Space is just the latest frontier for the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Earlier this week, the university announced the launch a new cosmos-focused research center.
UTSA’s new Center for Space Technology and Operations Research will focus on developing engineering, technology and operations to support space missions between Earth and the moon, including activities on the moon’s surface. This area of study is known as cislunar space.
The center will aim to address the growing demand for research and workforce development by civil, commercial and national security space agencies and companies, UTSA stated in a press release announcing the new center.
David Silva, a UTSA professor of physics and astronomy, will serve as the center’s inaugural director. Silva said the new center is poised to leverage UTSA’s expertise to both strengthen national security and Texas leadership in the emerging trillion-dollar cislunar economy.
“We may not always think about space technology as being integral to national security,” he said. “But when you consider the fact that our daily lives rely on satellites for GPS services, telecommunications and weather forecasting, it’s clear that cislunar space is a linchpin in our national defense.”
The center will support over 35 UTSA researchers and more than 200 students working on space technology projects like uncrewed spacecraft, lunar living, hypersonics and propulsion, UTSA stated. Its faculty hiring plan will also help the university attract top talent in space technology, the university added.
UTSA President Taylor Eighmy said the new center positions UTSA as a “destination for innovation, knowledge creation and talent development” for the space economy.
“UTSA has intentionally expanded its capacity, facilities and expertise in space technology to meet the rapidly growing demand for innovation and enable stronger comprehensive partnerships with key organizations like Southwest Research Institute and Department of Energy National Labs,” he said.
Recent studies show space infrastructure represents a rapidly growing market in the global economy. A 2022 McKinsey and Company report projects that the industry will grow from $630 billion in 2023 to $1.8 trillion by 2035. The U.S. aerospace engineering job sector is expected to grow by 6% by 2033.
