National Space Science center gets 5-year extension

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

From staff reports
Huntsville Times

The contract between NASA and Alabama's research universities which form Huntsville's National Space Science and Technology Center, or NSSTC, has been extended for an additional five years, NASA and University of Alabama in Huntsville officials announced Monday.

This agreement is the first of three planned five-year options that were outlined in the original contract, which was signed in 2000. This five-year option will expire Aug. 7, 2010.

The NSSTC is a collaboration of researchers from government, universities and industry.

The agreement was signed by David King, director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, and Dr. Ron Greenwood, executive director of Alabama's Space Science and Technology Alliance.

Research is carried out in space science, global hydrology and climate, information technology research, optics and energy technology, propulsion research, biotechnology and materials science.

Alabama's Space Science and Technology Alliance includes the state's research universities - the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Alabama A&M University, the University of South Alabama, the University of Alabama, Auburn University, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Tuskegee University.