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

Using nanoscale membranes to clean water on the moon

Oct. 17, 2024

Anthony Straub is making major advances in water purification technology for industry and human consumption on Earth and in space thanks to a new NASA grant.

Photo of rocket blasting off from a launch pad

Dust instrument sets sail to Europa aboard NASA flagship spacecraft

Oct. 14, 2024

On Oct. 14, NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying a scientific instrument designed and built by a team at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP). Dozens of LASP employees, family members and friends were in Florida to watch the launch.

Lightning strike over the ocean

Lightning strikes kick off a game of electron pinball in space

Oct. 10, 2024

When lightning cracks on Earth, especially high-energy electrons may fall out of Earth's inner radiation belt, according to a new study—an electron "rain" that could threaten satellites, and even humans, in orbit.

RAAVEN uncrewed aerial vehicle

CU Boulder to share atmospheric science tech, expertise through new grant

Oct. 8, 2024

Drone technology and atmospheric science instruments developed by CU Boulder will be available to researchers nationwide through a new NSF grant.

Anthony Storm working at NASA’s Johnson Space Center

My landlord is in space: Life as a NASA intern

Oct. 7, 2024

Junior Anthony Storm is hard at work at NASA’s Johnson Space Center as an intern, developing plans for upcoming tests that will support astronauts in future missions.

Katya Arquilla

Improving astronaut team performance during lunar operations

Sept. 30, 2024

Katya Arquilla is leading a $1.5 million NASA grant to mitigate the negative effects of communication delays on the performance of astronaut teams for upcoming moon missions.

Woman in clean room bunny suit and wearing a mask uses a tool to make an adjustment on a gold instrument

Europa here we come: Colorado space instrument headed to Jupiter’s moon

Sept. 27, 2024

In just a few weeks, NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft will begin its long journey through space, traveling nearly 1.8 billion miles over the span of six years. On board will be the SUrface Dust Analyzer, a gold-plated, bucket-shaped instrument designed and built by a team from Colorado.

an exoplanet

Potential indicators of life on other planets can be created in a lab

Sept. 27, 2024

Telescopic images often capture traces of gases that may indicate life and habitable planets. But findings from a new CIRES-led study challenge this idea.

MAVEN satellite

LASP-led NASA MAVEN mission commemorates 10 years in orbit

Sept. 27, 2024

After a decade at Mars, NASA's MAVEN mission, one of the largest NASA contracts in CU Boulder’s history, has produced a wealth of data about how the interactions between Mars’ atmosphere, the Sun and solar wind can explain the loss of the Martian atmosphere.

10 people, four wearing black flight suits and tow wearing camouflage uniforms, pose for a photo as seen from above

With Polaris Dawn’s launch, Colorado scientists will study vision changes in space

Sept. 10, 2024

This week, the crew of Polaris Dawn will attempt the first private spacewalk in history. Researchers from CU Boulder and CU Anschutz will be along for the ride.

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