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, University of Notre Dame Senior Nelson Badillo Perez will pursue a doctorate in materials science and mechanical engineering at Harvard next year as a NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Fellow.

  • 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. Assistant Professor Gioacchino Antonelli, with a beard and blue shirt smiles, with the Notre Dame Main Building's Golden Dome behind him.

    News

    Mathematician aims to shed more understanding of curved spaces

    Imagine you are in space. You can’t move up or down, only spiraling around the corner of the universe you find yourself in. Then imagine trying to understand the geometric limitations of such a scenario. This is the work of a mathematician in geometric analysis. Assistant Professor Gioacchino Antonelli is...

  2. 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

  3. 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

    A new study from researchers at the University of Notre Dame, published in Nature: Communications Earth & Environment, uncovers a more comprehensive picture of forest health. Funded by NASA, the research shows that spectral reflectance—a measurement obtained from satellite images—corresponds with the expression of specific genes.

  5. 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.

  7. 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...

  10. 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…

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

    Article

    Heavy metals

    Hunting the rarest stars in the galaxy

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. 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.

Discover and engage
  1. A woman in a navy blue shirt helps a young girl wearing glasses assemble wooden craft pieces.

    Article

    25 years of impact in South Bend

    The Robinson Community Learning Center stands as a lasting symbol of trust, partnership, and shared purpose between Notre Dame and its closest neighbors.

  2. The bronze sculpture Desert Rose by Arnaldo Pomodoro is placed at the center of the ecological greenhouse at the Gardens of Castel Gandolfo. The curved glass structure—covered with solar panels—frames the work within a light-filled, sustainable environment. Stone pathways and carefully trimmed hedges unfold beneath a canopy of Mediterranean pines.

    Article

    Sowing seeds of hope: Vatican partnership advances global sustainability

    The collaboration supports research, education, and action to build a more just, sustainable future.

  3. Broadly smiling woman with dark hair in a navy jacket with gold buttons, arms crossed, in front of bookshelves.

    Podcast

    What happened to the American family?

    The American family has changed dramatically over the past four decades, raising urgent questions about marriage, economic stability, and child well-being.

  4. Statue of Sacred Heart of Jesus, two lit candles, surrounded by worn black and brown shoes and scattered red tokens on wood.

    Article

    A saint of our own?

    The humble piety of Notre Dame cobbler Brother Columba inspires a canonization push.

  5. Golden Dome and Basilica of the Sacred Heart silhouetted against a red and orange sunset, reflected in a Notre Dame lake.

    Photo Essay

    A model March

    Semester in full swing, snow, sun, fun, madness, and mulch.

  6. Congregation and clergy gather at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart with a purple banner and white-draped coffin.

    Photo Essay

    Remembrance and appreciation

    Lou Holtz, 1937–2026

  7. 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

  8. 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.

  9. 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