NASA Awards University of Scranton Space Weather Grant

The five-year project aims to deploy monitors and improve public understanding of solar impacts on Earth.

Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Space

Large radio telescope dish aimed at a bright blue sky in a mountainous region, representing solar activity research. — NASA has awarded the University of Scranton a $5.5 million grant to study solar activity and its potential impacts on critical terrestrial infrastructure. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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NASA has awarded the University of Scranton a $5.5 million grant for a new space weather initiative. The five-year project will lead a national effort to study solar activity and its effects on critical infrastructure.

Why it matters

Space weather events like solar flares can significantly disrupt essential systems, including GPS navigation, cell phone service, and regional power distribution. This research seeks to better understand these phenomena through a network of amateur radio connections.

The initiative includes the distribution of 85 space weather monitors across the country and the installation of discovery stations at public sites. The research focuses on the ionosphere, which typically exists at an altitude between 50 and 400 miles.

The players

University of Scranton

This is a private Jesuit university based in Scranton, Pennsylvania, that serves as the lead institution for the new NASA research project.

Nathaniel Frissell

He serves as the principal investigator for the Discovering the SPARC project and oversees the implementation of the space weather research.

NASA

The United States government agency responsible for the civilian space program, aeronautics research, and space exploration.

American Radio Relay League

This is the national association for amateur radio in the United States that provides curriculum resources and support for educational initiatives.

MIT Haystack Observatory

A multidisciplinary research center located in Massachusetts that specializes in radio science, geodesy, and atmospheric physics.

The details

The University of Scranton is partnering with institutions including MIT Haystack Observatory and the American Radio Relay League to execute the project. Educators will also receive specialized curriculum materials that allow students to analyze live NASA data in real time.

October 23, 2026: The University of Scranton officially received the NASA grant.
2026-2031: The project will operate under a five-year grant agreement.

The Big Picture

This project extends the reach of the NASA Heliophysics program by integrating community-based amateur radio observations into established scientific frameworks. The effort marks a shift toward decentralized data collection to bridge gaps between existing professional monitoring systems.

Improved monitoring of the ionosphere could eventually lead to more accurate forecasting for GPS and satellite-based communication services. These advancements may help reduce service interruptions for everyday consumers who rely on mobile networks and navigation tools.

The takeaway

Understanding solar weather patterns is increasingly vital as our reliance on satellite and digital infrastructure grows. Readers interested in science can look for opportunities to engage with local radio clubs to see how amateur equipment contributes to global research.