News Releases
NSF NRAO Leads Future of U.S. Radio Astronomy with First Light from Next Generation Very Large Array Prototype
The proposed array’s design will improve on the sensitivity and spatial resolution—with 10 times the effective collecting area and resolution—over the current NSF VLA and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array at the same wavelengths.
VLBA Maps Turbulent ‘Weather’ in the Milky Way
Astronomers using the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Very Long Baseline Array (NSF VLBA), operated by the NSF National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO), have made the first clear, radio-wavelength detection of how turbulent gas in our own Galaxy distorts light from a distant quasar.
Painting the Giant: NSF Green Bank Telescope Gets Critical Makeover
This work is part of a multi-year repainting effort designed to protect this national scientific asset from the elements and extend the NSF GBT’s working life for future generations of researchers.
NSF NRAO Announces 2026 Jansky Fellows
The NRAO Jansky Fellowship Program is designed to support outstanding early-career scientists and engineers in conducting independent research related to the mission of the U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO).
AUI by the Numbers
75+
Years of Experience in Managing
Federally Funded Research and
Development Centers (FFRDCs)
30
Active Research Patents
1,130+
Doctoral Dissertations Supported by
National Radio Astronomy
Observatory Facilities
Highlights
- AUI is laying the groundwork to upgrade the U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) to become the Next Generation Very Large Array (ngVLA).
- AUI led efforts to create the $1.4-billion Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), the world’s largest radio telescope, as part of an international consortium.
- AUI has joined with LEAP Manufacturing in support of the UT-Dallas Batteries and Energy to Advance Commercialization and National Security (BEACONS) Center. Funded by a $30-million agreement by the U.S. Department of Defense, BEACONS will develop and commercialize new battery technologies and manufacturing processes, enhance the domestic availability of critical raw materials, and train high-quality workers for jobs in an expanding battery energy storage workforce.
- AUI maintains over a dozen STEM education and public engagement efforts and programs that seek to inspire people of all ages, and to prepare the next generation STEM workforce.
Leadership
Who We Are
AUI is an independent, not-for-profit corporation founded in 1946 that builds, manages and operates large research and development (R&D) facilities for the federal government, including the U.S. National Science Foundation’s National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) facilities, the Center for American Supply Chain Resilience (CASCR), and the AUI Center for Advancing Therapeutics. AUI also develops and implements innovative approaches to education, outreach and workforce development.
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