SPAR Set Its Sights on the Future of the Institute

Last year, the $35 M Space Power and Propulsion for Agility, Responsiveness and Resilience (SPAR) Institute, an award under the USSF University Consortium, held its official kick-off meeting, gathering stakeholders and team leaders from around the country to discuss the institute’s goals for the coming years. With the University of Michigan leading the charge, the institute has already begun showcasing how U-M is setting itself apart as a leader for in-space technology.

The SPAR Institute was formed to develop spacecraft that can “maneuver without regret,” with funding from the U.S. Space Force, and is set to bring fast chemical rockets together with efficient electric propulsion powered by a nuclear microreactor. As the eight universities and 14 industry partners and advisers come together to tackle the initiative, the SPAR Institute is now one of the nation’s largest efforts to advance space power and propulsion.

2025-2026

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Prototype Development and Initial Testing

In the first two years, SPAR will focus on developing novel prototype systems to demonstrate key capabilities in both in-space propulsion and in-space nuclear power. These prototype tests will be conducted in a simulated vacuum environment at the Plasmadynamics and Electric Propulsion Laboratory. The primary objective during this phase is to validate core technologies and establish a foundation for future advancements. The first major milestone will be a systems-level test in Year 2, ensuring integration across all research efforts. To support this, two dedicated chief engineers — one for power and one for propulsion — will oversee coordination and development.

2027-2028

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Component Refinement and Expanded Research

Following the initial prototype phase, SPAR will refine and enhance key subsystem components. This period will focus on improving the efficiency, scalability, and performance of power and propulsion technologies. The research teams may evolve based on technical progress, with the possibility of expanding the roster to explore parallel technical paths. Growth will be driven by speed and results, ensuring that the best possible solutions emerge. Industry and government collaboration will continue to play a critical role in shaping the direction of research and development.

2029+

April 8

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Advanced System Testing and Industry Integration

By Year 5, SPAR aims to conduct a second, more advanced systems-level test, incorporating improvements and refinements from the previous years. This milestone represents a significant step toward the real-world application of in-space power and propulsion technologies. Given SPAR’s high-profile nature and engagement with national leaders and academic institutions, the program is expected to contribute directly to the space industry by addressing both immediate and long-term needs. The ultimate goal is for SPAR’s innovations to “infuse” into next-generation space systems, enabling more efficient and powerful propulsion and energy solutions for future missions.

U-M Aerospace Engineering Professor and Institute Director Benjamin Jorns will be utilizing the expertise of other U-M Aerospace Engineering Professors including professors Mirko Gamba, Venkat Raman, Chris Limbach, Alex Gorodetsky, Oliver Jia-Richards, alongside others from the University of Michigan and outside institutions.

Professor Jorns highlighted that over the next two years, the goal of SPAR will be to produce novel prototype systems for demonstrating key capabilities for both in-space propulsion and in-space nuclear power. These tests will be performed in a simulated vacuum environment in the Plasmadynamics and Electric Propulsion Laboratory (PEPL), which Jorns heads at U-M. He also stated that in the intermediate years, the team will work to build the capability of the key components of each subsystem, which will culminate in a second and improved set of systems-level tests in Year 5.

With various sub-teams all working together to achieve key milestones that will ultimately work together, system-level tests proposed for Year 2 and Year 5 will be essential for linking the team’s efforts together. These tests will provide a common linking theme to ensure all efforts are integrated to support the overall project. To facilitate the push toward these systems-level tests, SPAR has two dedicated chief engineers–one for power and one for propulsion. One of these chief engineers is Eric Viges, a senior engineer at U-M’s Space Physics Research Laboratory, the other is Dr. Tate Gil, an assistant research scientist in aerospace engineering.

“This is a high-profile program with major interest from industry and government,” Professor Jorns stated. “The intention is that the work we perform will be directly answerable to their present, near and far-term needs. The technologies we develop thus hopefully will “infuse” in such a way to enable the next generation of space power and propulsion technology.”

As SPAR officially begins to pave the way for innovation and exploration of new technologies, Professor Jorns and his team have gathered a star-studded list of partners and collaborators to the roster of participants working on the institute. Over the coming years, he expects the roster will evolve as changes and natural growth surrounding their work take place, dependent upon the results of the technical efforts and if there is a need to identify parallel technical paths. Professor Jorns stated that the drivers behind SPAR are speed and results.