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

  3. 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…

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

    Article

    Heavy metals

    Hunting the rarest stars in the galaxy

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

Discover and engage
  1. Snowy winter night at the University of Notre Dame. The Golden Dome of the Main Building and the spire of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart glow, surrounded by warm lights and a blue-lit Christmas tree.

    Video

    Merry Christmas from Notre Dame

  2. A smiling woman with glasses and brown hair pulled back stands in front of a dark blue background with abstract white digital lines and binary code.

    Podcast

    A human-centered framework for AI ethics

    In this episode, Meghan Sullivan explains the DELTA framework, a human-centered approach to AI ethics—and why the choices we make today will define how this powerful technology shapes our future.

  3. Aerial view of a red and organge sunset over the skyline of the Notre Dame campus

    Photo Essay

    A blend of seasons

    The month in photos, November 2025

  4. Aerial view of the classical, domed former Gary City Hall building with a 'Welcome to Gary' sign on the front lawn.

    Article

    Fighting for community regeneration

    Gary, Indiana, has been a song lyric, a cultural hub, a stigma, a city to rush past, but now it is poised to revitalize, thanks in part to Notre Dame's School of Architecture.

  5. A translucent amber electronic device, revealing a circuit board with components and a small dark display. A black oval badge with orange “oneAir” text, where the A is a triangle, is on the front. It rests against a blue-to-red gradient background.

    Photo Essay

    Fighting for faster virus detection

    An electronic nose developed by Notre Dame researchers is helping sniff out bird flu biomarkers for faster detection and fewer sick birds.

  6. Silhouette of a person in a green shirt with arms crossed looking out over a densely built, hazy cityscape.

    Article

    Fighting to educate children in Ghana

    Soccer opened doors for student-athlete Daniel Boateng, so he’s leveraging the sport to offer opportunities for kids in his native Ghana.

  7. A man in a blue lab coat and glasses stands in a blue-lit laboratory. He has gray hair and a neutral expression, looking forward.

    Podcast

    New tech to help stop the spread of bird flu

    An “electronic nose” developed at Notre Dame could transform farming by detecting bird flu early.

  8. Notre Dame Stadium at night, packed with spectators, illuminated by bright stadium lights and green and white fireworks exploding above the arena.

    Photo Essay

    14 reasons to love October

    The month in photos, October 2025

  9. A gloved hand holds a petri dish with purple liquid drops, and a pipette is dispensing more liquid into one of the drops.

    Article

    Fighting to cure brain cancer

    To better understand glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, a Notre Dame researcher thought outside the box—and off planet Earth.