University of Iowa nabs record-breaking, $115 million grant to collect data on space weather
Astrophysicists at the University of Iowa rang in 2019 fearful that years of NASA-funded research projects would come to a screeching halt during the federal government shutdown.
It took months to fully recuperate from the 35-day federal government shutdown, but as of this week, early 2019 is no longer the defining moment of the year.
A team of UI astrophysicists nabbed something unheard of at UI this week — a nine-digit research grant.
“Obviously, it’s been a good year," said Frederick Skiff, chair for the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
NASA awarded a UI team led by Professor Craig Kletzing $115 million to develop satellites that can collect data on "space weather," or a system of radiation, created by the sun. The UI's satellites, referred to as Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites, will launch no later than August 2022 alongside four suitcase-sized satellites created developed by Southwest Research Institute scientists.
Read more: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2019/06/21/university-iowa-nabs-record-breaking-grant-collect-data-space-weather-nasa-science/1524858001/