(including the subordinate Aerophysics Research Center) carries out applied research and engineering programs, principally to meet the needs of Department of Defense customers, but with significant related work for NASA and private industry. Many Research Institute efforts are carried out in close cooperation with customers, on site at government laboratories, The Institute staff has expertise in technologies related to system development and acquisition. These include systems engineering and project management, technical risk assessment and software engineering. In addition, the Research Institute staff has expertise in the development and management of international projects and in organisational design and the management of technical professionals. The Institute operates a laboratory for studying the interactions of a vehicle with its environment at high velocity and has the capability to measure high velocity impact phenomena.