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Earth and Space

From the inner core of Earth to the edges of distant galaxies, the study of Earth and space sciences at ASU furthers understanding of the origins and evolution of the Universe, including the planet we call home.

Broadly-based multidisciplinary research and study at ASU cut across the traditional disciplines of astronomy, physics, geology, chemistry, biology, engineering, geographical sciences and mathematics and set the stage for a new era of exploration.  

The School of Earth and Space Exploration is home to the Mars Space Flight Facility, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera science operations center, the Buseck Center for Meteorite Studies, Mars Missions operations,  the Ronald Greeley Center for Planetary Studies and the Marston Exploration Theater. In addition, faculty, researchers, staff and students in the School of Earth and Space Exploration are a part of more than 20 NASA and international space missions, and lead both the NASA Psyche Mission and the LunaH-Map mission.

ASU’s Interplanetary Initiative is a leading space center, creating private-public partnerships and driving our positive human space future for exploration by finding the key needs and filling them with interdisciplinary teams. Through teaching, projects, events, partnerships, the initiative develops technological leaders, answers important questions, creates community and enhances scalable collaboration for the future of humans in space, creating a bolder and better society.

ASU’s Space Technology and Science Initiative (New Space) uses ASU’s core strengths in space science, engineering, and education to create academic-commercial partnerships. Bringing together the most brilliant minds in the space industry sector, the initiative advances space access and exploration, leverages value-added expertise, and drives the future of this industry. 

Delving into how we build life on Earth, the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning pursues research and outreach in geography, urban planning, climate change, cultural geography, environmental science and GIS, from studies that examine how city-dwellers connect with nature to pioneering new methods to use of modeling and satellite imagery to examine global urbanization, urban economic development, and impacts of humans on climate, plant and animal communities and water issues.