I cannot join the space program and restart my life as an astronaut, but this opportunity to connect my abilities as an educator with my interests in history and space is a unique opportunity to fulfill my early fantasies.

Collaboration is essential to the study of space sciences and the development of technology for the exploration of the universe, yet it is not cost-effective for many institutions to house the facilities and equipment necessary to conduct rigorous space-related research.

USRA has developed two programs that are designed to stimulate the involvement of university, private-sector, and government researchers and technologists?including students?in long-term collaborative efforts among space-related disciplines. These programs are located at or near NASA facilities where such efforts can be developed and tested for the benefit of the academic community, space-related industries, and NASA's mission to "pioneer the future in space exploration, scientific discovery, and aeronautics research".

• The Advancement of Engineering Technical Excellence and Technology Development (AETETD) Program, a link for collaborations among engineers, scientists, and technologists at the Marshall Space Flight Center and researchers in universities, industry, and other governmental agencies.
• The Visiting Researcher Exchange and Outreach Program (VREO), a partnership between USRA and the Marshall Space Flight Center Office of Human Capital's Academic Affairs Office that facilitates research visits between university, industry, and other governmental agency researchers and NASA scientists and engineers.
• Sabbatical and Post-Doctoral Programs-USRA offers a number of opportunities for faculty and post-doctoral researchers to work in our programs.