Four Utah graduate students have a chance to make their marks on space exploration as part of the latest class of NASAs Space Technology Research Fellowship.

The program selected 65 students whose research shows potential for use in NASA missions.

"The program is about engaging academia," said program executive Claudia Meyer. "Universities have long been held up as centers of innovation in our country. The program aims to tap into that."

The program has already awarded 128 grants since 2011, including to four Utah students.

"Ive been working toward an award like this, trying to get into a prestigious fellowship, for 3 years," said Thomas Hardin, a Brigham Young University student chosen to receive a grant. "It was a big goal achieved."

Hardin is researching how the properties of metal change when the material is bent to make products like spoons and cars. His findings would help NASA predict how durable their machines will be in space.

Hardins interest in space predates his grad school years. In high school, he worked with the flight simulation machine at the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center in Pleasant Grove.

"I honestly think thats why NASA wanted me [for the fellowship], because of my space background," Hardin said. "My research isnt all that space-oriented."

Hardin is joined by BYUs Ezekiel Merriam, University of Utah student Joe Brink and Utah State Universitys Daniel Merkley.

Grant recipients are matched with a NASA researcher who will help them with their projects. Students then conduct their research on campus and in U.S. non-profit and NASA labs.

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NASA selects 4 Utah students for research grants