Located in the UA Tech Park at The Bridges

The Mission Integration Lab (MIL) accommodates balloon-borne astronomy. Balloon-borne missions fill an important niche between ground-based observatories and space telescopes, providing an ideal way to deploy telescopes and other instruments to altitudes where they experience less interference from the Earth's atmosphere. Modern balloon-borne observatories offer space-like views of the universe in missions that require a fraction of the time and cost of a full space mission. These missions are also a platform to test cutting-edge technologies that will define future orbital missions.

MIL is just three miles south of the University of Arizona main campus. The building comprises a tall, hangar-like “high bay,” where researchers and students can work on instruments, telescopes and high-altitude balloon technology. The facility will make UArizona even more competitive for top-dollar research missions such as NASA’s Long Duration Balloon flight missions.

Not only does the facility enable the U of A to remain at the forefront of Research I institutions for astronomy, but it will enable space-based research and mission operations that are significant when working with NASA, as well as key industry players like SpaceX, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and others.

Mission Integration Lab | Research, Innovation, and Impact