Founded to reach the moon, we’re already on our way to the next frontier. Built for liftoff, America’s Space University celebrates UCF Space Week Nov. 3-7.

Where Global Leaders Unite to Boldly Forge the Future of Space

As SpaceU, UCF is pushing the boundaries of exploration once again by launching a groundbreaking new doctoral program in the planetary and space sciences. Now, aspiring researchers can apply to the inaugural cohort of the program, which launches Fall 2026 and is offered through the College of Sciences’ Department of Physics.

Apply to the planetary and space sciences doctoral program by the Dec. 1, 2025, priority deadline.

“It’s relatively unusual to have a separate Ph.D. program in planetary and space sciences like this,” says Yan Fernandez, professor of physics and director of the new doctoral program. “It’s an exciting step forward. We have a large number of faculty working on planetary science and there are very few universities with that kind of knowledge in one place.”

The new doctoral program is interdisciplinary in its approach, bringing in elements from astrobiology, astronomy, data analysis, geology, physics and more. The program originated as a planetary sciences track as part of a doctoral degree in physics and was approved by the Board of Governors in Florida as the first and only planetary and space sciences doctoral program in the state.

“As SpaceU, we are aiming to be the premier engineering and technology university in the state and a destination for space-focused learning in the world,” says Addie Dove, professor and chair of the Department of Physics. “We want to ensure the programs we offer reflect the university’s strategic approach as well as what’s necessary to succeed in today’s workforce.”

What Students Can Expect from the Program

The new degree will position graduates for employment opportunities that are projected to grow in Florida and nationwide. Program graduates will have the knowledge and skills necessary for roles in governmental agencies such as NASA, the private space industry, academia and research institutions. Graduates will be prepared to work as scientists within fields that include astronomy, atmospheric physics, space science and geoscience.

“This program is not just for physics students, but also for students who have studied geology, engineering, data science or  many other STEM fields,” Dove says. “We have a number of faculty who built hardware that has gone or will travel into space and there’s an opportunity for students with more of an engineering background to pursue this doctorate.”

“Having a strong foundation in scientific thinking is important, whether individuals are building hardware going to other planetary surfaces, working on next generation telescopes, or considering problems that have not even been imagined yet,” she continues.

The program broadens the areas of study to include not only physics but also astrochemistry, astrogeology, astrobiology, and scientific instrument development. Fernandez also emphasizes the importance of big data and machine learning in planetary science.

“There’s a need for a program like this because we are awash in data,” Fernandez says. “Students who understand these aspects of big data, efficient programming and working in problems in planetary science can contribute in many ways to innovative research and to cutting-edge science.”

Fueling the Future of Space

Dove notes that the students who have pursued the initial planetary sciences track in the physics doctorate program have successfully worked on space-related research.

“There are many possibilities available through the program’s large network,” she says. “Many of our students obtain internships or fellowships over the course of their studies, and we create high impact experiences within our classes. Our graduates have become postdocs and have worked on spacecraft missions. Some have continued into academia, some have worked for NASA and we have also seen students go on to work for companies that develop hardware and technology to send to space.”

Dove shares that it is important to be responsive to the changing needs of industry, while providing opportunities for students to work in the collaborative ways that researchers often work in planetary science and all of STEM.

“We wanted to ensure that the program reflected the values of our department, college and university and embraced our shared passion to boldly push the frontiers of knowledge,” Dove says.

Note to Prospective Students: Enrollment is currently open for admission in the Fall 2026, with a priority deadline of Dec. 1, 2025. You may apply after the early deadline, and can reach out to faculty with research areas of interest. Be sure to apply to the planetary and space sciences doctoral program and not the track. Contact planets@ucf.edu for more information.

Over a 10-Earth-day period, the multi-instrument payload built by BAE Systems and Arizona State University (ASU) will gather data on the lunar regolith to understand how it may be used as a resource in future exploration of the lunar surface.

