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Private company

Universities Space Research Association

Logo: Universities Space Research Association (USRA), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons4

Independent, nonprofit research corporation to advance space science and technology

The Universities Space Research Association (USRA) is a private nonprofit corporation incorporated on March 12, 1969, in Washington, D.C. under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to promote exploration in space- and aeronautics-related sciences through innovative research, technology, and educational programs. Institutional membership in the association currently stands at 122 universities.2 It was founded by James E. Webb.1 Its chief executive is Jeffrey Isaacson (since 2014).1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

Mar 12, 1969Founded1
  • HeadquartersColumbia, United States1
  • Founded inWashington, D.C.1
  • Websitewww.usra.edu
  • Legal formnonprofit organization1
  • Kind of organizationNonprofit organization1
  • LEI549300KH8760LS58WK863
  • StatusActive3
  • LEI statusLapsed (not renewed)3
  • Registered addressC/O Corporate Creations Network Inc., 20006 Washington, United States3
  • Registered withDepartment of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, 6905723

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The Universities Space Research Association (USRA) is a private nonprofit corporation incorporated on March 12, 1969, in Washington, D.C. under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to promote exploration in space- and aeronautics-related sciences through innovative research, technology, and educational programs. Institutional membership in the association currently stands at 122 universities.2

Corporate structure

Universities Space Research Association sits at the top of its group. 5 entities, 1 country on record. Switch between the flow chart and the network, and select any entity to see its details.

  • Universities Space Research Association Washington, the District of Columbia, United States
    • Lunar and Planetary Institute Subsidiary · Houston
    • NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts Subsidiary
    • Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab Subsidiary · United States
    • Research Institute for Advanced Computer Science Subsidiary · Mountain View, United States

Built from parent and subsidiary links from GLEIF, the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (CC0); subsidiaries, stakes and holdings from Wikidata (CC0). Each entity in the chart links to its source.

The story

Founded by James E. Webb on Mar 12, 1969, in Washington, D.C..1

Leadership

Who has led Universities Space Research Association, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Chief executive

  1. A. Robert Kuhlthau1969–1976
  2. Alexander J. Dessler1976–1981
  3. Paul J. Coleman1981–2000
  4. David C. Black2000–2006
  5. Frederick Tarantino2006–2014
  6. Donald Kniffen2014
  7. Jeffrey Isaacson2014–now
197019801990200020102020

Subsidiaries and ownership

Subsidiaries

  • Lunar and Planetary Institute
  • NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts
  • Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab
  • Research Institute for Advanced Computer Science

From Wikidata.1

Acquisitions

  1. 1998NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts became a subsidiary1

Timeline

  1. 2014New chief executive Jeffrey Isaacson becomes CEO1
  2. 2014New chief executive Donald Kniffen becomes CEO1
  3. 2006New chief executive Frederick Tarantino becomes CEO1
  4. 2000New chief executive David C. Black becomes CEO1
  5. 1981New chief executive Paul J. Coleman becomes CEO1
  6. 1976New chief executive Alexander J. Dessler becomes CEO1
  7. Mar 12, 1969Founded Founded in Washington, D.C.1
  8. 1969New chief executive A. Robert Kuhlthau becomes CEO1

Funding

Where the company's money came from, by calendar year: private offerings filed with the SEC, federal grants, loans, contracts and other assistance from USAspending.gov, and PPP loans from the SBA. Each bar links to the records below.

