UND signs Memo of Understanding to advance hypersonics, other technologies

Collaboration with Auriga Space reinforces UND’s growing leadership in space, counter-UAS and hypersonics technologies

Winnie Lai, CEO of Auriga Space, and UND Vice President for Research & Economic Development Scott Snyder sign a Memorandum of Understanding. Contributed image.

On March 5, UND and Auriga Space signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), establishing a collaboration to advance electromagnetic launch technologies for national security applications.

The collaboration between UND and Auriga is focused on three core national security applications of Auriga’s electromagnetic propulsion technology: hypersonics, counter-UAS, and space.

Auriga’s innovative electromagnetic architecture enables low-cost, high-cadence, flexible payload launch capabilities that can be directly applied across all three technology areas. Through the collaboration, UND and Auriga will explore how the technology can support emerging national security needs.

UND is a recognized leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and counter-UAS research, including the University’s Research Institute for Autonomous Systems and the nation’s first undergraduate degree program in UAS. The University also conducts research in national security, space and hypersonics through programs such as the Space Studies program and the National Security Corridor, positioning UND as a strong partner for advancing Auriga’s technology.

The partnership also highlights UND’s connection to the state of North Dakota’s extensive national security technology community and infrastructure. Grand Forks Air Force Base, for instance, is a critical center of the military’s air and space research efforts, being home to the Point Defense Battle Lab, the Space Development Agency’s Operations Center North, and the Test Resource Management Center’s SkyRange Program.

UND and Auriga formalized the partnership during a visit by an Auriga delegation to the UND campus, where representatives from both organizations signed the MOU. ‍Auriga Space CEO Winnie Lai and UND Vice President for Research & Economic Development Scott Snyder took part in the signing.

“The University of North Dakota is very excited to partner with Auriga Space,” Snyder said. “Our joint work on launch technologies fits well with UND’s capabilities in space, national security and hypersonics. I’m very excited to see this partnership grow and flourish.”

Lai agreed. “The University of North Dakota has built an exceptional ecosystem around unmanned systems, space, and national security technologies,” she said. “We are excited to collaborate with UND to explore how electromagnetic launch can support emerging missions in hypersonics, counter-UAS and space. This partnership brings together Auriga’s launch technology with UND’s research expertise to accelerate innovation in these critical areas.”

‍About Auriga

Auriga Space is a venture-backed company based in Orange County, California, developing electromagnetic launch technology for defense and space applications. By using electricity to accelerate payloads rather than chemical propulsion, Auriga’s systems deliver low-cost, highly repeatable, high-cadence launch capabilities for hypersonic testing, missile defense, and space access.

For more about Auriga Space, visit https://www.aurigaspace.com/