Firefly Aerospace is one of the American vendors NASA is partnering with to deliver payloads to the lunar surface through the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. These companies are eligible to bid on NASA contracts, allowing for swift delivery and advanced scientific research and exploration.

“The CLPS initiative carries out U.S. scientific and technical studies on the surface of the Moon by robot explorers,” said Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for exploration and lead of NASA’s Exploration Science Strategy and Integration Office in a . “As NASA prepares for future human exploration of the Moon, the CLPS initiative continues to support a growing lunar economy with American companies. Understanding the formation of the Gruithuisen Domes, as well as the ancient lava flows surrounding the landing site, will help the U.S. answer important questions about the lunar surface.”

Firefly was awarded its fourth task order worth $179 million to deliver six experiments, including Lunar-VISE, to the Gruithuisen Domes on the near side of the Moon in 2028.

Similar silicic volcanic domes on Earth are formed due to properties not observed on the Moon, including plate tectonics and oceans, leaving lunar scientists puzzled on how these mysterious domes formed. The Lunar-VISE science team will take what is learned at the Gruithuisen Domes and what is already known from other silicic volcanic spots on the Moon to reconstruct the history of its evolution and volcanism.

“We are beginning to have actual hardware and are building our instruments, and now we know how we will get them deployed on the lunar surface and what our rover will look like,” says Lunar-VISE’s co-investigator Jessica Sunshine, a professor of astronomy and geology at the University of Maryland. “What started as a concept and then figures in a proposal is now amazingly really happening. While the project has a lot of work to do, particularly as we integrate with Firefly, this marks a new exciting phase that gets us tantalizingly close to going from paper to the Moon.”

In the upcoming year, the Lunar-VISE team anticipates the final check, or the System Integration and Acceptance Reviews (SIR), in August to ensure all components are suitable  and safe for intended operations.

“I’m very proud of our Lunar-VISE team in developing, building, and testing our payload instruments and getting us ready for integration onto Firefly’s Ghost lunar lander and rover,” says Principal Investigator Kerri Donaldson Hanna, an associate professor in �����’s Department of Physics. “The Lunar-VISE team is excited to work with Firefly to plan our science and exploration operations at the Gruithuisen Domes in 2028.”

Founded in 1963 with the mission to provide talent for Central Florida and the growing U.S. space program, the university’s extensive involvement in space research and education not only drives innovations in space technology but also prepares the next generation of leaders in the field.

With more than 40 active NASA projects totaling more than $67 million in funding, UCF continues to push the frontiers of space research, and its contributions promise to help shape the future of humanity’s presence in the cosmos.

�����’s cutting-edge areas of space expertise include:

Space Medicine

�����’s College of Medicine is pioneering new frontiers in aerospace medicine, positioning itself as a leader in space health research and education. Spearheaded by initiatives to create an interdisciplinary curriculum, UCF is integrating expertise from engineering, medicine and nursing to address the unique health challenges of space exploration.

The college is building on existing research in space health, including innovative studies on the effects of microgravity on bone health, which could lead to improved protection for astronauts. Collaborations across disciplines, such as testing therapeutics for radiation protection and developing antimicrobial solutions for space station environments, highlight �����’s commitment to advancing astronaut health and shaping the future of space medicine.

Space Propulsion and Power

UCF is advancing space propulsion with groundbreaking research that could make space travel more efficient and viable for future missions. Researchers are developing innovative hypersonic propulsion systems, such as rotating detonation rocket engines, which harness high-speed detonations to increase propulsion efficiency and reduce fuel consumption — an advancement that could significantly lower costs and emissions associated with space travel, creating new commercial opportunities in the industry. UCF is taking its hypersonics research even further with its recently launched Center of Excellence in Hypersonic and Space Propulsion — the HyperSpace Center.

Additionally, UCF teams are exploring novel power systems for spacecraft venturing far from the sun, where solar energy becomes impractical. With funding from NASA, researchers are creating storable chemical heat sources capable of providing essential heat and power in extreme environments, from the icy surfaces of distant moons to the intense heat of Venus.

