—Tucson, AZ—

Erika Hamden, director of the Arizona Space Institute and associate professor of astrophysics, was among a handful of academics attending a workshop hosted by the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force, SpaceWERX. Most participants were small business representatives seeking to break into the burgeoning space industry.

“I was glad to see we’re getting in there as the pace picks up. Early involvement matters.”

“There were only about eight of us representing universities,” said Hamden, “I fielded question after question about our technical capabilities and faculty expertise.” The experience made her excited about the untapped potential for collaboration in the space domain. “I was glad to see we’re getting in there as the pace picks up. Early involvement matters,” she said.

Hamden appreciated the open, collaborative spaces that workshop leaders created to foster innovative thinking. They divided the approximately 100 participants into smaller groups and invited them to imagine a near future where systems they helped design were operational in orbit. What would those systems do? What problems would they solve?

“I’m used to first defining the scientific problem and then tackling instrument design. This format gave welcome room for creativity.”

For Hamden, the invitation to think broadly was invigorating. “Coming from a NASA-oriented academic background,” she said, “I’m used to first defining the scientific problem and then tackling instrument design. This format gave welcome room for creativity.”

Since the workshop, Hamden has been working closely with the U of A National Security Initiatives (NSI) team, in the Office of Research & Partnerships, to raise awareness among colleagues. She encourages all scientists to consider ways to translate their work into applications for dual-use technology in space, particularly faculty developing technologies or working in data analysis and machine learning. Some projects, she notes, might be transdisciplinary; others could hinge on the expertise of a single researcher.

Looking ahead, Hamden envisions Tucson becoming a powerhouse of space-related innovation, a go-to source for federal agencies seeking experts in space-based technologies. “I want students trained in Tucson to stay in Tucson and contribute to local industries, bringing new technologies to the market.” When students stay in the area, she says, they build the community’s brain trust and strengthen industry-academia relationships. “We get things going, and it’ll be a virtuous circle of investment and results,” she says.

U of A scientists are encouraged to reach out to explore how your work might contribute to national security and space innovation efforts. Contact Cody Nicholls at rcn1@arizona.edu.