraft crash on Dimorphos. The collision, which occurred on September 26, 2022, was the first to demonstrate asteroid deflection by changing the asteroid\u0027s motion in space through kinetic impact. Astronomers monitored this event using ground- and space-based telescopes like the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/hubblesite.org\/home\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHubble Telescope (HST)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. A recent \u003Cem\u003ENature \u003C\/em\u003Earticle, \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41586-023-05811-4\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEjecta, From the DART-Produced Active Asteroid Dimorphos\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u201d\u003Cem\u003E \u003C\/em\u003Eon which Hirabayashi is a co-author, documented HST\u2019s detailed observations of the intense dust ejection generated by the impact.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Hera mission, launching in October 2024, will analyze the post-DART impact conditions of Didymos and Dimorphos by performing remote sensing observations and employing two CubeSats from its parent spacecraft, Hera. Hera will arrive at the asteroid in 2026. The \u003Cem\u003EPlanetary Science Journal\u003C\/em\u003E article, \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iopscience.iop.org\/article\/10.3847\/PSJ\/ac6f52\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe ESA Hera Mission: Detailed Characterization of the DART Impact Outcome and the Binary Asteroid Didymos,\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E highlights the project\u0027s developments.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPlanetary defense is the primary reason for studying near-Earth asteroids (NEAs), particularly potentially hazardous objects (PHOs). While Didymos does not threaten the Earth, scientists want to prepare for the possibility that PHOs could hit the planet. Hera mission researchers can learn valuable information about the system\u0027s impact behavior.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHirabayashi, a co-investigator for the DART mission, said, \u201cI was thrilled to apply my experience in the DART mission, and I\u2019m honored to now be part of the Hera mission.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESpecifically, Hirabayashi will analyze the mutual motion of the two asteroids in the Didymos binary system and provide detailed forecasts of the asteroids\u2019 locations and velocities. During this investigation, he will use Georgia Tech\u2019s high-performance computing system, Partnership for an Advanced Computing Environment (PACE). His results will also be used to quantify the system\u0027s post-DART impact behavior and develop new knowledge about planetary defense.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cDinosaurs were completely wiped out by an asteroid about 66 million years ago. There are many possible threats, and we need the capability to defend the Earth properly,\u201d Hirabayashi explained. \u201cSuch capability includes performing detailed potential risk assessment in a limited time span and, if necessary, deflecting and disrupting PHOs with proper measurements.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHirabayashi joined Georgia Tech in August 2023. His research concentration is in space operations, celestial mechanics, planetary science, and design and navigation. He works across the campus to explore lunar science at Georgia Tech\u2019s Center for Lunar Environment and Volatile Exploration, one of the NASA\/SSERVI nodes led by \u003Cstrong\u003EThom Orlando\u003C\/strong\u003E in the College of Science\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/news\/georgia-tech-leads-center-lunar-research-and-exploration\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESchool of Chemistry and Biochemistry\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"The AE professor is working with an international group of scientists who are focused on near-Earth asteroid science and planetary defense.  "}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMasatoshi (Toshi) Hirabayashi\u003C\/strong\u003E, an associate professor in the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering,\u0026nbsp;has been selected by\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/science-research\/planetary-science\/nasa-selects-participating-scientists-to-join-esas-hera-mission\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENASA\u2019s Hera Participating Scientist Program (HERA-PSP)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E to join \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.heramission.space\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ethe European Space Agency\u2019s (ESA) Hera mission\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. Together, with an international consortium of 11 other scientists, Hirabayashi will perform a multi-faceted, detailed, post-impact study of NASA\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/dart\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDouble Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. The DART mission was led\u0026nbsp;by\u0026nbsp;the Johns Hopkins University\u2019s Applied Physics Laboratory.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Masatoshi (Toshi) Hirabayashi, with an international consortium of 11 other scientists, will perform a multi-faceted, detailed, post-impact study of NASA\u2019s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission. "}],"uid":"36345","created_gmt":"2024-06-27 18:02:04","changed_gmt":"2024-06-27 18:08:25","author":"gwaddell3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-06-27T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-06-27T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674254":{"id":"674254","type":"image","title":"hera-her-cubesats-and-their-rocky-target-destination (1).jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EHera spacecraft and its CubeSats in orbit around the Dimorphos moonlet\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1719511588","gmt_created":"2024-06-27 18:06:28","changed":"1719511588","gmt_changed":"2024-06-27 18:06:28","alt":"Hera spacecraft and its CubeSats in orbit around the Dimorphos moonlet","file":{"fid":"257748","name":"hera-her-cubesats-and-their-rocky-target-destination (1).jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/06\/27\/hera-her-cubesats-and-their-rocky-target-destination%20%281%29_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/06\/27\/hera-her-cubesats-and-their-rocky-target-destination%20%281%29_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":595055,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/06\/27\/hera-her-cubesats-and-their-rocky-target-destination%20%281%29_0.jpg?itok=39laQJBH"}}},"media_ids":["674254"],"groups":[{"id":"1239","name":"School of Aerospace Engineering"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"}],"keywords":[{"id":"193816","name":"Planetary defense"},{"id":"177182","name":"asteroids"},{"id":"193817","name":"DART Mission"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMonique Waddell\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["monique.waddell@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"674737":{"#nid":"674737","#data":{"type":"news","title":"RotorJackets Finish Third at Drone Racing Championship ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor the third straight year, the RotorJackets \u2014 Georgia Tech\u0027s drone racing team \u2014 were on the podium after the Collegiate Drone Racing Championship (CDRC). The two-time defending champions finished third in the competition, which drew more than 60 pilots from 16 schools nationwide.