Space Technology and Engineering

UCF is forging the future of space technology with innovations that push the boundaries of lunar and deep space exploration. Through advancements in lunar resource utilization, UCF has developed methods to efficiently extract ice from lunar soil so that it can be transformed into vital resources like water and rocket fuel, while new techniques for processing lunar soil drastically reduce construction costs for infrastructure such as landing pads.

UCF researchers are also pioneering 3D-printed bricks made from lunar regolith that withstand extreme space conditions, setting the foundation for resilient off-world habitats. Lunar regolith is the loose dust, rocks and materials that cover the moon’s surface.

�����’s Exolith Lab, part of the , continues to lead in space hardware testing, advancing resource extraction and lunar construction technologies. Meanwhile, FSI’s CubeSat program is opening new doors in space exploration with compact, affordable satellites that give students and researchers access to microgravity and beyond.

Space Commercialization

UCF’s new space commercialization program — led by , College of Business professor of practice and associate provost for space commercialization and strategy — positions the university as a leader in space-related business education.

Autry will guide the college’s efforts to deliver Executive and MBA programs in space commercialization, driving curriculum development and establishing space-focused programs that equip students to lead in the growing commercial space industry.

In addition to the space commercialization program, Autry will be working with external stakeholders, including NASA, the U.S. Space Force and commercial firms like Blue Origin, SpaceX and Virgin Galactic, to develop opportunities to advance mutual interests in space.

This includes working with Kennedy Space Center to lead a State University System partnership with the state of Florida to develop the necessary talent to maintain and expand Florida’s leadership in space exploration and commercialization.

Autry will also be leading �����’s effort to develop and execute a roadmap for the university’s SpaceU brand through targeted investments in talent and facilities.

Space Domain Awareness

UCF is advancing space domain awareness research to protect critical assets in orbit by developing sophisticated algorithms for tracking and predicting the movement of objects such as satellites and asteroids, so they don’t collide with spacecraft. Under the guidance of aerospace engineering expert Tarek Elgohary, UCF researchers are creating a computational framework to rapidly and accurately track space objects in real time. This initiative is backed by the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research Dynamic Data and Information Process Program.

UCF is also addressing the growing issue of orbital debris through a NASA-funded study that includes researchers from �����’s FSI and . This project seeks to increase public awareness and support for managing space debris, a hazard to satellites and potential space tourism ventures.

Workforce Development

UCF is propelling students toward dynamic careers in the space industry with hands-on programs and sought-after internship opportunities. Through the new engineering graduate certificate in electronic parts engineering, developed in collaboration with NASA, students are gaining essential skills in testing and evaluating space-ready electronic components — a key advantage for aspiring space professionals.

Additionally, UCF students can benefit from hands-on internships at Kennedy Space Center, where they gain real-world experience in various fields, from engineering to project management.

At the , students gain direct experience in microgravity research and robotics. The center embodies �����’s commitment to democratizing space access, offering pathways for students from all backgrounds to participate in and contribute to the growing space industry.

FSI’s CubeSat program further immerses students in satellite design and operation, offering direct involvement in active space missions.

Planetary Science

UCF’s planetary science program is driving breakthroughs in space exploration with projects spanning the moon, Mars and beyond. The NASA-funded Lunar-VISE mission, led by UCF, will explore the Gruithuisen domes on the far side of the moon to understand their volcanic origins, potentially unlocking insights crucial for future space exploration.

Complementing this, UCF researchers are contributing to NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer mission, which will map water ice deposits on the moon — an essential resource for sustained stays in space. On another front, UCF scientists are studying dust behavior in microgravity through experiments that flew on Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket, potentially leading to strategies for mitigating lunar dust, a challenge for electronics and equipment on future missions.

