HAMPTON, Va. – The National Institute of Aerospace (NIA) announced today that it has been awarded a follow-on contract to continue supporting the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) agency missions.  Under the new contract, NIA will continue its research and graduate education activities in the interest of NASA Langley Research Center’s (LaRC) organizational units and Agency-level functions.  The contract continues work begun by NIA under an initial five-year contract signed in September 2002.  The value of the follow-on contract is $36 million over the next five years.

NIA will perform three important functions under the new contract:  conduct leading-edge aerospace and atmospheric sciences research and develop revolutionary new technologies; provide comprehensive graduate and continuing education in science and engineering; and disseminate research and technology results.  NIA will achieve this by creating innovative, collaborative, synergistic partnerships between LaRC, academia and industry. NIA promotes its research accomplishments and also reaches out to students and teachers to educate and encourage the next generation of scientists and engineers.

“Our activities are very closely aligned with those of NASA Langley,” stated Dr. Robert Lindberg, NIA president and executive director.  “We are excited to continue this important relationship and to further contribute to NASA space exploration, aeronautics research and science missions.”

Through the agreement, NIA conducts basic, formative, and leading-edge research tasks for NASA’s direct use and promotes the transfer of technology developed within its research programs.  It offers graduate and continuing education necessary to enhance creative research and innovative technology development in science and engineering by offering educational services including graduate courses, professional development short courses and lifelong education opportunities.  NIA also sponsors workshops, lectures and conferences in support of NASA’s mission interests.

About NIA
NIA is a non-profit research and graduate education institute headquartered in Hampton, Va.  It was formed in 2002 by a consortium of research universities to ensure a national capability to support NASA’s mission by expanding collaboration with academia and leveraging expertise inside and outside NASA.  NIA performs research in a broad range of disciplines including space exploration, systems engineering, nanoscale materials science, flight systems, aerodynamics, air traffic management, aviation safety, planetary and space science, and global climate change.  The Institute’s graduate program offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in the fields of engineering and science through its university partners:  Georgia Tech, Hampton University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina State University, the University of Maryland, the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Old Dominion University, and the College of William & Mary. 

More information about the National Institute of Aerospace is available at http://www.NIAnet.org.