University Space Research Association (USRA) University Consortium Research Opportunity
Sponsor Deadline for Letters of Intent (required): October 27, 2021
FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: December 6, 2021
Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: December 13, 2021
Award Amount: Up to $350,000 for up to 2 years

The U.S. Space Force (USSF) and Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) established the University Consortium Research Opportunity to engage students and postdoctoral fellows in space-based research and development to increase the number and diversity of future space professionals. This is a new approach to tap into university research and innovation to solve critical USSF technical problems. It allows for building the capacity for space research and innovation at institutes of higher education, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and other designated Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). The USSF and the University Consortium Research Opportunity will fund university teams committed to developing new and innovative solutions to research problems and/or maturing their existing product or service. 

The University Consortium Research Opportunity will focus on specific topic areas aimed at addressing the mission needs of the USSF: 

1. Leveraging Microgravity for Military/Commercial Applications & Products; 
2. On-Orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing; 
3. Quantum Sensing for Location and EM Field Detection; 
4. Rapid Initial Orbit Determination; 
5. Rocket Cargo Technology for Agile Global Logistics; and 
6. Smart Sensing and Machine Learning for Ground Based Remote Sensing of Satellites.

University Principal Investigators (PIs) will serve as mentors to participating students and postdoctoral fellows. Selected PIs will be required to allocate a portion of their total annual budget towards student and postdoctoral fellows stipend support and travel associated with program events on-site at Kirtland Air Force Base. Principal Investigators and Co-Principal Investigators must be U.S. citizens.