Expanding its reach beyond the moon, �����’s planetary science research involves asteroid studies, including the high-profile OSIRIS-REx mission to asteroid Bennu and examining seismic wave propagation in simulated asteroid materials to understand asteroid evolution and early planetary formation. UCF is also home to the , a node of NASA’s Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute, which facilitates NASA’s exploration of deep space by focusing its goals at the intersection of surface science and surface exploration of rocky, atmosphereless bodies.

Additionally, UCF researchers are studying trans-Neptunian objects and using the James Webb Space Telescope to explore the solar system’s outer reaches, analyzing ancient ices to uncover clues about the solar system’s history, while also investigating exoplanets to advance our understanding of other planets and to search for life beyond Earth.

In parallel, UCF researchers are also advancing bold ideas for terraforming Mars through nanoparticle dispersion to create warming effect, making the Red Planet potentially more habitable.

UCF researchers have also contributed their expertise to multiple high-profile NASA missions, including Cassini, Mars Pathfinder, Mars Curiosity, and New Horizons.

Advancing Astrophotonics, History and Policy

�����’s space research spans pioneering astrophotonics technology, studies in space history and critical analyses in space policy, each offering unique insights into the universe. The within CREOL, the College of Optics and Photonics, is pushing the boundaries of photonics and astronomy, using tools like photonic lanterns, fiber optics, and hyperspectral imaging to detect cosmic phenomena and address profound questions about dark energy.

Meanwhile, delves into space history, exploring the cultural and scientific impacts of milestones like the Apollo missions and the Space Shuttle program, helping illuminate humanity’s journey into space.

The contributes to this comprehensive approach with its broad studies of space policy, both domestically and internationally, including examining military space policy and rising space powers. The work involves studying space law, international agreements, and policy frameworks that guide space activities, which is essential for addressing the governance and strategic planning needed for space exploration and utilization.

Pioneering Tomorrow’s Space Exploration

UCF is pushing the frontiers of space research and education, tackling today’s challenges while preparing for the demands of future space missions. As the new space race continues, �����’s forward-thinking approach will continue to drive progress, inspire new possibilities and expand humanity’s reach into the universe.

“Knights, it’s no wonder that since the beginning, NASA has relied on UCF to help in our moonshots,” Nelson told engineering, computer science and optics graduates during his commencement address. “And Knights, it’s no wonder that it’s going to be a member of your generation who leaves their footprints on the red sands of Mars. So, to the Class of ‘24: you have moonshots in your DNA.

“Moonshots are big things. They’re bigger than any one of us. They’re bigger than all of us. Like Pegasus, you now have to reach for the skies— and now you can carry thunder and lightning with you.

“And you know how to aim for the moon—because this is America’s Space University. There’s no moonshot beyond your reach. So, decide what your moonshot will be — and then your launch, your liftoff, will happen right when you walk out those doors.”

UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright told Nelson, “You’re absolutely right. Our students are incredible, and they can all achieve any moonshot they set their minds to.”

UCF was founded in 1963 — and offered its first classes in 1968 — to help fuel talent to support the nearby space industry, and the university has partnered with NASA ever since, with UCF faculty and students working on about 700 NASA projects.

Many UCF space researchers and alumni are involved in the Artemis program. Planetary scientists Kerri Donaldson Hanna and Addie Dove are leading a $35 million NASA mission to land a robotic spacecraft on the moon in 2027 to explore never-before-visited volcanic domes and help inform future exploration. UCF researchers also are studying rocket propulsion, protecting astronauts and their equipment from harmful space dust, and the health impacts of space travel on astronauts.

Twenty-nine percent of Kennedy Space Center employees are UCF alumni. And UCF repeatedly ranks as the No. 1 provider of graduates to the aerospace and defense industry, according to Aviation Week Network.

“In 1968, as Apollo 7 propelled Americans into space — and later, through Apollo 11, to land on the Moon — UCF began to educate and inspire a new generation of leaders: the Apollo generation,” Nelson said. “And I ask you today to give your imagination to help us achieve another dream — now to return humanity to the moon and then to look onward to Mars and beyond.”

