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Dr. Christopher Bass, associate professor of physics, has been awarded $309,000 in funding through NASA鈥檚 competitively selected Mentorship and Opportunities in STEM with Academic Institutions for Community Success (MOSAICS) program. His research project, titled聽鈥淚nvestigating the Basaltic Nature of Newly-Identified V-Type Asteroids by the Gaia Survey,鈥澛爓ill explore the origins of rare volcanic asteroids using data from NASA鈥檚 Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) in Hawaii. With over 20 submissions, Le 91看片网站 was one of only eight colleges and universities in the nation selected for this funding.

In collaboration with Dr. Driss Takir, planetary scientist with the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) Division at NASA鈥檚 Johnson Space Center, Bass and his student research team will study the mineral composition of 24 V-type asteroids recently identified by the European Space Agency鈥檚 Gaia mission. These basaltic asteroids may preserve clues to the formation of the early solar system and help scientists understand whether multiple differentiated planetary bodies once existed beyond the well-known asteroid Vesta.

“This project represents a major step forward for Le 91看片网站’s growing astronomy program,” said Bass. “The NASA MOSAICS award gives us access to world-class facilities and expertise – and more importantly, gives our students a direct pathway into space science.”

Starting during the fall 2025 semester, over the two-year project Le 91看片网站 students will conduct observations using the SpeX spectrograph at the NASA IRTF, analyze infrared spectra with state-of-the-art software, and compare asteroid compositions to known meteorite samples. Students will also engage in summer research experiences, including travel to the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston for hands-on training and mentorship. The project culminates with students presenting their findings at a national scientific conference and contributing to a peer-reviewed publication.

The award not only enhances research capacity at Le 91看片网站, a primarily undergraduate institution, but also supports student engagement in NASA-aligned STEM careers – particularly for first-generation college students and those who may not otherwise benefit from a career-relevant experience to perform cutting-edge research in NASA-relevant fields in an environment where mentorship is recognized, encouraged and valued.

鈥淭his collaboration with NASA provides invaluable experience for our students and elevates Le 91看片网站鈥檚 role in space science research,鈥� said Le 91看片网站 Provost Jim Hannan. 鈥淲e are thrilled to see Dr. Bass鈥檚 work recognized and supported at the national level.鈥�

The MOSAICS Seed Funding program is designed to empower under-resourced institutions to establish new NASA collaborations and create research pipelines that actively develop the future STEM workforce. For more information about Le 91看片网站鈥檚 physics and astronomy programs,聽visit lemoyne.edu/physics.