EXPLORING SPACE HELPS ANSWER FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE AND THE HISTORY OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM.

CMNS astronomers, physicists, atmospheric scientists and geologists are all hard at work on the frontiers of space exploration. The college's close relationship with NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center enables faculty members and students to share research facilities and partner to advance our understanding of the universe.

Is it possible to divert an asteroid from Earth?

On September 26, 2022, NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft collided with a small asteroid moon called Dimorphos, which orbits a larger asteroid called Didymos. CMNS contributions to the DART mission confirmed the feasibility of redirecting near-Earth objects like asteroids as a planetary defense technique.

Where did Earth's water come from?

Geology Assistant Professor Megan Newcombe analyzed melted meteorites that had been floating around in space since the solar system’s formation 4.5 billion years ago. They found that these meteorites had extremely low water content—in fact, they were among the driest extraterrestrial materials ever measured.

How can a laser device help detect signs of life on other planets?

As space missions delve deeper into the outer solar system, the need for more compact, resource-conserving and accurate analytical tools has become increasingly critical—especially as the hunt for extraterrestrial life and habitable planets or moons continues. Geology Associate Professor Ricardo Arevalo developed a new instrument specifically tailored to the needs of NASA space missions.

Center for Research and Exploration in Space Science & Technology II

CRESST II aims to support and enhance research and technology collaborations in the space sciences between NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and partner institutions (University of Maryland, College Park; University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Catholic University of America; Howard University; and Southeastern Universities Research Association). CRESST II researchers carry out observational, experimental and theoretical research projects to study the solar system, stars, galaxies and the universe at large.

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Joint Space-Science Institute

JSI is a space science research partnership between the University of Maryland and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center that fosters new areas of research at the interface of physics and space astronomy in fields related to the study of strong gravity in black holes, high-energy astrophysics and astroparticle physics, cosmology, and gravitational waves.

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Small Bodies Node

UMD manages and administeres the Small Bodies Node (SBN) of NASA’s Planetary Data System. The Planetary Data System program ensures that data collected on NASA missions is cataloged, archived and made publicly accessible for future studies. The SBN is the branch of that system that houses data on asteroids, comets, meteorites and other small objects in space.

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