TTU System and NSF’s National Radio Astronomy Observatory Launch Partnership for Astronomy Research and Education in West Texas
June 10, 2025 | Contact: Kristina Butler
The Texas Tech University System (TTU System) and the National Science Foundation’s National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to support the development of a next-generation radio telescope project that will strengthen Texas’s role as a leader in scientific innovation and education.
Photo courtesy of NSF/AUI/NSF NRAOUnder the agreement, the TTU System’s 3 Rivers Ranch, located near Crowell, Texas, has been identified as one of five proposed locations in West Texas for participation in the Next Generation Very Large Array (ngVLA).
“NRAO is excited to be working with the TTU System to advance scientific discovery and education in Texas – and beyond,” said Eric Murphy, an ngVLA project scientist at the NSF NRAO.
The ngVLA is a groundbreaking project that will establish one of the world’s most powerful radio observatories, offering unprecedented resolution and ultra-sensitive imaging to enhance our observations of the universe. The project involves constructing more than 200 antennas across North America, which will operate over a broad range of frequencies. Each antenna will generate approximately 1.5 terabytes of data per second, enabling researchers to study black holes, planet formation, astrochemistry and the structure and evolution of galaxies, revealing new insights into our universe.
Through the MOU, NSF NRAO and the TTU System will collaborate on the scientific infrastructure for the ngVLA at 3 Rivers Ranch and explore programming opportunities to enhance education and outreach in the region. This includes expanding hands-on experiences for students, faculty and researchers within the TTU System while fostering community engagement with the sciences.
“We are proud to partner with the National Science Foundation’s National Radio Astronomy Observatory on this incredible project at 3 Rivers Ranch and are excited about the discoveries we will make together,” said TTU System Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D. “The Texas Tech University System and its five distinct and distinguished universities are known for being at the forefront of innovation, technology and research, and we look forward to the opportunities this collaboration will create for our students, faculty members and the communities we serve.”
The 6,000-acre ranch in the heart of Texas’s “Big Empty” is a hub for astronomy research and education. Gifted to the TTU System in 2024 by Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center alumnus Fred Koch, M.D., along with the 3 Rivers Foundation for the Arts and Sciences, the ranch features an Astronomy Campus equipped with observatories, telescopes, classrooms and laboratories for immersive learning and research. With its seemingly endless dark skies, the property is ideal for stargazing and continues to host monthly star parties for the public, preserving the tradition established by its original owners.
“At 3 Rivers Ranch, we are engaged in innovative research, teaching and outreach endeavors,” said Patrick Kramer, TTU System vice chancellor for institutional advancement. “This NSF partnership presents an ideal opportunity to uphold the vision of Dr. Koch and perpetuate his legacy of supporting astronomy and the sciences.”
Construction on a prototype antenna has recently begun at the ngVLA’s core and signal processing center on the Plains of San Agustin in New Mexico. The entire project is expected to be completed by 2035.
About NRAO
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is a facility of the National Science Foundation, operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.
About the Texas Tech University System
Established in 1996, the Texas Tech University System is one of the top public university
systems in the nation, consisting of five universities – Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Angelo State University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso and Midwestern State University.
Headquartered in Lubbock, Texas, the TTU System is a more than $3 billion enterprise focused on advancing higher education, health care, research and outreach with approximately 21,000 employees and 64,000 students, more than 400,000 alums, a statewide economic impact of $19.2 billion and an endowment valued at $3 billion. In its short history, the TTU System has grown tremendously and is nationally acclaimed, operating at 21 academic locations in 17 cities (15 in Texas, two international).
In addition, the TTU System is one of only nine in the nation to offer programs for undergraduate, medical, law, nursing, pharmacy, dental and veterinary education, among other academic areas.