Imagine the surreal, weightless experience of moving through deep space… in Middle Tennessee.

Located in Tullahoma, Tennessee, the University of Tennessee Space Institute provides the opportunity for eligible students to earn a master’s degree or doctorate in a state-of-the-art research institution dedicated to aerospace studies, engineering, mathematics and physics.

Founded during the Cold War in 1964, the space institute was created to help the nearby U.S. Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Complex “maintain expertise in both technical and managerial ranks,” said Robert Moore, executive director of UTSI.

UTSI has done just that, awarding more than 2,000 graduate degrees and 250 doctorate degrees, 500 of which were earned by Arnold Engineering Development Complex employees.

“We are dedicated to making scientific and technical advances,” Moore said. “Our graduates stand as a testament to our contributions to both aerospace and the defense of the country.”

Graduate students and researchers at the institute can participate in 15 areas of research, including space environment simulation, electric propulsion systems, medical device development and laser materials processing.

“We have a large vacuum chamber facility that simulates the deep space environment and tests sensors and other equipment to be used in space,” said Barbara Birdsong, administrative coordinator at UTSI.

The institution also contains a propulsion facility used to test jet engines for the Department of Defense, flight simulators, 3-D printers and lasers capable of drilling 100 holes into the tip of a human hair.

UTSI is responsible for running the world’s first coal-fired flow facility, dedicated to providing electricity at a minimum cost, as well as the Flight Research Facility at the Tullahoma Regional Airport and the Center for Laser Applications.

“These diverse research activities, an attractive student-to-faculty ratio and outstanding facilities combine to offer an unusual apprenticeship experience for diligent graduate students,” wrote William Hofmeister, director of the Center for Laser Applications.

Nine of these diligent students have gone on to become NASA astronauts, including Barry Wilmore.

Wilmore will launch to the International Space Station on Sept. 25 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

While the institute’s primary focus is research, leaders of the program recognize the importance of educating and inspiring the next generation of scientists.

The institute hosts four summer camps for elementary school children through high school, including a “Materials Camp,” “Tech Camp,” “Computational Science Camp” and a “Mad Science” camp for younger kids. All the camps are designed to introduce students to potential career paths in engineering and the sciences.

Dedicated to innovation and excellence, UT Space Institute will continue to provide for the future of aerospace and applied science through internationally renowned facilities and instruction in the state of Tennessee.

For more information, visit www.utsi.edu.