Dear Wildcats,

You may have seen the Visit Phoenix estimate that the Super Bowl generated about $600 million in economic impact for the state. That is an incredible figure, but did you know that the total economic output of the University of Arizona’s space sciences operations is estimated at $560.5 million every year?

You can read about other ways the university contributes to the economic well-being of the state and its workforce in our coverage of the Research, Innovation and Impact office on Page 40. Our space sciences research is a special point of Wildcat pride.

In this issue of Arizona Alumni Magazine, you will find stories about the Center for Human Space Exploration at Biosphere 2 and the Space4 Center.

This fall, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will return within 155 miles of Earth, release its sample capsule from asteroid Bennu to land in the Utah desert, and head back out into deep space for the extended NASA mission to study the near-Earth asteroid Apophis, again led by UArizona.

I hope you also will take a moment to experience the wonder of the cosmos as you view more amazing images from the James Webb Space Telescope.

Finally, the spring semester has offered inspiration and artistry through the grand opening of the African American Museum of Southern Arizona and the North American debut of the Linda McCartney Retrospective exhibition at the Center for Creative Photography. I hope you will make your way to campus to enjoy both.

Bear Down and Go, ’Cats!

Robert C. Robbins
President
The University of Arizona

P.S. A big thank you to the nearly 2,000 Wildcat alumni and friends who showed their love for the university on Giving Day. Together, we raised $5.2 million and supported areas all over campus, including the Pride of Arizona Marching Band, the Wildcat Mentor Society, scholarships and more. #BearDownGiveBack