A ceremony was held April 17 on the grounds of St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, N.J., to celebrate the formal establishment of the Center for Microplasma Science and Technology that is being made possible with Air Force sponsorship. During the event, Air Force Office of Scientific Research Director Dr. Brendan Godfrey presented a $1.9 million grant check to SPC President Eugene Cornacchia to help cover the costs of the new center, which will be the nation’s first and only educational and scientific center devoted to the emerging field of microplasma research. Godfrey said CMST will serve “as a unifying focus and resource for the microplasma research community combining first-class, in-house research with excellent visiting scientist opportunities, broad student involvement, and even international workshops.” The basic research performed within its walls will address a number of key Air Force requirements in areas as diverse as hypersonic actuators and pulsed power switching, according to AFOSR. (AFOSR report by Molly Lachance) (For more, read the April 17 press release from Saint Peter’s College.)
The Air Force’s Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile is behind schedule and may significantly overrun its expected cost, which could partially explain why the service is reviving the hypersonic AGM-183 Air-Launched Rapid-Response Weapon.