At CU Boulder, our people have a long history of collaborating to move humanity forward. Our faculty, staff, students and alumni are an innovation ecosystem at work—thinking, questioning and solving problems—from the mountains to the oceans, from inside the atom to deep space, from our campus to communities across the world.
Ongoing impact on space exploration since the 1940s
A leader in space flight, CU Boulder has produced 18 university-affiliated astronauts. We have widely contributed to interstellar missions and dazzling discoveries in our planetary system.
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
The Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) has been part of CU Boulder since its inception in 1948. LASP is the only research institute to design, build and launch instruments to all eight planets and Pluto. LASP educates the next generation of space scientists and actively influences the future of space exploration.
Ball Aerospace
Founded by CU physicists, including alumnus R.C. Mecure, Ball Aerospace plays a key role through all phases of science mission development. Ball has played an integral part in many scientific “firsts.” Whether confirming the ozone hole or discovering the first Earth-sized planet in the habitable zone of another star, Ball technology makes challenging science missions possible.
