The Keystone Space Collaborative, the Pittsburgh-based nonprofit organization comprised of space-related academia, government, economic development and industry partners that aims to grow the space industry in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, has welcomed a new partner.
The University of Pittsburgh announced on Thursday that it has joined the KSC with a $20,000 sponsorship of the organization. Joining the organization is a part of Pitt’s new space initiative, which launched in December 2023 with a meeting of 45 Pitt researchers from across disciplines. The meeting led Pitt’s Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor of Research to prioritize three lines of space-related research for the university: space engineering, space science and space medicine and biomanufacturing.
Robert Cunningham, Pitt’s vice chancellor for research infrastructure, Alan George, R&H Mickle endowed chair and professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michael Ramsey, professor of geology and environmental science, and William Wagner, distinguished professor of surgery and professor of chemical engineering and bioengineering, are leading the initiative for the university.
“There is so much potential provided by the prospect of a thriving space ecosystem in our region,” Zoë Karabinus, program director for KSC, said in the announcement. “Support from institutions like the University of Pittsburgh not only strengthens our academic arm in terms of access to research, thought leaders and experts in the field, but also helps us establish a career pipeline.”
Pitt joins local partners in the KSC that include Carnegie Mellon University, the Richard King Mellon Foundation, the Appalachian Regional Commission, Babst Calland, Astrobotic Technology and others.
