The New York Consortium for Space Technology Innovation and Development (NYCST) today announced the selection of projects for Round 2 of its competitive funding program, continuing its mission to invigorate and advance space technology manufacturing, workforce development, research and infrastructure in New York state.
Funded through the U.S. Department of Defense’s Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation under the Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program, Round 2 awards support organizations working on groundbreaking space-related technology development, supply-chain resilience and workforce initiatives that bolster the nation’s space industrial base.
“As global competition in space accelerates, New York is mobilizing its premier research institutions through NYCST to address workforce shortages, close capability gaps and mature the critical technologies our nation needs,” said Mason Peck, executive director of NYCST and the Stephen J. Fujikawa ’77 Professor of Astronautical Engineering at Cornell. “For decades, our state has been a home to innovative aerospace companies. Through NYCST, we are now aligning that heritage with our top-tier research institutions to ensure that industry can develop and scale up breakthrough technologies right here in New York.”
Future Space Innovators: Young Learners, Giant Leaps – Griffiss Institute
Griffiss Institute will organize the Future Space Innovators Program to engage middle school students in hands-on aerospace engineering by designing and building rocket payloads. The project aims to inspire young learners to develop their STEM identities by developing their skills and exposure to emerging technologies.
Cornell Orbital Materials Environment Test Facility – Cornell University
The Cornell Orbital Materials Environment Test (COMET) Facility will be the first of its kind to enable the characterization and qualification of polymers and other novel materials in a space environment in order to evaluate their reusability, in-space stability and functional properties.
High Altitude Balloon Testing of Spintronic Materials – University of Connecticut and Union College
The University of Connecticut and Union College will collaborate to complete a mission for high altitude balloon testing of solid state actuators used to augment glove functionality for astronauts. Conducting testing on these soft robotics with high altitude ballooning supports the development of new commercial space solutions by allowing researchers to plan, execute and test devices in extreme conditions, then retrieve them for evaluation without the need for a launch into space.
SmallSat Mission Design School – Cornell University
The SmallSat Mission Design School is a summer program that provides first-hand experience in space mission design to students. The program will go beyond traditional coursework and expose students to real spacecraft engineering design activities while introducing them to the space industry within New York state.
Small Satellite Payload Calibration – Rochester Institute of Technology
RIT will develop a calibration facility roadmap to implement an initial capability for in situ calibration of small satellite electro-optical and infrared payloads in the NYCST thermal vacuum facility. This testing capability will be available to NYCST members to monitor their optical performance during a thermal vacuum test.
The New York Consortium for Space Technology Innovation and Development (NYCST) is a multi-institution consortium led by Cornell University designed to accelerate space technology innovation and workforce development across New York state. NYCST provides competitive funding, access to state-of-the-art facilities, and partnership opportunities to help grow the defense space technology industrial base and support a vibrant R&D ecosystem.
The NYCST Symposium will bring together consortium members, partners and stakeholders to advance collaboration and accelerate growth across New York’s space technology ecosystem.
NYCST’s Annual Symposium will take place on April 21, 2026, in Ithaca, New York, at Cornell University . The event will feature a keynote address by Joel Mozer , director of science, technology and research at U.S. Space Force, along with a full day of programming designed to strengthen connections and drive impact across the consortium.
The agenda will include:
Networking opportunities with NYCST members, industry partners and academic collaborators
Breakout sessions focused on shaping the future growth of NYCST and supporting member success
Panel discussions featuring NYCST members highlighting ongoing projects, capabilities and collaborations
Additional details, including a full agenda, will be shared closer to the event date. Registration information and event updates are available at:
https://www.nycst.org/nycst-events
For more information on NYCST: https://www.nycst.org