space exploration

Apr 29, 2024

Exploring Earth from space: North Carolina Space Symposium emphasizes importance of open science and student research

On March 22, North Carolina Space Grant hosted its annual NC Space Symposium at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh. Highlighting open science and exploring Earth from space, the signature event brought together over 200 attendees, with 75 percent being students, from across the state and beyond to learn from one another and celebrate student research.

Alumna Christina Koch, right, speaks with Chancellor Randy Woodson during a recent Red Chair Chats podcast. A red banner runs across the bottom of the image with the NC State wolf silhouette on the left.

Dec 15, 2023

To the Moon: Chancellor Woodson talks Artemis II and chasing dreams with NASA astronaut Christina Koch

NASA astronaut and three-time NC State alum Christina Koch joins Chancellor Woodson for the first live episode of Red Chair Chats and previews the Artemis II mission, slated to orbit the moon in fall 2024.

Chancellor Randy Woodson interviews NC State alumna and NASA astronaut Christina Koch on stage in Stewart Theatre.

Oct 26, 2023

Do what scares you, says astronaut alumna

Kierra Shook, a rising senior from Bryson City, North Carolina, wasn’t scared to walk up to NASA astronaut Christina Koch and introduce her fellow aerospace engineering students to NC State’s featured guest at Chancellor Randy Woodson’s 14th annual fall address. She wasn’t intimidated the first time she ever met Koch, either, while spending a co-op year…

Michael Puzio, center, helps hold a piece of asteroid. On his left is a man and on his right is a woman, both helping to hold the asteroid fragment. Behind all three is a colorful mural depicting various celestial bodies and objects.

Sep 29, 2023

NASA lands samples from Bennu, an asteroid named by an NC State student

When Michael Puzio was 9 years old, he named an asteroid.

NASA Artemis Launch Director speaks to NC Space Symposium attendees during keynote presentation about Artemis missions and the future of space exploration.

May 19, 2023

Annual NC Space Symposium returns in-person to celebrate student research

On April 21, North Carolina Space Grant hosted its annual NC Space Symposium at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh. The Symposium brought together over 200 students and professionals from all over the state of North Carolina to celebrate student research and learn from experts.

NASA's Artemis 1 rocket begins its launch.

Apr 7, 2023

‘It’s America’s Rocket:’ A Q&A with Artemis launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson ahead of NC Space Symposium

Charlie Blackwell-Thompson is the first woman launch director at NASA. On November 16, 2022, she launched Artemis I, the first in a series of missions bringing human exploration back to the Moon and eventually, Mars. As the keynote speaker for the NC Space Symposium on April 21, Blackwell-Thompson will share her experiences with students. She spoke with NC Space Grant about her STEM journey and her role in the Artemis missions.

Christina Koch dressed in her blue NASA uniform.

Feb 2, 2023

_pace, the final frontier

Koch, a native of Michigan who grew up in Jacksonville, N.C., and attended both the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics and NC State, returned to her home state over the weekend for three standing-room-only, hour-long presentations at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences’ Astronomy Days, a triumphant return after three years off for the kid-friendly program because of the COVID-19 pandemic.