The space race has evolved.
Private sector space exploration and technology efforts are now joining and leading the way.
To advance space access and exploration further, academic and commercial space enterprises must leverage value-added expertise, facilities, and focus to drive the future of this industry. The ASU Space Technology and Science (NewSpace) Initiative is creating academic-commercial partnerships that brings together the most brilliant minds in the space industry sector for an unprecedented collaborative effort. ASU NewSpace leads the integration of academic and commercial space enterprises using ASU’s core strengths in space science, engineering, and education.
ASU NewSpace
History
The ASU Space Technology and Science (NewSpace) Initiative establishes and fosters partnerships between ASU and next-generation non-governmental space exploration science and technology companies (the NewSpace sector). We enable the discovery of new research avenues, new partnerships, and new opportunities for student engagement.
Team me up, Scotty!
ASU NewSpace connects academics, industry for space exploration @asunewspace
Who Are We
Our Values
The ASU Space Technology and Science (NewSpace) Initiative is creating academic-commercial partnerships that bring together the most brilliant minds in the space industry sector for an unprecedented collaborative effort. ASU NewSpace leads the integration of academic and commercial space enterprises using ASU’s core strengths in space science, engineering, and education.
Explore
We actively explore the NewSpace sector and identify opportunities for collaboration with industry-leading companies. Our combined resources create long-term, lasting progress that drives discovery.
Lead
Establishing mutual engineering, business, and scientific goals is critical. We lead this process by creating solid relationships between NewSpace companies and ASU’s skilled researchers and staff.
Inovate
ASU takes the existing strengths and talents of researchers from a wide array of disciplines and leverages them to create innovative research partnerships within the emerging NewSpace sector.
Affiliations
The Diversity of Space Studies at ASU
ASU is world-renowned for heading up major NASA technology, robotics, and planetary/astronomy science investigations and missions. At ASU, the study of space, the planets, and the origins of life involve expertise spread across many academic units, including the School of Earth and Space Exploration (SESE) and the School of Life Sciences (SoLS). ASU has developed a strong multidisciplinary faculty, incorporating astronomers, geologists, engineers, physicists, microbiologists, cell biologists, tissue engineers, immunologists, vaccinologists, and other researchers to create a superior research environment.
Meet the Team
James Bell, Ph.D.
Director, NewSpace Initiative | Professor, School of Earth and Space Exploration
Dr. Jim Bell is a Professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Astronomy at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York and President of the Planetary Society. He received his B.S. in Planetary Science and Aeronautics from Caltech in 1987 and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Geology & Geophysics from the University of Hawaii in 1992. Jim spent 3 years as a National Research Council postdoctoral research fellow at NASA’s Ames Research Center from 1992 through 1995.
Jim is an active planetary scientist and has been heavily involved in many NASA robotic space exploration missions, including the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR), Mars Pathfinder, Comet Nucleus Tour, Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity, Mars Odyssey Orbiter, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, and the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover mission. Jim is the lead scientist in charge of the Panoramic camera (Pancam) color, stereoscopic imaging system on the Spirit and Opportunity rovers, the Deputy Principal Investigator (P.I.) of the Mastcam camera system on the Curiosity rover, P.I. of the Mastcam-Z cameras on NASA’s upcoming Mars-2020 rover, and Deputy P.I. of NASA’s Psyche mission.
Jim Rice, Ph.D.
Associate Director Science and Research, NewSpace Initiative
Jim is an Astrogeologist with over 30 years research experience specializing in the exploration of the Solar System, especially the Moon and Mars. Rice has also trained and briefed NASA astronauts in geology and Mars exploration. Rice was the Geology Team Leader on the NASA Mars Exploration Rover Project (Spirit and Opportunity). He was the Associate Project Scientist on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Project. He also has NASA mission experience working on the Mars Odyssey Orbiter. Rice has also served on numerous NASA Science Analysis Groups for manned missions back to the Moon and Mars. Rice will be supporting proposal development from ASU faculty the with commercial space industry.
Craig Hardgrove, Ph.D.
Director of Projects, NewSpace Initiative | Assistant Professor, School of Earth and Space Exploration
Craig is a planetary scientist whose research focuses primarily on spectroscopy of planetary surfaces. Craig received a Ph.D. in Planetary Science in 2011 from the University of Tennessee and a B.S. in Physics in 2004 from Georgia Tech. Currently he is the Principal Investigator of the Lunar Polar Hydrogen (LunaH) Mapper mission. He has worked both operations and science for the Curiosity, Spirit, and Opportunity rovers, as well as the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. For Curiosity, Craig is a representative of Geology-Mineralogy Science Theme Group, and a member of both the color camera and neutron detector teams. Craig has served on review panels for NASA proposals as well as a reviewer for a variety of planetary science journals. He has taught undergraduate and graduate courses on planetary science and has organized several public outreach activities. Craig has also served as a writing associate for the New York Academy of Sciences and as a consultant for the National Academy of Sciences: Science and Entertainment Exchange, and is actively involved in scientific outreach through podcasting.
Scott Smas
Program Manager, NewSpace Initiative
Scott cultivates corporate and faculty relationships with the commercial space industry for collaborations for federal research funding opportunities, student engagements, and access to facilities. Scott manages the ASU/NewSpace program to support the development of federal research funding proposal submissions with faculty and the commercial space industry. Through these involvements, he has served as an intermediary between university and commercial testing facilities and academic research personnel. As one of the ASU representatives to the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, Scott also actively supports ASU’s involvement in industry events and meetings by promoting the university’s involvement in space missions, research, and other areas.
Jonathan P. Roll
Research & Management Analyst, NewSpace Initiative
Jonathan is a masters student in science & technology policy at Arizona State University’s College of Global Futures focusing on the confluence of international political economy and the commercialization of outer space. He received a B.A. in Political Science from George Mason University in 2009 with additional coursework at Harvard Extension, Oxford University-New College, and UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs. Before returning to graduate school, Jonathan spent 9 years leading high-revenue business units in the Los Angeles fitness and entertainment sectors and helped manage a successful political campaign for a sitting U.S. Congresswoman. He has remained active at the university and within his department as a senator, athlete, researcher, and advocate for students’ professional development.
Tiffanny Rauch
Administrative Assistant, NewSpace Initiative
Tiffanny supports the ASU NewSpace team and program logistics, as well as meetings and events coordination. She additionally supports ASU’s MILO Institute as needed with meeting and event activities.
Contact Info
781 E. Terrace Road
Room 632
Tempe, AZ 85287-6004
PO Box 876004 Tempe, AZ
85287-6004
Phone: 480.727.2153
Fax: 480.965.8102
[email protected]
Explore
We actively explore the NewSpace sector and identify opportunities for collaboration with industry-leading companies. Our combined resources create long-term, lasting progress that drives discovery.
Lead
Establishing mutual engineering, business and scientific goals is critical. We lead this process by creating solid relationships between NewSpace companies and ASU’s skilled researchers and staff.
Innovate
ASU takes the existing strengths and talents of researchers from a wide array of disciplines and leverages them to create innovative research partnerships within the emerging NewSpace sector.