Project Grant FA23861014136

This Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences supports the development of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems to optimize the search for gravitational wave events accompanied by electromagnetic radiation. The $160,476 award to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) will fund the creation of an AI agent that can adaptively learn to make optimal decisions for follow-up observations of these rare and...

The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory awarded a $619,648 Project Grant to the University of Colorado under the Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program (CFDA 12.800) to conduct research on space situational awareness in cislunar space. The research aims to extend existing methods for tracking and characterizing the motion of space objects in the lunar environment, including developing new approaches for propagating system uncertainty and describing the relative motion of satellite...

This National Science Foundation (NSF) Geosciences Program (CFDA 47.050) Project Grant award of $294,330 to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will fund collaborative research on short-wave infrared (SWIR) imaging of auroral and airglow emissions. The key objectives are to: Investigate the role of Alfvén waves in generating auroral arcs and forms, as compared to monoenergetic particle influx. Measure metastable helium (He) emissions at 1083 nm to study exospheric density variability over...

This National Science Foundation (NSF) Geosciences Program (CFDA 47.050) Project Grant award of $505,530 to The Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford University) will support research on coupling meteoroid input to thermospheric processes. The key objectives are to: Study meteors through radar analysis and simulations to understand the physics of how meteoroids interact with the upper atmosphere, creating plasma and affecting atmospheric conditions. This includes developing a novel...

This Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Physics, under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049), provides $355,683 to California State University, Fullerton Auxiliary Services Corporation from September 1, 2022 to August 31, 2025. The award supports research aimed at advancing optical technology to further explore the cosmos using gravitational waves. Key deliverables include characterizing and developing techniques to reduce laser light...

This Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Mathematical and Physical Sciences (CFDA 47.049) program provides $139,844 to American University to develop and characterize AlGaAs coatings for gravitational-wave detectors. The goal is to improve the mirrors used in the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) to enable more frequent and sensitive detection of gravitational waves, which can help advance our understanding of the universe and test theories...

This National Science Foundation (NSF) Project Grant, awarded under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Program (CFDA 47.049), is providing $100,000 to support the development and characterization of AlGaAs coatings for LIGO gravitational-wave detectors. The goal is to improve the mirrors in the laser-based LIGO system, enabling more frequent and higher quality observations of gravitational wave events. This research will help advance the understanding of the universe, including mysteries...

This Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Mathematical and Physical Sciences (CFDA 47.049) program provides $236,198 to the University of Illinois to conduct research on minimizing the impact of satellite optical reflections on key astronomical observing systems, particularly the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). The work involves developing software to accurately predict satellite positions and optical brightness, leveraging collaborations with the Aerospace...

The Office of Integrative Activities (National Science Foundation, CFDA 47.050 - Geosciences) awarded a collaborative research project grant of $597,424 to the Trustees of Boston University, with performance in Boston, MA. The award, effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028, supports research aimed at unveiling hidden dynamics of the auroral ionosphere through artificial intelligence-based sensor fusion. The research addresses critical gaps in understanding Earth's ionized outer...

This $564,958 National Science Foundation Project Grant under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) supports measurement, simulation, and mitigation of the impact of low-Earth orbit satellite constellations on wide-field optical surveys conducted by ground-based observatories. The University of California, Davis will pursue multiple mitigation strategies including developing novel algorithms for processing charge-coupled device images, strategies for avoiding the brightest...