University of Iowa astronomy research is getting recognized in a big way — by NASA itself.

One UI professor has received a $3.7 million research grant from NASA to use to explore the possibility of missing mass existing in halos of hot gas surrounding galaxies like the Milky Way.

Philip Kaaret, a professor of astronomy, and a group of undergraduate and graduate students, will create a satellite to map the distribution of hot gas within the galaxy.

The project will last 4 years and will launch with a rocket in 2018. The cube satellite will then orbit in the lower atmosphere for 528 days — making 16 full orbits around earth each day.

Daily Iowan TV has the full story.