National Security Corridor
The Mark & Claudia Thompson National Security Corridor offers experiential learning environments to educate industry-leading professionals.
The National Security Corridor is UND's newest hub for national security and space activities.
Located in the College of Engineering & Mines, the facilities and activities happening inside showcase the university’s latest national security capabilities to research partners, state and federal agencies, and prospective students. The corridor supports UND’s active involvement in national security, from research to hands-on training.
UND's facilities bolster campus and state competencies in:
- Space and satellite development, deployment, and operations
- Space debris and aircraft identification/assessment
- Component assembly, nano-foundry and clean room utilization
- Advanced UAS and satellite material characterization and applications
- Systems fabrication, assembly, and testing
- Digital engineering and big data
- Classified operations
Features & Capabilities
Digital Engineering & Big Data Lab
The Digital Engineering & Big Data Lab is home to many workstations and large displays to serve both individual and group projects. The space is utilized in our new Digital Engineering course, which is being taught by an engineer from a major defense contractor.
Satellite Fabrication & Assembly Lab
This is the National Security Corridor’s hub for the fabrication and assembly of satellites and space-related instruments and equipment. The lab connects to several smaller labs, including a Clean Space and Satellite Design & Engineering Lab.
Satellite Design & Engineering Lab
The Satellite Design & Engineering Lab is home to a state-of-the-art satellite design and engineering lab. The room hosts equipment allowing device and component-level integration. Components from this lab transition to the Satellite Fabrication & Assembly Lab for integration into subsystems and full satellites.
Environmental Testing Lab
This lab houses test equipment to simulate conditions of the satellite during launch and on orbit. Our vibration testing system ensures the satellite survives rocket launch. The high vacuum system simulates the vacuum of space, and the thermal cycling system analyzes temperature differences that the satellite will experience in space.
Clean Room
Our Clean Room is a secured and meticulously clean area maintaining a very low concentration of airborne particulates. Well isolated and controlled from contamination, the space is actively cleansed to ensure a safe environment for sensitive components and assembly.