The sky is not the limit: Pushing the boundaries of space research

50+ students work on NASA-related research, developing technologies destined for space.

Creating coatings for space vehicles

Modern aerospace designs are a far cry from the Wright brothers’ fabric covered wood frame airplane.

What hasn’t changed: the demand for lightweight yet durable components and finishes for engine parts, wings and more that can hold up to out-of-this-world journeys.

FIU researchers are inventing materials and coatings for space exploration that check all of these boxes. A team at FIU’s Plasma Forming Laboratory developed a coating to protect machinery for use on the lunar surface — and it’s already made a trip to the International Space Station for testing.

Making space travel possible with nanotechnology

FIU’s College of Engineering & Computing leads the NASA Center for Research and Education in 2D Optoelectronics (CRE2DO). Researchers at the center are developing new technologies that integrate 2D materials in space-resilient infrastructure, communication devices and small satellite technology.

These nanomaterials enhance reliability of mechanical and electrical components in spaceships and wearable electronics and could be used in infrastructure for spaceship components destined for Mars and on wearable electronics placed inside space suits worn by astronaunts to enable their high-speed communication with the space station.

The team is creating lightweight and ultra-efficient solar devices to supply NASA with reliable power options for future lunar habitats. The devices rely on novel semiconductor nanoparticles designed to maximize sunlight absorption. The technology aims to capture power at twice the efficiency of today’s commercially available technologies. 

Students working on these innovations participate in internships at FIU and at NASA every summer.

FIU alumni work across the aerospace industry for SpaceX, Blue Origin and related companies.

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Next-gen foldable antennas

FIU's Transforming Antennas's Center is leading research into the innovation and development of the next generation of foldable, reconfigurable antenna systems that operate at higher frequencies. Higher frequency equals faster data speeds and larger bandwidth. For comparison, most smartphones operate at one to six gigahertz (GHz), while only the latest models can cover up to 39 GHz.