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School of Engineering researchers part of $478 million NASA space station contract

February 8, 2024 - by Kim Delker

Several researchers from the UNM School of Engineering will be part of a $478 million contract that will support the work of the International Space Station Program based at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The REMIS-2 (Research, Engineering & Mission Integration Services-2) will involve 12 companies that will provide research, engineering and mission integration services for the International Space Station (ISS) Program. The companies will provide spaceflight, ground hardware and software, sustaining engineering functions and services, payload facility integration, and research mission integration operations services.

Locally, Metis Technology Solutions is one of the 12 companies selected for the project. Metis is teaming with both UNM’s COSMIAC research center and New Mexico Tech’s Laboratory for Intelligent Systems and Structures.

“This partnership brings the strength of the New Mexico technology corridor to benefit NASA and the ISS and furthers agency DEIA [diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility] goals by utilization of a true WOSB [woman-owned small business] and MIs [minority institutions],” said Larry Strader, Metis vice president of business development.

Christos Christodoulou, director of COSMIAC and a distinguished professor in the UNM Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, said the project will involve mainly electrical, mechanical and data support on both the software and hardware side.

“I envision doing a lot of simulation and basic research development,” he said.

In addition to COSMIAC, researchers from the UNM Department of Mechanical Engineering will be involved, and Christodoulou said other departments could be added in as the project unfolds the next several years.

The contract extends through Sept. 30, 2030, with an option to extend through Sept. 30, 2032.