Space and hypersonics

At Notre Dame, discovery doesn't end at the edge of Earth's atmosphere. Or at the speed of sound. Our researchers are pushing the boundaries of flight to unlock mysteries that impact life here on the ground.

An Ariane rocket launches, with bright orange flames and white smoke billowing from the base. The rocket is white and tall, ascending against a cloudy gray sky. Three tall metal towers surround the launchpad. High-angle view of the James Webb Space Telescope's gold-colored hexagonal mirrors being assembled in a large clean room. Support equipment and personnel in clean suits are visible below. Two researchers in white lab coats and protective eyewear work with a complex optical setup on a metal table. They wear purple gloves and are adjusting components of the experiment.

Space and hypersonics

Fan of the moon

Clive Neal searches for new resources in lunar rocks.

The full moon in a dark sky.
  • A bright orange, yellow, and white glow from a rocket taking off at night.

    Article

    Fighting to reach the next frontier in space

    With the launch of the United States Space Force and NASA's planned Artemis missions to the Moon, our nation may be reigniting its curiosity with what's beyond.

  • An interior view of an observatory shows a large red telescope pointing toward a starry night sky.

    Article

    First light

    Discovery brings search for life on other planets into focus

  • Mc 5

    News

    Up, up and away

    Inspired by the unknown, senior Nelson Badillo Perez reaches for the stars If all goes to plan, a rocket carrying a payload consisting of a spacecraft, landing module, atmospheric balloon and assorted instruments will launch from Earth and travel some 90 million miles to Venus in 2030, on a mission...

  • A futuristic space station with solar panels orbits in front of a dark, cratered moon and a starry sky.

    Article

    Gate maker

    Alumnus plays critical role in NASA’s effort to return to the Moon

  1. Three smiling men, one in a white shirt and one in a blue fleece, stand with a large black telescope.

    News

    Closer to the stars

    Notre Dame students design and build their own Dobsonian telescope

  2. Sunlight bursts through the vibrant green canopy of tall deciduous trees, viewed from below, creating a bright dappled effect.

    News

    How light reflects on leaves may help researchers identify dying forests

    Early detection of declining forest health is critical for the timely intervention and treatment of droughted and diseased flora, especially in areas prone to wildfires. Obtaining a reliable measure of whole-ecosystem health before it is too late, however, is an ongoing challenge for forest ecologists. Traditional sampling is too labor-intensive...

  4. Purple gloved hands hold components of a mini satellite

    News

    Voyage to the edge of space: IrishSat to launch innovative mini satellite payload on SpaceX Transporter Mission

    IrishSat, Notre Dame's student satellite team, has developed CHARMS, a compact satellite that uses Earth's magnetic field to orient itself in orbit with minimal energy. Scheduled to launch on a SpaceX mission in 2026, the project demonstrates a low-power control ststem that could expand access to CubeSat, research at the university level.

  6. Michael Weischer

    News

    Physicists review techniques that increase understanding of fusion

    University of Notre Dame researcher Michael Wiescher and collaborators reviewed techniques used to determine nuclear reaction rates in cold stellar environments and shared newer concepts for measuring low-energy nuclear reactions. Wiescher, a professor in the University of Notre Dame Department of Physics and Astronomy, and collaborators proposed a new concept...

  7. Ribbon-cutting ceremony. (Photo by Matt Cashore/University of Notre Dame)

    News

    University of Notre Dame adds two new hypersonics research facilities

    The University of Notre Dame Turbomachinery Laboratory (NDTL) completed construction of two new test cells dedicated to research, development and testing of hypersonic propulsion systems. Along with partners Hermeus, an Atlanta-based startup developing hypersonic aircraft, and FGC Plasma Solutions, a Boston-based startup focusing on combustion technology, NDTL has developed separate...

  8. Tom Corke Hypersonics Day

    News

    Need for hypersonics workforce development ‘an issue of national security’

    As the United States seeks to strengthen its hypersonics capabilities, government officials recently joined engineers and experts at the University of Notre Dame to discuss how the nation can broaden its efforts to lead the field in both technology and talent.  During a workshop led by Thomas Corke, director of...