Nelson has served as NASA’s 14^th administrator for three years. A fifth-generation Floridian, he previously represented the state as a U.S. senator for 18 years and a congressman for 12 years. UCF awarded Nelson the Exemplary Public Service Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016, recognizing his longtime service in government.

“I have the honor of serving a storied organization that makes history — that makes the impossible possible,” Nelson told graduates, citing the James Webb Space Telescope a million miles away, always on the opposite side of the Earth from the sun. “At NASA, we know a thing or two about moonshots. Because we’re going back (to the moon) after a half-century. This time, we’re going to learn to live, to experiment on the lunar surface — to invent, to create in order for us not just to go the moon, but to go further — to go to Mars and beyond.

“We’re expanding upon the vision of President John Kennedy that he laid forth in 1961 … He challenged our country to unite behind a bold endeavor, once thought impossible. He made America believe in moonshots. And today, moonshots are not confined to the cosmos. Moonshots are imagined, developed and achieved here on Earth — by people like you.”

In 1986, Nelson trained and flew with the crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia for mission STS-61C, the 24th flight of the Space Shuttle. While orbiting Earth 98 times over six days, Nelson conducted 12 medical experiments, including the first American stress test in space on a treadmill and a cancer research experiment sponsored by university researchers.

“Kennedy didn’t have all the answers when he dared America to go to the moon, but he had the courage to dream,” Nelson said. “So, graduates, you don’t need all the answers on this special day. What you need today is to have the confidence and trust to decide what is your moonshot. Confidence that you will do what is hard and trust that what you can achieve is great. Confidence and trust that you will be a part of something larger than any one person. So, what’s your moonshot?”

UCF awarded about 9,800 degrees this weekend, including nearly 3,000 in STEM fields and about 1,400 in engineering and computer science.

Joining the convention’s celebrity lineup will be a few of �����’s own stars.

On Saturday, Feb. 3, at 10 a.m., UCF Pegasus Professor of Joshua Colwell, associate lecturer of physics James Cooney and physics postdoctoral scholar Audrey Martin will record an episode of their Walkabout the Galaxy podcast with special guest Brendan Byrne, NPR space contributor and host of the Are We There Yet? podcast.

The topic will be “When Will we Walk on Mars?”

“Recording our podcast with a live audience always brings new energy to the show, so we are happy to do live recordings like this one at MegaCon,” Colwell says. “We’ll be joined by longtime friend of the show and WMFE Space Reporter Brendan Byrne to talk about one of the main themes of his show Are We There Yet? on WMFE, Central Florida’s NPR station: “What is the status of humanity’s quest to get people to the surface of Mars?”

Martin says she’s always excited to do live recordings and is looking forward to interacting with the audience.

“I’m always excited to see the costumes and some of the other talks and creators,” says UCF Associate Professor of Physics Adrienne Dove.

“This will be my second MegaCon, so I hope to be able to take in a bit more of the cool talks, creators and costumes,” Martin says.

On Sunday, Feb. 4, at 11:45 a.m., Associate Professor of Physics Adrienne Dove will join Colwell for a presentation at MegaCon titled “What Is a Class M Planet?”

Star Trek called planets that were similar to Earth, or able to support Earth-like life, “Class M” planets, Colwell says.

“In the decades since that show first aired, we have discovered more than 5,000 exoplanets in a wide variety of types, many not even imagined in Star Trek,” he says. “We’ll explore the different types of planets and offer our own take on the Star Trek planet classification system.”

Colwell is no stranger to MegaCon or science fiction. He’s an avid Star Trek fan and has appeared in TV shows and film, including the 1998 movie Deep Impact, for which he also served as a technical consultant.

The full schedule of panels and events is available on MegaCon’s website. UCF attendees are encouraged to share their MegaCon experiences by tagging @UCF on social media.

