Pitt is among 15 to join the Axiom Space University Alliance

The University of Pittsburgh is one of 15 academic and research institutions who have joined the inaugural cohort of the Axiom Space University Alliance, a new initiative that plans to advocate for scientific opportunities in microgravity research, technology, research and development, and commercial innovation in low-Earth orbit (LEO).

Launched by space flight and infrastructure company Axiom Space, the alliance will also help identify research gaps and opportunities that can shape national and international research priorities.

Afshin Beheshti, director of Pitt’s Center for Space Biomedicine and associate director of the McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine, said he is looking forward to working with other institutions aligned around common challenges and opportunities.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Pitt and other leaders in the area to bring space science and manufacturing to the next level,” Beheshti said. “I think we’re going to produce some really great science and projects.”

A pillar of Pitt Space, the Space Biomedicine program integrates space biology with advanced biomedical research. Its mission is to develop innovative technologies to safeguard human health and optimize performance in space, while also translating the knowledge gained from space research into solutions for terrestrial health care.

The program also promotes education and outreach in space biomedicine.

As a member of the alliance, Pitt Space and collaborators are focusing on advancing space science during a critical moment, as it transitions from government-led to commercially owned and operated space stations.

“From lifesaving medical innovations to advanced materials and technologies, microgravity research has driven decades of scientific breakthroughs,” said Axiom Space Chief Science Officer Lucie Low. “And now as we transition from government-led to commercially operated space infrastructure, it’s critical that we preserve and expand access to LEO for research that can benefit us all on Earth as well as continue to advance human exploration further.”