For 75 years, CU Boulder has been a leader in space exploration and innovation. We travel to space to monitor sea level rise, melting ice, weather patterns and more. Our researchers explore how to track and remove dangerous debris in space. We research the health of humans in space to inform medical applications for people on Earth. Learn more about the latest in space research and science at CU Boulder.
 

Illustration of space

NASA awards $14 million to CU for two new CubeSat missions

Dec. 20, 2021

Two new CubeSats, to be built by the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP), will provide first-of-their-kind measurements of gravity waves in Earth’s upper atmosphere and explosions in the Sun’s corona.

Artist’s rendering of an exoplanet system experiencing atmospheric escape

Scientists envision what Mars would look like as an exoplanet

Dec. 15, 2021

Which planets beyond our solar system are most likely to host life? By extrapolating the current scientific understanding of Mars, a multi-disciplinary team, including researchers from LASP, is helping identify alien planets that may be habitable.

A pit on the moon as seen from a satellite in orbit

Spelunking on the moon: New study explores lunar pits and caves

Dec. 13, 2021

One day, human astronauts could live in the protected environments of pits and caves on the moon. A new study seeks to better understand what the environments may be like within these craggy features.

Auroras

Mysterious STEVE light emissions emanate from Earth’s magnetosphere

Dec. 13, 2021

Contributions from citizen scientists are helping researchers identify different types of aurora-like light emissions and constrain how and where in Earth’s atmosphere those light emissions are generated.

Members of the CU Boulder flight crew working on a RAAVEN drone in 2019 during a mission with a tornado in the distance.

Designing flying artificial intelligence systems to study supercell thunderstorms up close

Dec. 13, 2021

A team of CU Boulder scientists and engineers have landed a major grant to design next-generation uncrewed aircraft systems to fly into the heart of supercell thunderstorms that can spawn tornadoes.

Gravity waves imprinted on atmospheric airglow

NASA to fund LASP’s new OWLS instrument

Dec. 10, 2021

A new instrument to be built by the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics will help answer fundamental questions about gravity waves and improve the forecasting of satellite trajectories.

Artist's depiction of the star EK Draconis ejecting a coronal mass ejection as two planets orbit

A young sun-like star may hold warnings for life on Earth

Dec. 9, 2021

On April 2020, astronomers observed a gigantic burst of energy and charged particles erupting from the surface of a far away star called EK Draconis. The findings suggest that similar events could, theoretically, occur on our own sun––albeit rarely.

Artist’s representation of NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) in Earth’s orbit. Credit: NASA

Students, staff ready to operate NASA’s new IXPE mission to study black holes

Dec. 7, 2021

Years of preparation will culminate this week when LASP students and staff assume control of the nearly $200 million IXPE mission just after it lifts off from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

A glass block marks Saturn's spot in the solar system, along with its moons Tethys, Rhea and Dione.

Hear planets sing as you ‘walk’ through space in new solar system model

Dec. 7, 2021

For about 35 years, the Colorado Scale Model Solar System has delighted campus visitors by shrinking Earth's cosmic neighborhood down to a short walk. Now the exhibit is getting a new update and an interactive smartphone app.

Stock image of NASA probe in space

Tiny grains, severe damage: How hypervelocity dust impacts can damage a spacecraft

Nov. 12, 2021

New research out of the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics gives the most complete picture yet of how high-speed dust impacts may damage a spacecraft and disturb its operations.

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