It’s taken the nation 50 years to get ready to step on the moon again. NASA’s Artemis program expects to land the first woman and person of color on the moon by 2025. Next week’s Artemis I mission will test Orion for the next step in making that deadline. But that’s just the beginning.

“ɫ����, we are involved in several lunar missions — missions currently in orbit [around] the moon (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter), missions that will launch and begin orbiting the moon in 2023 (Lunar Trailblazer), and missions that will land on the moon and conduct science from its surface (L-CIRiS and Lunar-VISE),” says Kerri Donaldson Hanna, an assistant professor of physics and planetary science, who is involved in several of NASA’s moon-related missions.

While launching Orion is an exciting moment, UCF is working on missions that will a make a sustainable presence on the moon possible. Lunar Trailblazer will make high spatial and spectral resolution maps of key regions on the lunar surface, including those thought to have water and those that are geologically interesting.

“Using these new high spatial resolution maps, we will be able to identify exciting locations for human and robotic exploration,” Donaldson Hanna says. “Missions like L-CIRiS and Lunar-VISE will teach us how to best explore the lunar surface using astronauts and their hand-held tools and rovers. And all of these will feed into our understanding of the moon and how to sustain human and robotic activity on its surface into the future.”

Here’s just a sampling of how UCF is making an impact on human’s return to the moon and beyond.

Launch Operations

There are more than 30 UCF alums connected to Kennedy Space Center who are involved with the Artemis 1 mission. From managing the countdown to safety and wellness operations, these Knights play a crucial role in ensuring a successful and safe launch.

“As the Medical and Environmental Services Division chief, I lead an amazing team of medical and environmental professionals ensuring the protection and wellness of our KSC workforce, workplace, and environment, which are essential to the Artemis (1 and future) missions,” says Tiffaney Miller Alexander ’99 ’05MS ’16PhD, who earned her bachelor’s in electrical engineering and a �������ٱ��’s�������Ի���doctorate in industrial engineering from UCF. “It is an honor to be a part of the Artemis [program] and play a role in space exploration to the moon, developing a sustainable presence there and then going to Mars.”

NASA Test Director for Exploration Ground Systems Dan Florez ’06, who earned his bachelor’s in aerospace engineering from UCF, credits the university’s dynamic aerospace program, his involvement with a student rocketry club and industry connections he made here for setting him up for success at Kennedy Space Center. He is part of a team responsible for planning, executing and managing the integrated test. His team also oversees the launch countdown process on behalf of the launch director, which includes writing the procedures, developing the schedules and managing operations in the control room.

“We’re launching the most powerful rocket ever launched, one of the tallest launch vehicles ever,” Florez says. “There are a lot of challenges associated with this, including — like the rest of the world — working through a pandemic with people remote and on-site, that we’ve been able to overcome. It’s unbelievable what this team has been able to do in the past few years to get this rocket ready for launch.”

Getting to the Moon

Getting into space and staying safe while doing it is a huge order. While Space X launches have become almost routine on the Space Coast, it’s dangerous work. Perla Latorre-Suarez ’21, who is pursuing a �������ٱ��’s degree in aerospace engineering, and her mentor Professor Seetha Raghavan are working on several techniques to keep spacecraft safe while traveling in space. Latorre-Suarez is researching the use of 3D printed sensors that could be made in space and that would monitor the structural integrity of the components and vehicles used by explorers on other planets.

Latorre-Suarez was recently named an Aviation Week Network 20 Twenties Award Class of 2022 member — an honor that places her among the best aerospace graduate students in the world. In 2021, she was named an X-Force Fellow by the National Security Innovation Network and the U.S. Department of Defense and a NASA Florida Space Grant Consortium Fellow.

Latorre-Suarez recently returned from a summer internship at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia where she worked with NASA scientists to help design ceramic coatings that can protect lunar vehicles from the moon’s dust.

