The Constellation University Institutes Project (CUIP) is a consortium of approximately 20 universities in the United States working through a cooperative agreement with NASA to focus on addressing key technical challenges of the NASA Constellation Program. To this end, the portfolio of CUIP is comprised of the following key technical areas, or virtual institutes (VIs):

• Thrust Chamber Assemblies (TCA)
• Propellant Storage and Delivery (PSD)
• Reentry Aerothermodynamics (RA)
• Structures and Materials for Extreme Environments (SMEE)
• Solids (SOL)
• Systems Engineering and Integration (SEI)

NASA centers heavily involved in Constellation application of these technical areas are engaged in extensive technical collaboration with the university researchers through research tasks. This collaboration is integrated within the Constellation Program and occurs for Constellation Program Level II Offices, the Crew Launch Vehicle Project, the Crew Exploration Vehicle Project, the Lunar Lander Project, and other Constellation Projects that are established over the course of the program. Ms. Claudia Meyer and Dr. Jeff Rybak are, respectively, NASA CUIP Manger and Deputy Manager.

There are over 50 baselined research task plans within the CUIP, of which the University of Michigan has the largest share, leading about 25% of the tasks and the budget. The Aero faculty members currently actively involved in the CUIP project include Professors Boyd, Cesnik, Dahm, Driscoll, Shyy, Sundararaghavan, and Waas.