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIan Boraks, club president, called it a banner year for the RotorJackets, which was founded in 2020. All of the club\u0027s original members have graduated, but with a strong performance at the CRDC, Boraks believes the club has shown its staying power.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022We called this our rebuilding year,\u0022 he said. \u0022This was the year that proved this club could survive. Going from two years of winning to third place may sound like a step back, but this was a tough year for our club, so I\u0027m proud we were on the podium.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe two-day event took place at Purdue University, the site of the first CDRC in 2017. Both the event and the sport of drone racing have grown exponentially since then, and the RotorJackets are embracing that growth. Along with additional sponsors and funding, the club\u0027s membership tripled in the past year to 30 pilots, and the team traveled to races across the East Coast.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBoraks credits a collaborative relationship between the club, the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, the Georgia Tech Police Department, and the Federal Aviation Administration for its continued success. By securing an FAA-Recognized Identification Area over Stamps Field \u2014 allowing drones to be flown without remote ID equipment \u2014 the team can practice for competitions and hold events for the campus community to get hands-on flying experience. In the fall, they hope to host public races and showcase drone racing on campus.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022I like to think of it as 3D Formula 1 racing,\u0022 Boraks explained. \u0022F-1 racing is the fastest, most exciting racing \u2014 high braking, high G-forces. In drone racing, you can take that exhilaration and thrill and add multiple layers with 3D elements in the air, and the drones are flying 100 miles per hour. It\u0027s some of the fastest, wildest racing you\u0027ll ever see, and most people are surprised that we can even keep track of what we\u0027re doing at those speeds. But as soon as you put on those goggles and see the drones, you understand the thrill of the race.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOutside of competition, the RotorJackets have supported Georgia Tech Athletics, the Ramblin\u0027 Reck Club, the Unicycling Club, GT Off-Road, and the Alumni Association with video production efforts.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs he hands the reins to Dylan Wyckoff, the incoming president, Boraks anticipates another busy year for the RotorJackets, and their sights are set on reclaiming their place atop the podium at the 2025 CDRC.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo learn more or to join the RotorJackets, visit their \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/rotorjackets.tech\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ewebsite\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Georgia Tech\u2019s drone racing team finished among the top pilots at this year\u2019s Collegiate Drone Racing Championship.  "}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s drone racing team finished among the top pilots at this year\u2019s Collegiate Drone Racing Championship.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech\u2019s drone racing team finished among the top pilots at this year\u2019s Collegiate Drone Racing Championship.  "}],"uid":"36418","created_gmt":"2024-05-16 11:00:39","changed_gmt":"2024-06-10 20:29:15","author":"sgagliano3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-05-16T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-05-16T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674024":{"id":"674024","type":"image","title":"RotorJackets pose in front of their drones at the Collegiate Drone Racing Championship","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe RotorJackets pose in front of their drones at the Collegiate Drone Racing Championship.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1715857494","gmt_created":"2024-05-16 11:04:54","changed":"1715857494","gmt_changed":"2024-05-16 11:04:54","alt":"RotorJackets pose in front of their drones at the Collegiate Drone Racing Championship","file":{"fid":"257487","name":"Screenshot 2024-05-16 at 7.04.09\u202fAM.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/05\/16\/Screenshot%202024-05-16%20at%207.04.09%E2%80%AFAM.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/05\/16\/Screenshot%202024-05-16%20at%207.04.09%E2%80%AFAM.png","mime":"image\/png","size":2198787,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/05\/16\/Screenshot%202024-05-16%20at%207.04.09%E2%80%AFAM.png?itok=TPXaoXpl"}},"674025":{"id":"674025","type":"image","title":"RotorJackets hand the CDRC Trophy over to Virginia Tech. ","body":"\u003Cp\u003EA RotorJackets\u0027s hands the CDRC Trophy over to its \u0022sister team\u0022 at Virginia Tech. The two teams often hold virtual practices together.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1715858614","gmt_created":"2024-05-16 11:23:34","changed":"1715874353","gmt_changed":"2024-05-16 15:45:53","alt":"RotorJackets hand the CDRC Trophy over to Virginia Tech. ","file":{"fid":"257489","name":"Screenshot 2024-05-16 at 7.07.33\u202fAM.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/05\/16\/Screenshot%202024-05-16%20at%207.07.33%E2%80%AFAM.