From Bronx to Mars: The New York Minds Powering NASA’s Discoveries

From classrooms in the Bronx to labs at Columbia, New Yorkers are helping NASA push humanity toward the stars, one discovery at a time.

The Spark That Started in the Bronx

When NASA’s Perseverance rover touched down on Mars in 2021, few people knew that some of the brains behind the mission had New York roots. Among them was 29-year-old engineer Maria Santos, who grew up in the Bronx and once built her first robot using old phone batteries. Today, she helps design systems that let robots survive the harsh winds of Mars.

“I still remember staring at the night sky from my apartment window,” she said. “I wanted to know what was out there. Now, I will help you find out.”

New York’s story with space isn’t new , but it’s growing faster than ever.

New York’s Hidden Role in Space

NASA may be based in Houston and Florida, but many of its biggest breakthroughs are powered by New York talent and technology.

Columbia University, Cornell Tech, and the City University of New York (CUNY) have all been key players in space research. From developing AI models that help satellites read weather patterns to studying how radiation affects astronauts, New York’s labs are turning cosmic dreams into real data.

According to NASA’s 2024 innovation report, over 12% of NASA-funded academic projects involve New York–based researchers (source). That’s a major leap from just 5% a decade ago.

The Numbers Behind the Space Race

New York’s growing role in space isn’t just about science, it’s also about opportunity.

The state is home to more than 70 aerospace companies, including giants like Honeybee Robotics and L3Harris (Empire State Development Report, 2024).

NASA’s latest partnership with Columbia University on climate satellites could bring $25 million in research funding to local institutions over five years.
The space industry now supports over 22,000 jobs across New York State , from engineers and software developers to machinists and data scientists.

That means when NASA lands a new mission, New Yorkers share in the victory , not just as spectators but as builders, coders, and dreamers.

The Bronx to Mars Connection

It’s not just big universities leading the way. Community programs in neighborhoods like the Bronx and Queens are nurturing the next generation of space scientists.

At the Bronx Aerospace High School, students recently won a national challenge for designing low-cost space rovers. Their teacher, Mr. Jamal Perez, says the goal isn’t just to reach NASA ,it’s to show what’s possible.

“When kids see someone from their own block working with NASA,” he said, “the stars don’t seem so far away anymore.”

Why It Matters for New Yorkers

New York’s link with space exploration has ripple effects closer to home. Many technologies born in NASA labs are now part of everyday life ,from GPS navigation to the smartphone camera lens.

NASA’s new partnerships with New York startups also mean more jobs and investment in green energy, robotics, and AI. “Every time NASA builds something new, it opens doors for us,” said Sarah Bloom, co-founder of a Brooklyn-based robotics firm that works on Mars rover components.

With new funding coming into local research hubs, experts believe New York could become one of the top five states contributing to space innovation within the next decade.

Voices of the City

Dr. Kevin Lu, a space physicist at Columbia University, said it best:

“Space is the next frontier,but it’s powered by Earth’s greatest minds. And a lot of them live right here in New York.”

That sense of pride runs deep in the city. Whether it’s a Bronx student dreaming big or a Queens researcher decoding Martian soil, the message is clear, space belongs to everyone willing to reach for it.