The National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC) is a joint research venture between NASA and the seven research universities of the state of Alabama, represented by the Space Science and Technology Alliance. The aim of the NSSTC is to foster collaboration in research between government, academia, and industry. It consists of seven research centers: Space Science, Global Hydrology & Climate, Information Technology, Advanced Optics, Biotechnology, Material, and Propulsion. Each center is managed by researchers from either Marshall Space Flight Center, the host NASA facility, or the University of Alabama in Huntsville, the host university.