We’re on a mission to prepare 21st century engineers and scientists to drive growth in US aerospace and defense sectors.
The UT Space Institute is a vibrant research, education, and innovation center of excellence, located on a satellite campus of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT), in Tullahoma, Tennessee, adjacent to the epicenter of US aerospace ground testing at the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC). UTSI is:
- Dedicated to advancing Tennessee’s leadership role in aerospace and defense and equipping graduates with expertise in related fields.
- Supporting AEDC in maintaining state of the art expertise in both technical and managerial ranks, providing critical educational support toward AEDC’s national mission for the Department of Defense, NASA, and the aerospace industry.
- Uniquely poised to meet the needs of the US Space Force by preparing a world-class workforce in East Tennessee and beyond, and advancing the technologies and systems necessary to protect US and allied interests in space.
- Playing a pivotal role in the land-grant mission of UT, ensuring the creation of economic growth and workforce development opportunities for underserved communities in middle and east Tennessee.
Cutting Edge Facilities
UTSI is home to many of UT’s experimental aerospace testing platforms, including:
- Mach 2 Blowdown Tunnel (8″ x 8″ Test-Section)
- Mach 2.3 Blowdown Tunnel (6″ x 6″ Test-Section)
- Mach 4 Ludwieg Tube (24″ x 24″ Test-Section)
- Mach 7 Ludwieg Tube (18″ x 18″ Test-Section)
UTSI Graduates
We have many distinguished alumni, several of whom have achieved national fame as astronauts, company presidents, chief scientists, engineering managers and renowned scholars and scientists. Many of our alumni occupy high-level positions in industry, government, and universities not only in the United States but in other countries as well. With more than 2,000 alumni, our graduates are innovators and leaders across Tennessee.