In an ambitious move to support the rapidly expanding space manufacturing sector, ORAU is collaborating with four Florida universities to establish the Center for Science, Technology and Advanced Research in Space, or C-STARS.
ORAU will collaborate with the University of Florida, Florida A&M University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and the Florida Institute of Technology in developing the multisite center. ORAU will specifically work to enhance outreach strategies for C-STARS, which will lead workforce programs to train the next generation of specialists in space technologies, sciences and exploration. Researchers from the four universities will collaborate with industry partners to advance the production of unique medicines, electronics, and bioenergy systems in space.
The rapid increase in private sector investment and competition has increased the demand for in-space manufacturing technology and products to drive the new space economy. C-STARS brings together space research and manufacturing experts to fulfill the demand for space-related data, products, and services.
“C-STARS gives us the opportunity to work directly with four institutions in our University Consortium to shape the future of space research,” said Liv Blackmon, Ph.D., director of the ORAU STEM Accelerator. “Our goal at OSA is to develop solutions to address STEM workforce gaps through collaborative efforts with public and private partners, driving research and development, advocating for innovative training and education solutions, informing policy, and delivering tangible outcomes to strengthen the overall capacity of the United States STEM workforce.”
C-STARS will serve as a key hub for collaborations between researchers and commercial companies within the nation’s epicenter of space activity. Florida is home to more than 17,000 space-related companies contributing billions in revenue to the state’s economy. Nearly 70 percent of all the U.S. orbital launches occurred at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral last year, making it the nation’s busiest spaceport.
More than 50 aerospace, government, and industry partners have provided letters of interest in collaborating with C-STARS. These industry partners are eager to work with the center’s leadership team to address space manufacturing challenges and develop novel solutions.
The four universities comprising C-STARS have identified six different research areas where they have intersecting experience and expertise in projects. UF is expected to lead the way in health science research, including bioprinting, tissue engineering, and disease modeling, and provide expertise in bioenergy systems and artificial intelligence. The universities will also develop new corporate mentoring programs, curricula, certifications, and internship programs to train the future workforce in this dynamic and rapidly changing field.
C-STARS’ first year of planning is backed by a $80,000 Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers Program grant from the National Science Foundation. This grant will support the development of essential research and training programs and set the stage for additional funding in subsequent years.