  9. A detailed painting of two angels reaching for stars on a deep blue ceiling with gold accents.

    Podcast

    Heavenly Realms

    We're closer than ever to knowing whether life exists on other planets. A Notre Dame researcher talks about what he and other experts are recommending to find the answer in the next 20 years. And, what can be done at the moment a life passes from this world to the next? A scholar of Medieval…

  10. The words ‘HEAVY METALS’ in a striped, neon font against a dark, starry background.

    Article

    Heavy metals

    Hunting the rarest stars in the galaxy

  11. A close-up view of the rust-colored surface of Mars as it curves into the blackness of space.

    Article

    Mission to Mars

    Notre Dame research helps propel NASA ambition

  12. A man stands inside a large arch, looking at a hexagonal gold mirror, possibly from the James Webb Space Telescope.

    Article

    Seizing the “Apollo moment”

    Notre Dame scientists among the first to experiment with the James Webb Space Telescope

  13. A close-up, black and white photo of several water droplets hanging from a textured surface.

    Article

    Space bubbles

    Experiment on International Space Station aims to improve cancer detection

  14. A contrail from an airplane stretches across a blue sky with white clouds.

    Article

    Super speed

    Notre Dame is building country’s largest quiet hypersonic wind tunnel

  15. A close-up of a large, metallic industrial pipe with a series of bolted flanges and a blue and red light reflecting off the surface.

    Article

    Fighting to go faster and farther than ever thought possible

    More than a century after a Notre Dame student built one of America's first wind tunnels, researchers are continuing that legacy by building the nation's largest, quiet Mach 6 hypersonic wind funnel.

  16. Map of the United States showing distance from Washington, D.C. to Denver and L.A.

    News

    Notre Dame unveils largest Mach 6 quiet hypersonic test facility in US

    The University of Notre Dame has completed development of the country’s largest quiet Mach 6 hypersonic wind tunnel. Funded with support from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), the AFOSR-Notre Dame Large Mach 6 Quiet Tunnel has a nozzle diameter 2.5 times larger than current quiet hypersonic wind...

Discover and engage
  1. Smiling man with gray hair wearing a navy blazer, light blue dress shirt, and blue striped tie with orange accents, seated in a conference room with artwork and a monitor visible in the blurred background.

    Article

    A dignity movement

    2026 Laetare Medalist Timothy Shriver

  2. Smiling older man with short gray hair wearing a gray blazer and light blue shirt, set against a deep blue background overlaid with colorful financial candlestick chart graphics in teal, pink, and red.

    Podcast

    How do you measure success?

    Mendoza professor Joe Holt joins Jenna Liberto to talk purpose-driven goals, meaningful work, and redefining success.

  3. Students and three priests in white vestments gather for a night mass around a lit snow chapel and altar, snow-covered Sorin Hall in background.

    Photo Essay

    Between winter and spring

    The month in photos, February 2026

  4. Side-by-side black and white portraits. On the left, a man with wavy hair and a patterned blazer is shown in a grainy halftone style. On the right, Father Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C., in a clerical collar, looks thoughtfully to the left.

    Article

    The press vs. the power

    Observer founder Robert Sam Anson had a contentious yet strong relationship with ND President Father Hesburgh.

  5. A woman with short dark hair smiles slightly while looking off-camera. She wears a brown, fleece-lined winter jacket. In the background, snow rests on dried plants in front of a tan brick wall.

    Podcast

    Cold plunges and unicorns

    Anthropologist Cara Ocobock reveals what extreme cold reveals about our bodies and human resilience, and why hunting a “unicorn” is harder than it looks.

  6. A snow-covered parking lot at the University of Notre Dame. Dozens of cars are buried under thick mounds of white snow, with one yellow Jeep featuring an ND logo on the spare tire cover visible amidst the winter landscape.

    Photo Essay

    Plunging into winter

    The month in photos, January 2026

  7. A wooden mannequin is manipulated like a marionette by two large, silhouetted hands from above. The background is divided vertically down the center into solid blue and red sections, symbolizing themes of control and political polarization.

    Article

    Are we social media's puppets?

    Peacebuilder Lisa Schirch believes better tech platforms can bolster democracy.

  8. Aerial view of the University of Notre Dame campus covered in snow at sunset. The Golden Dome and Basilica of the Sacred Heart spire stand against a vibrant orange sky above snow-dusted rooftops and a central quad with intersecting walkways.

    Article

    Sustainers of hope: How Notre Dame pursued breakthroughs for a world in need in 2025

    The year in review.

  9. A bright lightning bolt flashes down behind the dark spire of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart and the illuminated Golden Dome of Notre Dame's Main Building under a grey, stormy sky.

    Photo Essay

    25 images of 2025

    From the changing built environment to the changing seasons, every one of the 365 days of 2025 looked different.