NASA Awards Texas Institutions Solar System Origins Grants

WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 /PRNewswire/ — NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, Solar System Division, Washington, selected two Texas institutions for grants to support the Origins of Solar Systems research program.

The Origins of Solar Systems program supports scientific investigations related to understanding the formation and early evolution of planetary systems, and to provide the fundamental research and analysis necessary to detect and characterize other planetary systems.

The research also supports the Vision for Space Exploration, NASA’s long- term plan to return astronauts to the moon and extend exploration to Mars and beyond. Research institutions and maximum grant awards:

   – Rice University, Houston: $181,000   – NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston: $201,000    For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, visit:                           http://www.nasa.gov/home  

NASA

CONTACT: Erica Hupp or George Deutsch, Headquarters, Washington,+1-202-358-1237, or +1-202-358-1324, both of NASA

Web site: http://www.nasa.gov/home