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/05\/16\/Screenshot%202024-05-16%20at%207.07.33%E2%80%AFAM.png","mime":"image\/png","size":2675016,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/05\/16\/Screenshot%202024-05-16%20at%207.07.33%E2%80%AFAM.png?itok=3YFD2S3h"}}},"media_ids":["674024","674025"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"193158","name":"Student Competition Winners (academic, innovation, and research)"}],"keywords":[{"id":"184051","name":"Drone Competition"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESteven Gagliano - Institute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["Steven.gagliano@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"674444":{"#nid":"674444","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech\u2019s Space Research Initiative Hosts Yuri\u2019s Day Symposium ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EApril 12 is a significant date in the history of exploration, as it marks the first space flight of a human, Yuri Gagarin, in 1961. This year on April 12, the Georgia Tech Space Research Initiative (Space RI) hosted an event highlighting the Institute\u2019s interdisciplinary space research. The \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/yuris-day-symposium\u0022\u003EYuri\u2019s Day Symposium\u003C\/a\u003E was Space RI\u2019s first public event.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EA multidisciplinary initiative, the Space RI brings together faculty, researchers, and students from across campus who share a passion for space exploration. Their combined research explores a broad array of space-related topics, all considered from a human perspective.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cLaunching Georgia Tech\u2019s Space Research Initiative reinforces our commitment to advancing our understanding of space and our universe,\u201d said Executive Vice President for Research Chaouki Abdallah. \u201cIt is also a testament to Georgia Tech\u0027s unwavering dedication to pushing the limits of what is possible and to fostering innovations that benefit humankind.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe symposium was organized by Glenn Lightsey, interim executive director of the Space RI, and the Space RI steering committee, which consists of representatives from the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) and the Colleges of Engineering, Computing, and Sciences, the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, and the Scheller College of Business. The day began with remarks from Research leadership and an overview of the Space RI and its mission. \u201cThis is an exciting time for space exploration at Georgia Tech and across the world,\u201d Lightsey said. \u201cSpace research is a critical part of solving our world\u2019s most challenging problems and improving life for everyone on Earth.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ESpace research and exploration yield many societal benefits that \u003Ca\u003Eimprove \u003C\/a\u003Elife on Earth and even foster economic growth. These advances include rapidly evolving technologies, improvements in medicine, and the development of enhanced materials \u2014 such as self-healing materials and those designed for extreme environments. Additionally, space research provides essential tools, data, and insights for climate scientists.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ESessions and panels throughout the day covered space science, space media, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/moontomarsarchitecture\/\u0022\u003ENASA\u2019s Moon to Mars program\u003C\/a\u003E, GTRI\u2019s space research program, commercial space initiatives, and space in popular culture. A.C. Charania, NASA\u2019s chief technologist and a Georgia Tech alumnus, delivered the keynote address. He shared insights into his work at NASA and Moon to Mars.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EFollowing the symposium, the Space RI hosted a \u201cstar party\u201d at the Georgia Tech Observatory. People of all ages gathered at the event, where they could use the observatory\u2019s telescope to observe the moon, Jupiter, and the Orion Nebula, an immense cloud of dust and gas from which new stars are born.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt was a clear night, and we were able to view the lunar terminator \u2014 the boundary where the sun is setting on the moon \u2014 which accentuates craters and mountains,\u201d said Lightsey. \u201cIt was exciting to officially launch our initiative on a day when the world celebrated space exploration and the star party was a fantastic way to end our event.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca\u003EIn July 2025, the Space RI will transition into one of Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003C\/a\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/interdisciplinary-research-institutes\u0022\u003EInterdisciplinary Research Institutes\u003C\/a\u003E. Learn more about the initiative at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003Espace.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/eepurl.com\/iI4YQY\u0022\u003ESign up\u003C\/a\u003E to receive space news and event updates from the Space RI.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe event brought together faculty, researchers, and students to celebrate the Institute\u2019s interdisciplinary space research.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The event brought together faculty, researchers, and students to celebrate the Institute\u2019s interdisciplinary space research."}],"uid":"34760","created_gmt":"2024-04-30 16:23:10","changed_gmt":"2024-05-01 20:11:41","author":"Laurie Haigh","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-04-30T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-04-30T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"673892":{"id":"673892","type":"image","title":"Space Research Photo","body":null,"created":"1714494546","gmt_created":"2024-04-30 16:29:06","changed":"1714498807","gmt_changed":"2024-04-30 17:40:07","alt":"Panelists discussing space-themed art","file":{"fid":"257344","name":"IMG_0508.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/04\/30\/IMG_0508.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/04\/30\/IMG_0508.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1584229,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/04\/30\/IMG_0508.jpeg?itok=C6rRUbsr"}}},"media_ids":["673892"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/feature\/space-research?utm_source=coe_homepage\u0026utm_medium=web\u0026utm_campaign=newsfeed","title":"New Multidisciplinary Initiative Marks Golden Age for Space Research"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"126011","name":"School of Physics"},{"id":"364801","name":"School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS)"},{"id":"1275","name":"School of Biological Sciences"},{"id":"85951","name":"School of Chemistry and Biochemistry"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"192252","name":"cos-planetary"},{"id":"193266","name":"cos-research"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: laurie.haigh@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ELaurie Haigh\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nResearch Communications\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}