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The University of Massachusetts at Lowell (UMass Lowell) has been granted nearly .5 million from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Innovation Institute at the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative to establish a new hub for space research. This initiative, known as the Massachusetts Alliance for Space & Technology & Sciences (MASTS), will be based at UMass Lowell’s Lowell Center for Space Science and Technology (LoCSST). The goal of MASTS is to provide a centralized support system for researchers and businesses involved in the design, construction, and testing of small satellites and spacecraft components.

LoCSST has a track record of successful space missions, including the deployment of the student-built SPACE HAUC satellite and the PICTURE-C planet-finding telescope. The funding will be used to support the two-year project, with additional contributions from external partners and collaborators potentially increasing the total funding to over million.

MASTS currently comprises 22 organizations, including research universities, community colleges, aerospace and defense companies, and non-profit research-focused organizations. Some of the notable members include UMass Boston, Boston University, MIT Haystack Observatory, and corporate partners such as Analog Devices, Lockheed Martin, and BAE Systems.

UMass Lowell physics professor Supriya Chakrabarti, director of LoCSST, sees MASTS as an “exciting development” that establishes Massachusetts as a leading center for nanosatellite activities, particularly CubeSats. The consortium aims to foster collaboration and innovation in the field of space technology, supporting the growing demand for small satellite capabilities.

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