John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences

Overview: NDSGC ASCEND Fall 2026 RFP (to be released 10.1.26)   The North Dakota Space Grant Consortium (NDSGC) is soliciting applications for the Affiliate Synergistic and Collaborative Engagements across ND (ASCEND) program, available to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and education professionals at NDSGC Affiliate Institutions. The purpose of ASCEND is to support opportunities […]

Congratulations to Dr. Francisco Del Canto Viterale on being named a Higher Education Ambassador to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). HE is the first CFR Education Ambassador selected to represent the state of North Dakota. Dr. Del Canto Viterale teaches space policy and history to both undergraduate and graduate students at UND. Story in […]

Proposal Defense Announcement This past June, NSF-NRT trainee Zachary Ahrenstorff successfully defended his master’s topic proposal. Zachary is a graduate student in the Geography department. His research focuses on Improving Satellite-Based Monitoring of Harmful Algal Blooms in Prairie Pothole Lakes Using Machine Learning. About the NSF-NRT Program The National Science Foundation National Research Traineeship Program […]

Recent Graduates The Department of Atmospheric Sciences and the NSF National Research Traineeship (NRT) program at UND are excited to highlight two recent Master of Science graduates, Kassidy Kjos and Sydney Walters. Both recently completed their master’s degrees and are continuing their research with our NSF-NRT program. Kassidy Kjos: Impact of Active Learning on Student […]

Overview: ND NASA EPSCoR NOFO CAN Fall 2026 RFP   In anticipation of the upcoming solicitation: Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Basic Research FY 2026, (solicitation number not yet known), North Dakota NASA EPSCoR is soliciting NOIs and pre-proposals from faculty at affiliate institutions specifically designed to promote and expand NASA research in […]

Registration is OPEN for the Fall 2026 Build the Moon Challenge How will the next generation of astronauts live and work on the lunar surface? During this middle and high school aerospace engineering challenge, it’s up to you to help NASA solve this critical question. Why bring this challenge to your classroom, club, homeschool, or […]

For the next 3 years, UND will be testing NASA’s waste-processing facility during Integrated Lunar/Mars Analog Habitat analog missions. Developed by NASA, this cutting-edge waste-processing module was attached to ILMAH in early May in time for ILMAH Mission XXVIII. This research will provide NASA with real-world operational results for a future lunar base waste collection […]

Dr. Pablo de León and Dr. Keith Crisman recently visited the construction site of the new Altru Sports Complex to observe the progress of the Neutral Buoyancy Facility (NBF). The new sports complex will include a specially designed deep-water section that will support UND Aerospace training and research activities in extravehicular activity (EVA) operations. Using […]

The North Dakota Space Grant Consortium (NDSGC) was proud to host the 2026 Affiliates Meeting this spring at North Dakota’s Gateway to Science in Bismarck, North Dakota. The annual event brought together students, educators, researchers, faculty, STEM professionals, and affiliate members from across the state for a day focused on innovation, collaboration, and the future […]

Space Studies’ next big adventure is one step closer to beginning. The final beam of the Neutral Buoyancy Space Operations Facility has been installed! Stakeholders were invited to sign the beam. Included here are Dr. Keith Crisman’s “Doc C” signature and Dr. de Leon’s, who signed via Bluetooth! The red shape is a Diver Down […]