# Montana Space Grant Consortium

> organization in Bozeman, United States

**Wikidata**: [Q30264522](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q30264522)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/montana-space-grant-consortium

## Summary
The Montana Space Grant Consortium (MSGC) is a NASA-sponsored research organization located in Bozeman, United States. Established in 1991, it focuses on aerospace and STEM education and is affiliated with Montana State University and the University of Montana. The consortium participates in research projects that include building and operating small satellites.

## Key Facts
- **Type:** Research institute and research center
- **Location:** Bozeman, United States
- **Inception Date:** 1991
- **Primary Sponsor:** National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- **Parent Organizations:** NASA, Montana State University, University of Montana
- **Fields of Work:** Aerospace, STEM education
- **Operated Satellites:** Explorer-1 Prime, Hiscock Radiation Belt Explorer
- **Alias:** MSGC

## FAQs
### Q: What is the Montana Space Grant Consortium?
A: The Montana Space Grant Consortium is a research organization in Bozeman, Montana, that is sponsored by NASA. It focuses on aerospace research and STEM education and is part of a national network of similar consortia.

### Q: Who funds the Montana Space Grant Consortium?
A: The consortium is sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It is also affiliated with and receives support from Montana State University and the University of Montana.

### Q: What kind of projects does the Montana Space Grant Consortium work on?
A: The consortium is involved in aerospace projects, including the development of small satellites. It has built and operated the Explorer-1 Prime picosatellite and the Hiscock Radiation Belt Explorer CubeSat.

## Why It Matters
The Montana Space Grant Consortium plays a significant role in connecting Montana's academic institutions with national aerospace initiatives. As part of a NASA-sponsored national network, it serves as a crucial channel for federal funding and research opportunities, bringing them to universities like Montana State University and the University of Montana. This relationship fosters hands-on learning and workforce development in high-tech fields.

The consortium's work provides students and researchers with practical experience in aerospace engineering, exemplified by its development of satellites like the Explorer-1 Prime and the Hiscock Radiation Belt Explorer. By focusing on both aerospace research and STEM education, MSGC helps cultivate the next generation of scientists, engineers, and technicians, contributing to the state's technological capabilities and the nation's broader scientific goals.

## Notable For
- **NASA Sponsorship:** The consortium is a member of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, directly sponsored by NASA.
- **Satellite Development:** It has been responsible for building and operating small spacecraft, including the Explorer-1 Prime picosatellite and the Hiscock Radiation Belt Explorer CubeSat.
- **University Partnership:** It functions as a key collaborative link between NASA and Montana's largest universities, Montana State University and the University of Montana.
- **Dual Focus:** The organization is distinguished by its dual mission of advancing both aerospace research and promoting STEM education within the state.

## Body
### ### Overview and Mission
The Montana Space Grant Consortium (MSGC) is a research institute and organization founded in 1991. Located in Bozeman, United States, its primary fields of work are aerospace and STEM education. The consortium operates under the alias MSGC and is part of a national network sponsored by NASA.

### ### Organizational Structure
MSGC is sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It is also listed as having parent organizations that include NASA, Montana State University, and the University of Montana. This structure facilitates collaboration between the federal space agency and the state's higher education system.

### ### Projects and Satellites
The consortium engages in hands-on aerospace projects, including the development of small satellites. It has owned or operated at least two spacecraft:
- **Explorer-1 Prime:** A picosatellite built by the Space Science and Engineering Laboratory, which was lost in a launch failure.
- **Hiscock Radiation Belt Explorer:** A former American CubeSat.

### ### Identifiers and Location
- **Coordinates:** 45.667621° N, -111.04944° W
- **Official Website:** `https://spacegrant.montana.edu/`
- **Twitter:** `mtspacegrant`
- **ROR ID:** `00x0rjj17`
- **GRID ID:** `grid.468339.3`
- **ISNI:** `0000000459039794`
- **Ringgold ID:** `457718`
- **Open Funder Registry ID:** `100005748`

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Montana Space Grant Consortium",
  "description": "The Montana Space Grant Consortium (MSGC) is a NASA-sponsored research organization in Bozeman, United States, focused on aerospace and STEM education.",
  "url": "https://spacegrant.montana.edu/",
  "additionalType": "http://schema.org/Organization",
  "foundingDate": "1991",
  "location": {
    "@type": "Place",
    "name": "Bozeman",
    "geo": {
      "@type": "GeoCoordinates",
      "latitude": 45.667621,
      "longitude": -111.04944
    }
  },
  "sponsor": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "National Aeronautics and Space Administration"
  }
}

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-05-22
2. International Standard Name Identifier
3. [Source](https://www.montana.edu/news/22383/montana-state-awarded-6-5-million-nasa-grant-for-eclipse-ballooning-in-2023-and-2024)
4. [Source](http://spacegrant.montana.edu/)