The Tropical Center for Earth and Space Studies (TCESS) at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez is a NASA University Research Center (URC) established in 1995.

The TCESS mission is to conduct research and to train students in areas of interest to NASA strategic enterprises. Our vision is to become a resource to NASA and the nation for high quality relevant research as well as trained professionals.

TCESS is a multidisciplinary research center with the participation of faculty and students from the Colleges of Engineering, Arts and Sciences, and Agriculture.

The center has six components: