Rice University’s Space Legacy: Pioneering Education and Research with NASA

Summary:

In the early 1960s, President John F. Kennedy delivered a now-famous speech at Rice University, outlining the reasons why the U.S. needed to win the race to the moon. Since then, Rice has built working relationships with NASA and the Johnson Space Center to educate aspiring astronauts.

Key Points:

• Rice University President Kenneth Pitzer initiated the plan to carry out Kennedy’s mission.
• Along with the help of other leaders in government and education, Rice became a key partner in the education of future astronauts and space engineers.
• Today, Rice undergraduate students participate in numerous research studies associated with the school’s partnership with NASA.
• Rice also engages motivated high school students with the Rice University Precollege Program.

Rice University is a comprehensive research university located in Houston, Texas. Recently named by Forbes as a member of the New Ivy League (“New Ivies”), Rice is home to one of the nation’s most advanced aerospace programs—one that got its start way back in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy gave his now-famous speech at Rice where he warned of the risks the U.S. was taking if we ceded the space race to the Soviet Union.

Today, Rice University boasts a proud and distinguished heritage of collaboration with NASA and the nation’s space program, having recently celebrated 50 years of science and engineering partnership with the Johnson Space Center. 

In this article, we’ll dive deeper into the history of how Rice University became an academic epicenter for space science, what Rice offers undergraduate students interested in space exploration, and how aerospace programs for teens are helping high school students get an early start in this fast-evolving discipline, one that today includes private industry competitors like SpaceX.

The History of Rice and Space Exploration

The aforementioned speech by President Kennedy caught the attention of Rice’s then-president, Kenneth Pitzer, and George R. Brown, a Rice alumnus and board chairman, who was working behind the scenes to ensure that Houston and Rice would play leading roles in the space race. Thanks in large part to their efforts, along with Congressman Albert Thomas, Houston’s transformation to "Space City USA” officially began when the city was named the site of the NASA Manned Spacecraft Center, now known as the Johnson Space Center.

In the meantime, Rice’s President Pitzer set in motion a series of moves that ultimately resulted in Rice University’s connection to Houston’s role in the lunar aspirations. With the support of Rice President Pitzer, the school began building the foundations of the program:

• Hired a space scientist, Alexander J. Dressler
• Set up an on-campus Space Science Department, with funding from NASA 
• Hired faculty and recruited students
• Created a curriculum around the broad expanse of physics and aeronautics
• Conducted research
• Instituted a Space Studies Master’s Program

The Rice / NASA Connection

According to one leading source, “Thanks in part to the reputation of Rice University faculty researchers, “Houston” became the first word broadcast from the surface of the moon.

This same source noted, “In recognition of Rice’s long history of close collaboration with NASA, and its role in President John F. Kennedy’s historic 1962 Rice Stadium speech, the Kennedy family has entrusted to Rice the NASA Ambassador of Exploration Award which was awarded posthumously to President Kennedy on the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. The award displays an actual moon rock, and is on view today in Rice’s Fondren Library.”

To date, a total of 16 Rice faculty members and alumni have served as astronauts or NASA Administrators.

The Rice Space Institute (RSI) states its educational goals as follows:

“RSI proudly promotes the involvement of undergraduates in its programs, and the Texas Space Grant Consortium regularly recognizes the accomplishments of its talented undergraduates. In addition, RSI has a strong tradition of recruiting high-caliber graduate students to study in Rice’s multi-institutional and interdisciplinary setting. 

The Undergraduate Experience

What kind of space projects do Rice students do? With support from the Rice Space Institute, undergrads engage in a broad array of space-related research. Here are just a few examples:

• Space Physics and Astronomy: Students delve into research on space weather, plasma physics, computational physics, star formation, and high-energy astrophysics.
• Space Studies: Includes the study of space policy, human and robotic space exploration, and technology development. This research also involves collaboration with NASA.
• Planetary Habitability and Life Beyond Earth: This interdisciplinary research brings together researchers from various fields to address the complex challenges associated with space exploration.  
• Student Organizations: Groups like Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEED) at Rice offer students the opportunity to network with space professionals and share their ideas.
• Project Work: Rice undergraduate students also work on projects, such as the adaptive exercise harness they helped design for astronauts.
• Digital Twins: Currently, Rice researchers are exploring the use of formal methods and digital twins to enhance the reliability and resilience of space robotics.

Above are just some of the aerospace-related projects available to Rice University students. If you are considering the best path forward to a potential future in aerospace, getting started while in high school is the right choice with the Rice University Precollege Program. Here are some highly recommended courses for motivated high school students like you.

How to Start Your Journey While in High School

A great place to start is online precollege courses from Rice University. One excellent choice is Space Exploration: The Road to Mars, where you’ll discover how commercial companies are harnessing astronautics. You’ll delve into the history and milestones of the space program, the future of Mars landings, and the scientific reasons for exploring the Red Planet. Compelling videos give you a front-row seat to interviews with space exploration leaders and astronauts. 

Also, be sure to check out precollege engineering at Rice with the course Engineering: Solving Real-World Problems. This fascinating course takes you from the dawn of civilization to our new robotic workforce. You’ll learn how engineers solve real-world problems, study the fundamentals of the many engineering disciplines, and learn about the careers available in aerospace, nuclear, computer, and chemical engineering.

Prelum, Powered by Kaplan

Prelum partners with many of the top universities and colleges in the nation. Our precollege courses are all served up by dynamic video lessons with interactive tools. The flexibility of the format allows you to study anywhere, at any time that fits your schedule. Hear from renowned faculty, and enjoy the support of seasoned mentors who will answer your questions and guide your learning experience. Each course finishes with a Capstone Project that, successfully delivered, earns you a Certificate of Completion.

Don’t miss out on the exciting aerospace adventures you’ll find at Rice University.

This was last reviewed by Ashley Simmons on 09/25/2025.