UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS EL PASOCENTER FOR SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGY RESEARCHTHE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EI PASO (UTEP) THE ONLY DOCTORAL/RESEARCH INTENSIVE UNIVERSITY IN THE U.S. WITH A STUDENT POPULATION THAT IS MAJORITY (75%) MEXICAN AMERICAN PROPOSES THE CREATION OF THE CENTER FOR SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH (CSETR) SUPPORTING NASAS VISION ON SPACE EXPLORATION BY FOCUSING ON ADVANCED CAPABILITIES IN THE AREAS OF GREEN PROPULSION AND IN-SITU RESOURCE UTILIZATION. THE PROPOSED CENTER S GOALS ARE TO PERFORM ADVANCED RESEARCH ON EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES TO EDUCATE UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY STUDENTS IN AEROSPACE SCIENCES AND TO BUILD RESEARCH CAPACITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN AEROSPACE AREAS. THE CENTER RESEARCHERS WILL PERFORM FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH ON IGNITION HIGH HEAT TRANSFER THRUST CHAMBERS AND INJECTOR DYNAMICS AND DEVELOP ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES FOR LOX/HYDROCARBON (ESPECIALLY LOX/METHANE) ENGINES. THE RESEARCH ON IN-SITU RESOURCE UTILIZATION IS AIMED AT IDENTIFYING AND DEVELOPING PROMISING SCIENTIFIC APPROACHES TO FIND AND EXPLOIT IN-SITU RESOURCES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PROPELLANTS AND OTHER VALUABLE MATERIALS. SPECIFICALLY THE FOCUS WILL BE ON THE PRODUCTION OF OXYGEN STRUCTURAL MATERIALS AND METALS FROM LUNAR AND MARTIAN REGOLITH. THE CENTER WILL INITIATE AND MAINTAIN AN INTERDISCIPLINARY GRADUATE PROGRAM IN AEROSPACE SCIENCES SUPPORT UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH AND PROVIDE OUTREACH ACTIVITIES FOR K-12 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. THE PROPOSED OUTREACH ACTIVITIES WILL BE INTEGRATED AND COORDINATED WITH NUMEROUS EXISTING AND SUSTAINED PROGRAMS AT UTEP STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH NASA CENTERS DOD AGENCIES NASA CONTRACTORS AND ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS ARE THE BASIS OF PROPOSED CENTERS ROADMAP FOR GROWTH AND SUSTAINABILITY. THE ACTIVITIES OF THE CENTER AND THE CRITICAL METRICS OF SUCCESS (RESEARCH EDUCATION AND CAPACITY BUILDING) WILL BE ASSESSED AND EVALUATED BY THE CENTER OF INSTITUTIONAL EVALUATION RESEARCH AND PLANNING (CIERP). USING CLOSED LOOP PROCESSES CIERP WILL DISTRIBUTE EVALUATION RESULTS TO UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP INVESTIGATORS AND ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS. THE BOARD WITH ADEQUATE REPRESENTATION FROM NASA NASA CENTERS NASA PRIME CONTRACTORS AND EXCEPTIONAL UNIVERSITIES WILL PERFORM SEMI-ANNUAL REVIEWS.