Hawaii partnered with NASA today on a variety of initiatives, including a small satellite development, advanced aviation, space exploration, education and science.

During a ceremony at the state Capitol, NASA's Ames Research Center Director S. Pete Worden and Gov. Linda Lingle signed a three-year non-reimbursable Space Act Agreement that would establish a partnership for space exploration, scientific research and education initiatives in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, known as STEM, including robotics initiatives.

"The inauguration of a new Space Act Agreement with NASA is an innovative partnership that will leverage Hawai'i's unique location, strategic technological assets and capabilities, and international ties throughout the Asia-Pacific region to advance space exploration, next-generation aviation, scientific research and STEM education, including our growing robotics education initiatives," Lingle said in a statement.

NASA has a satellite tracking station on Kaua'i and has a long history of conducting deep space observations from the telescopes on the Big Island.

The deal for small satellite development with the University of Hawai'i's Hawai'i Space Flight Laboratory will be under a new program called Hawai'iSat. The laboratory will train engineering and science students to design and build small satellites.

Students and professors from the university will be sent to Ames to work with scientists and engineers to design, integrate and manage small satellites.

The overall goal of the collaboration is to develop a Hawai'i-based program for small spacecraft missions and a satellite project developed and managed by students.