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EXPLORING
THE INFINITE, SHAPING TOMORROW
At the University of Arizona, the sky isn’t the limit – it’s just the beginning.
Our Legacy in Space
We've been making giant leaps since before Neil Armstrong took his first steps on the moon, contributing critical instruments and technology needed for space exploration and discovery to the Apollo 11 mission. See how the U of A's work has led to some of the most significant breakthroughs in the history of space research.
1961
We Chose to Go to the Moon
When President John F. Kennedy announced that the United States would land a man on the moon, Gerard P. Kuiper and his team at the University of Arizona created lunar atlases and maps that provided crucial insights into the moon's surface.
1969–1972
Apollo Missions
Â鶹´«Ã½ played a vital role in the Apollo Missions, with Lunar and Planetary Laboratory astronomer Ewen Whitaker identifying the exact location of Surveyor 3. This crucial information enabled Apollo 12 astronauts to retrieve the film canister from the spacecraft.
1990
First Moon of an Asteroid
U of A researchers analyzed images captured by NASA’s Galileo spacecraft during its flyby and helped in the discovery of Dactyl, the first moon of an asteroid.
2001
Mars Odyssey Mission & Exploration
Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) helped map Mars’ surface during the Odyssey mission, providing insights into Mars' geology and water history.
2016
OSIRIS-REx Mission
The OSIRIS-REx mission, led by U of A researchers, collected samples – for the first time ever – from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu. The mission has provided important insights, helping scientists understand the early solar system.
2019
First Image of a Black Hole
University of Arizona astronomers and the Event Horizon Telescope project played a crucial role in the historic capture of the first-ever image of a black hole – a new chapter in our understanding of the universe's most mysterious objects.
2021
James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
U of A developed key technology and instruments for the James Webb Space Telescope, including the Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam), which helps researchers study exoplanets and distant galaxies, and peer deeper into space than ever before.
Innovating the Future
Â鶹´«Ã½ is creating and conducting the tools, projects, and research that will lead to the next world-changing and space-defining discoveries. The secrets of the universe are within our reach.
Giant Magellan Telescope
Â鶹´«Ã½ is part of a global team that’s designing and building the Giant Magellan Telescope’s massive primary mirror segments. This telescope, with ten times Hubble’s resolution, will revolutionize our understanding of distant galaxies, exoplanets, and the universe’s evolution, advancing space science and the search for life.
Mapping the Moon
If you’re going to inhabit the moon, you’re going to need a map. Since the Apollo Missions, the University of Arizona has been at the forefront of mapping the Moon using cutting-edge technologies like ground-penetrating radar. Today, our research is guiding future lunar exploration, and identifying resources for permanent lunar habitation.
Asteroid Hunting
Through the Catalina Sky Survey, the University of Arizona is revolutionizing asteroid detection with its citizen science initiative, allowing volunteers to identify and log near-Earth objects that could pose an impact hazard at the Lunar and Planetary Lab in Tucson, including asteroid 2023 TW, discovered just days before it passed close to Earth.
Partnerships
When scientists, researchers, media, or even those in the entertainment industry have a question about space, they turn to the University of Arizona for answers. Wildcats’ reputation as leaders in space has led to collaborations in everything from satellites to streaming services.
NASA Collaboration
Â鶹´«Ã½ is consistently ranked as one of the top schools for NASA-funded activity, contributing to dozens of groundbreaking space explorations. Our faculty lead and advise on some of NASA’s most ambitious projects.