Space—the final frontier. For many it’s also the ultimate career.

That was the buzz when NASA’s Future Forum, a seven-city tour touting the agency’s 50th year, landed at the University in April.

“I was interested in space, but I did not dare to dream about it,” says Robert P. Mueller, B.S.M.E. ’88, a mechanical engineer hired by NASA in 1989 as a result of its UM recruiting.

Mueller, Berta A. Alfonso, B.S.E.E. ’84, and Juan P. Calero, B.S.E.E. ’90, were among the NASA Kennedy Space Center engineers on campus to review space industry-related research posters by students from the School of Engineering, the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, and several other institutions around the state.

John Aguirre, B.S.A.S.E. ’06, had applied for a job at NASA by the time he and Sebastian Aspe, B.S.M.E. ’08, Danah George, B.S.M.E. ’07, and Miguel Ramos, B.S.A.S.E. ’08, presented their souped-up jet airfoil at the forum. UM wind tunnel tests proved its wing design could help jets climb at sharper angles.

“NASA and UM need to continue to foster a relationship so that NASA can take advantage of the growing talent UM is infusing into the workforce,” says Calero, a 1991 NASA hire.

Under the guidance of associate professor Gecheng Zha, engineering undergrads Aspe, Joseph Dussling, Nicholas Heinz, and Daniel Martinez placed second in the NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate’s 2008 university competition for their entry “2058 Aircraft: Quiet Ultra-Efficient Integrated Aircraft.” They won $3,500, and Heinz secured an internship at NASA, which is sending the team to Atlanta for the award ceremony.

“Using the inspirational pursuit of space exploration to spark the imagination of our youth is critical,” Shana Dale, NASA’s deputy administrator, said at the Future Forum.

Clearly, the countdown is under way.