Money received by year$1.7B 2008–2026
Money received by yearMoney received by year, 2008–2026: $1.7B in all. Federal grants $846.0M; Federal contracts $842.6M.$0$50M$100M$150M$200M2008 · Federal grants: $39.7M2008 · Federal contracts: $22.6M20082009 · Federal grants: $25.1M2009 · Federal contracts: $25.5M2010 · Federal grants: $30.6M2010 · Federal contracts: $23.2M20102011 · Federal grants: $47.5M2011 · Federal contracts: $24.9M2012 · Federal grants: $46.6M2012 · Federal contracts: $30.5M20122013 · Federal grants: $47.4M2013 · Federal contracts: $31.7M2014 · Federal grants: $69.4M2014 · Federal contracts: $36.1M20142015 · Federal grants: $58.9M2015 · Federal contracts: $40.8M2016 · Federal grants: $60.3M2016 · Federal contracts: $90.7M20162017 · Federal grants: $57.7M2017 · Federal contracts: $78.3M2018 · Federal grants: $59.9M2018 · Federal contracts: $97.6M20182019 · Federal grants: $59.9M2019 · Federal contracts: $94.5M2020 · Federal grants: $63.3M2020 · Federal contracts: $76.4M20202021 · Federal grants: $51.8M2021 · Federal contracts: $74.4M2022 · Federal grants: $31.3M2022 · Federal contracts: $49.0M20222023 · Federal grants: $30.3M2023 · Federal contracts: $30.1M2024 · Federal grants: $22.0M2024 · Federal contracts: $16.4M20242025 · Federal grants: $23.5M2025 · Federal contracts: $111.6K2026 · Federal grants: $20.7M2026
Figures by year
YearFederal grantsFederal contractsTotal
2026$20.7M–$20.7M
2025$23.5M$111.6K$23.6M
2024$22.0M$16.4M$38.4M
2023$30.3M$30.1M$60.4M
2022$31.3M$49.0M$80.3M
2021$51.8M$74.4M$126.2M
2020$63.3M$76.4M$139.7M
2019$59.9M$94.5M$154.4M
2018$59.9M$97.6M$157.5M
2017$57.7M$78.3M$136.0M
2016$60.3M$90.7M$151.0M
2015$58.9M$40.8M$99.7M
2014$69.4M$36.1M$105.5M
2013$47.4M$31.7M$79.0M
2012$46.6M$30.5M$77.1M
2011$47.5M$24.9M$72.4M
2010$30.6M$23.2M$53.9M
2009$25.1M$25.5M$50.5M
2008$39.7M$22.6M$62.3M

Federal awards

Obligated amounts from USAspending.gov5, by calendar year, 2008–2026, for its registration. Obligations are what agencies committed, not always what was paid out. Contracts pay for goods and services; grants, loans and direct payments are assistance. Loans are charted at the face value of the loans listed here. An award’s amount below is its lifetime total, and some began before the years charted.

Largest grants

  1. May 11, 2011$243.6M from National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Science6 To UNIVERSITIES SPACE RESEARCH ASSOCIATION Award NNG11HP16A
  2. Dec 20, 2007$36.1M from National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Science; Research Grants For The Space Program7 To UNIVERSITIES SPACE RESEARCH ASSOCIATION Award NNX08AC28A
  3. Dec 16, 2020$36.0M from Department of the Air Force: Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (Stem) Education, Outreach And Workforce Program8 To UNIVERSITIES SPACE RESEARCH ASSOCIATION Award FA94532120064
  4. Sep 25, 2006$34.3M from National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Unknown; Science; Research Grants For The Space Program9 To UNIVERSITIES SPACE RESEARCH ASSOCIATION Award NNJ06HG25A
  5. Oct 1, 2003$31.1M from National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Unknown; Science; Research Grants For The Space Program10 To UNIVERSITIES SPACE RESEARCH ASSOCIATION Award NCC21426
  6. Oct 1, 2007$31.0M from National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Unknown; Science; Research Grants For The Space Program11 To UNIVERSITIES SPACE RESEARCH ASSOCIATION Award NNM08AA04A
  7. May 13, 2013$30.6M from National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Aerospace Education Services Program; Education; Office Of Stem Engagement (Ostem)12 To UNIVERSITIES SPACE RESEARCH ASSOCIATION Award NNX13AJ37A
  8. Oct 1, 2011$29.6M from National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Science13 To UNIVERSITIES SPACE RESEARCH ASSOCIATION Award NNJ11HE31A

Largest contracts

  1. Jun 1, 2016$248.4M from National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Igf::ot::igf the nasa academic mission services (nams) contract will provide arc with capabilities to fulfill mission requirements from fun14 To UNIVERSITIES SPACE RESEARCH ASSOCIATION Award NNA16BD14C
  2. Dec 15, 1996$215.9M from National Aeronautics and Space Administration: The purpose of this contract is to develop and operate of the stratospheric observatory for infrared astronomy (sofia). sofia is the largest15 To UNIVERSITIES SPACE RESEARCH ASSOCIATION Award ARC00199612DNAS297001
  3. Jan 15, 2016$91.7M from National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Igf::ot::igf the nasa postdoctoral program (npp) consists of the nasa postdoctoral research program (nprp) and the nasa postdoctoral managem16 To UNIVERSITIES SPACE RESEARCH ASSOCIATION Award NNH15CO66T
  4. Oct 1, 2013$28.6M from National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Igf::ot::igf this contract shall enable the glenn research center (grc) to secure, sustain, and grow specialized research and development c17 To UNIVERSITIES SPACE RESEARCH ASSOCIATION Award NNC13TA85T
  5. Oct 1, 2013$18.1M from National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Igf::ot::igf this contract shall enable the glenn research center (grc) to secure, sustain, and grow specialized research and development c18 To UNIVERSITIES SPACE RESEARCH ASSOCIATION Award NNC13TA86T

Sources

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