National Space Science and Technology Center facts for kids
The National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC) is an exciting place in Huntsville, Alabama. It's like a big team-up between NASA (the U.S. space agency) and seven universities in Alabama. They all work together on important science and technology projects. The main goal of the NSSTC is to help government scientists, university professors, and companies share ideas and work together.
The NSSTC has seven main areas where scientists do their research:
- Space Science: Studying everything in space, like planets and stars.
- Global Hydrology & Climate: Learning about Earth's water and weather patterns.
- Information Technology: Working with computers and data.
- Advanced Optics: Using light and lenses for new discoveries.
- Biotechnology: Exploring living things and how they work.
- Material Science: Creating and studying new materials.
- Propulsion: Developing ways to make rockets and spacecraft move.
The building also hosts the National Weather Service office for Huntsville. This office helps forecast the weather for the area. Scientists from either Marshall Space Flight Center (a NASA facility) or the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) lead each research center. For UAH, the building is also known as Robert "Bud" Cramer Research Hall. It's where students learn about atmospheric science (the study of Earth's air) and space science.
Universities Working with NSSTC
Many universities in Alabama are part of the NSSTC team. They send their brightest minds to work on these important projects. Here are the universities involved:
- Alabama A&M University
- Auburn University
- Tuskegee University
- University of Alabama
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- University of Alabama in Huntsville
- University of South Alabama
