The National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program

Established by Congress in 1988 and implemented by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in 1989, the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program (also known as Space Grant) contributes to the nation's science enterprise by funding research, education, and public service projects through a national network of 52 university-based Space Grant consortia. These consortia administer programs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The consortia’s 850 affiliates include academic institutions, research laboratories, and businesses. Other partners include state and local government agencies, other federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations.

Maryland Space Grant Consortium (MSGC) (History, Management, Member Institutions and Goals)

Maryland was selected to participate in NASA's National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program when it was formed in 1989. MSGC is located in the Bloomberg Center for Physics and Astronomy on the Johns Hopkins University Homewood campus and has the distinction of being the lead institution for the State of Maryland. MSGC has been in existence for ten years under the leadership of Professor Richard C. Henry, a professor of Physics and Astronomy at JHU; and Assistant Director, Dr. Terry Teays, . A Budget Analyst and Secretary comprise the administrative staff. An Oversight Committee and a Program Committee consisting of an Associate Director from each of the ten member institutions oversee the program.

The members of the consortium are:

• Johns Hopkins University (Lead Institution)
• Hagerstown Community College
• Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
• Morgan State University
• Space Telescope Science Institute
• Towson University
• University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
• University of Maryland College Park
• University of Maryland Eastern Shore
• United State Naval Academy

Selected for their unique regional role in the Maryland educational system, these institutions currently link MSGC statewide.

A network of areospace companies including Computer Sciences Corporation, Lockheed-Martin, Northrop Grumman, Honeywell, Hughes Applied Information Systems, Inc., Service Argos and TRW have provided monetary and human resources to MSGC.

Goals

Recognizing the need to support state and national educational goals for a diverse workforce in the next century and to strengthen the nation's workforce of qualified scientists and engineers, MSGC is committed to the following program goals:

• increasing the representation within the space sciences of historically underrepresented groups and females;
  
  
• fostering interdisciplinary and inter-institutional research and educational programs involving Consortium members and affiliated industrial sponsors and NASA Centers;
  
  
• promoting public interest in and awareness of opportunities in the space sciences; and
  
  
• increasing Maryland's visibility as a center of earth and space science and engineering technology

Program Structure

Maryland Space Grant consists of several member institutions which contribute to our programs in many important ways. The Oversight Committee arbitrates all policy decisions for the consortium. The Program Committee recommends specific program decisions to the Director for implementation. Scholarship Committee recommends the selection of undergraduate Space Scholars to the Director. MSGC also employs a permanent staff, whose members manage the program and coordinate program activities.

For more information about the MSGC organizational scheme, see the graphical organization chart.

The National Space Grant Charter

In 1987 Congress passed the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Act to:

• Establish a national network of universities interested in space and aeornautics.
  
  
• Encourage cooperative programs among universities, industry and government.
  
  
• Enable the development of interdisciplinary education.
  
  
• Enable the development of interdisciplinary education.
  
  
• Recruit and train the next generation, especially the underrepresented.
  
  
• Recruit and train the next generation, especially the underrepresented.
  
  
• Recruit and train the next generation, especially the underrepresented.
  
  
• Develop science and math education from elementary through university levels.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is charged with managing this program and funds Space Grant Consortia in all fifty states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.