NCET

NASA’s ambitious exploration effort to return humans to the surface of the Moon and provide a continuous robotic presence on Mars is receiving a critical boost from Nevada scientists.

Researchers from the University of Nevada, Reno, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and the Desert Research Institute (DRI) were chosen to enhance the operational and scientific success of future missions to the Moon and Mars.

The collaborative project is funded through a $750,000 grant from NASA and equivalent matching funds from the Nevada NASA EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) program for a total of $1.5 million.

The funding will help develop a center of excellence in planetary surface process research and education, and will align efforts to build on existing strengths of the researchers in the fields of geomorphology, geology, microbiology, geochemistry, atmospheric and hydrologic processes and remote sensing.  Read more:

Technorati Tags: RENO, Nevada, NASA, University of Nevada Reno, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Desert Research Institute, Nevada NASA EPSCoR, Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, Computer Automated Virtual Environment, Chris Fritsen, Wendy Calvin, Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, NASA’s Mars Exploration program, Brenda Beck, Spencer Steinberg, Fred Harris, Sergiu Dascalu, Scott Bassett, Nicholas Lancaster, Center for Arid Lands and Environmental Management, Henry Sun, Lunar Crater Volcanic Field, Ron Yasbin, UNLV’s College of Sciences, technology, Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology, NCET

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