Space Grant Success Stories

"At the University of Arizona, the NASA administrator saw firsthand the space research and engineering capabilities that are enabled by the Arizona Space Grant Consortium. From satellite communications testing to complex optics for peering into deep space to student-built high-altitude balloon payloads and even small satellites, students at the University of Arizona have a long history of contributing to NASA missions and making aerospace career connections."

The Arizona Artificial Intelligence Workforce Development Cooperative was one of 13 national proposals selected for NASA’s Space Grant Award Augmentation 2026 (AI Workforce Development) competition.

Arizona Space Grant Consortium participates in NASA Inspiration tour with Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator. UA ASCEND high-altitude ballooning team has opportunity to speak directly with Isaacman about their work in the program.

Former Space Grant Intern (2005) Dr. Dani DellaGiustina is now an Associate Professor at the University of Arizona, where she investigates the surface and near-surface structures of small, airless worlds throughout the solar system. As Deputy Principal Investigator for NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission and now Principal Investigator for NASA's OSIRIS-APEX mission, Dr. DellaGiustina offers a unique perspective on how both the public and private sectors are investing in the future of space exploration. Listen to this Arizona Public Media production.

Nathan (center) presented a 3-minute presentation on his work “Rapid and Predictable Microbial Colonization on New Icelandic Lava”. He will receive a $1,000 prize for his 3rd place award. Congratulations to the winners and to every finalist who took the stage.

Lindsey Tober is majoring in Technological Leadership with a minor in Film and Media Production. Linsey has “completed multiple internships while at ASU, including supporting the filming and editing of YouTube content that makes space research accessible to everyone through a NASA Space Grant internship." She will be graduating in Fall 2025 and "hopes to pursue a career that blends film and media with space and science."

University of Arizona Space Grant alum, Shae Henley, was selected for three Space Grant awards while completing her undergraduate and graduate degrees. After recently completing her MS in Aerospace Engineering, Shae accepted a position with Lockheed Martin as an Orion Systems Integration and Test Engineer and will be working at the Kennedy Space Center. Learn more about Shae's path to success!

University of Arizona Space Grant mentor, Dr. Jess Barnes, featured in the UA News for recently published paper in Nature Astronomy titled The variety and origin of materials accreted by Bennu's parent asteroid.

Meet Kevin Hardegree‑Ullman, an Assistant Scientist at IPAC who supports the NASA Exoplanet Archive and plays a key role in curating and enhancing planet data—from exoplanet demographics using Kepler, K2, and TESS to prepping for the upcoming flood of discoveries from missions like the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.