Space systems and small satellites
COSMIAC supports mission concepts, spacecraft subsystem development, satellite communications, controls, systems integration, and hands-on small satellite program execution.
What is COSMIAC?
A UNM research center built to connect aerospace ideas with mission-ready engineering.
COSMIAC is an innovative research center at The University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, New Mexico. As a School of Engineering research center, COSMIAC supports aerospace and defense work that brings together faculty, staff, students, government partners, industry collaborators, and small businesses.
Our mission is practical and collaborative: bridge the gap between academia, government, and industry by giving students hands-on experience on real engineering problems while helping partners advance research, prototypes, demonstrations, and transition-ready technologies.
UNM EngineeringA School of Engineering research center supporting aerospace, defense, and applied technology development.
30,000 sq. ft.Laboratory, cleanroom, office, and high-bay space across COSMIAC facilities on Alamo Avenue.
24/7 SATCOMSatellite communications infrastructure supporting operational and research activities.
Student centeredHands-on research opportunities that help build New Mexico’s aerospace workforce.
What COSMIAC does
COSMIAC brings together facilities, people, and technical capability to support government, industry, and academic aerospace research.
Radiation effects and reliability
Radiation studies, testing support, modeling, mitigation, and part-selection activities help partners understand how electronics and systems perform in mission-relevant environments.
Communications and sensing
Research areas include RF communications, satellite ground systems, optical communications, positioning, navigation, timing, waveform analysis, and resilient operation in contested environments.
Rapid prototyping
Additive manufacturing, mechanical design, electronics development, and visualization workflows help teams move quickly from concept to physical prototype.
Business acceleration
COSMIAC supports an innovation ecosystem where small businesses can engage technical expertise, facilities, students, and university partnership pathways.
Workforce development
Students work on sponsor-relevant projects under COSMIAC engineering mentorship, gaining experience that supports New Mexico’s aerospace and defense workforce needs.
Facilities and technical environment
COSMIAC combines university research infrastructure with practical engineering space for development, testing, integration, and collaboration.
Laboratories, cleanroom, and high-bay space
COSMIAC operates approximately 30,000 square feet of space across its Alamo Avenue facilities, including laboratories, cleanroom capability, development areas, offices, and high-bay space for larger-scale prototyping and integration.
The center’s technical work spans satellite communications, radiation effects, additive manufacturing, materials studies, rapid prototyping, optical and RF systems, space systems engineering, cybersecurity, and positioning, navigation, and timing.
A practical bridge between sectors
COSMIAC is designed to make collaboration easier for organizations that need university research capability without losing the speed and focus required for mission-driven engineering.
- Projects are aligned to the needs of sponsoring organizations.
- Students gain meaningful experience while working under COSMIAC technical supervision.
- Partners can access laboratories, high-bay space, engineering expertise, and university collaboration pathways.
- The model helps build local talent interested in staying and working in New Mexico.
Innovation and workforce ecosystem
COSMIAC supports both technology development and the people who will carry that technology forward.
Industrial accelerator environment
COSMIAC hosts and supports small businesses working in areas such as laser communications, embedded systems, directed energy, spectroscopy, and related aerospace technologies. This creates a practical environment where companies, researchers, and students can interact around real technical needs.
By combining business acceleration, student engagement, and technical infrastructure, COSMIAC helps strengthen the regional aerospace innovation base.
Above: COSMIAC student incubator and collaboration space.
Above: Rapid prototyping and 3D printing in the COSMIAC high bay space.
Why this model matters
COSMIAC helps sponsors move faster while creating a stronger local workforce. Partners can engage technical teams without building every internal capability from scratch, while students gain direct experience on aerospace and defense projects that matter to regional and national missions.
This approach supports UNM’s educational mission, strengthens New Mexico’s aerospace economy, and helps government and industry partners access motivated technical talent.
Connect with COSMIAC
Learn more about our people, technical capabilities, facilities, business opportunities, and current research areas.
