SE Kentucky News

WASHINGTON, DC – Morehead State University has been lauded as the "savior" of NASA's recent lunar landing, with U.S. Rep. Harold “Hal” Rogers highlighting the university's pivotal role. Rogers invited Dr. Ben Malphrus, Executive Director of Morehead State University’s Space Science Center, to Capitol Hill for a hearing with NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, who expressed gratitude for the university's assistance in NASA's latest space exploration endeavor on the moon's south pole.

"Recently, Morehead State University staff and students stepped up to help NASA during the Odysseus robotic Moon landing – the first ever private spacecraft to land on the moon," said Chairman Rogers. "Morehead State was able to assist with establishing a command bridge to overcome communication issues after challenges in the landing process."

NASA Administrator Nelson echoed these sentiments, stating, "Morehead State was the savior of our historic mission to the moon. It's symbolic of how commercial and government can work together."

Dr. Malphrus, in turn, expressed pride in Morehead State's contribution, stating, "I’m really proud of our students and our staff at Morehead State. We were actively writing code in the middle of the night to restore communications with the lunar lander, Odie, ensuring that this important mission on the Moon's south pole did not fail."

The collaboration between Morehead State University and NASA was further acknowledged by Congressman Rogers, who recently secured funding earmarks to support space science programs in Eastern Kentucky, including significant financial support for Morehead State University's Space Tracking Stations.

The successful partnership between Morehead State University and NASA serves as a testament to the importance of collaboration between academic institutions and government agencies in advancing space exploration efforts.

For more information about Congressman Rogers’ work in Washington and at home in Kentucky, visit halrogers.house.gov.