Raghavan’s lab has been producing outstanding space engineers for years through excellence in the classroom, exemplary mentoring, and unique hands-on experiences. That’s why the national group — Women in Aerospace — named her its 2019 Educator of the Year.

Mechanical and Aerospace Associate Professor Kareem Ahmed and his research team in the UCF Propulsion and Energy Research Lab are working on turbulent mixing, which refers to the right recipe that converts a flame into a self-sustaining explosion that uses all of the ingested fuel and air to release a massive amount of energy. The hypersonic work is progressing and may lead to engines and aircraft that would allow people to travel from one coast to another in less than 30 minutes — and potentially reduce space travel times.

Meanwhile, assistant professors of mechanical and aerospace engineering Kawai Kwok and Tarek Elgohary are working on two other projects that aim to keep astronauts and their vehicles moving and safe. Kwok is developing new materials that are thinner than a sewing needle and lighter than a feather, but can roll out into massive tools such as solar sails. The material is strong but flexible enough to snap into whatever shape is needed for a space mission. His goal is to give NASA something that is light enough and easy enough to pack on long space missions, making them economical.

Elgohary, who runs the Astrodynamics, Space and Robotics Laboratory, is using machine learning and computational models to help predict space junk movements and ways to avoid it.

The researchers are also studying optimal space-based space surveillance networks that would provide real-time surveillance and tracking information in cislunar space, which can be considered a new highway camera system for the upcoming launch of Gateway — a small, human-tended space station orbiting the moon that part of the Artemis program and will support sustained deep space exploration and research.

Elgohary’s former mechanical engineering student Ryan Ketzner ’22 has won the NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunities (NSTGRO) to study the optimization of space-based space surveillance networks for those applications.

Keeping Space Explorers Healthy

While some faculty and students work on the hardware needed to get us to the moon, others are focused on keeping our space explorers safe.

A team of students advised by UCF NanoScience Technology Center Director and Chemistry Professor Lei Zhai was recognized for an innovative approach to keeping astronauts safe from harmful lunar dust.

The group is focused on a new type of material that could be used to cover the exterior of spacesuits. The material’s nanostructure design is based on how honeybees and other pollinators can manipulate tiny pollen using both microstructures and electric fields. The researchers are also incorporating techniques from the Japanese art of paper-folding, origami, to increase the material’s range of motion and longevity by reducing the stress the material would face through repetitive movements.

At �����’s Florida Space Institute, Esther Beltran is collaborating with NASA-SSERVI on a program that aims to develop novel composites so they can be integrated into effective radiation shielding to minimize the effects on astronauts. Beltran is an expert on humans living and working in extreme environments and is passionate about exploring the solar system.

But shielding astronauts isn’t enough. At the College of Medicine, doctors are working with commercial space companies to study the impacts of space on the human body. UCF Health ophthalmologist Mehul Patel and doctors Joyce Paulson and Ali Rizvi are working with medical groups in Israel to study the impact of space travel on the eyes, brain, and blood.

Once We Get There

While some professors and students work on getting us to the moon and beyond, others are working on the problems we’ll face once we get there.

UCF planetary scientists Donaldson Hanna ���Ի���Adrienne Dove are leading a $35 million science mission (Lunar Vulkan Imaging and Spectroscopy Explorer also known as Lunar-VISE) that will land a spacecraft on a part of the moon never visited before — the Gruithuisen Domes. The domes are composed of rocks similar to those found making up Earth’s volcanoes, but on Earth these types of volcanoes need plate tectonics and water to form (two things that don’t exist on the Moon). The duo plan to collect data that will help solve the mystery on how the volcanic domes formed and why.

Dove, who is an expert in dust and its behavior in space, will also be conducting additional research to see how it behaves on this part of the moon, which appears to have a different consistency than the part of the moon visited by the Apollo astronauts.

Landing Safely­

Getting to the moon requires engaging our years of space flight engineering experience but making sure we take off and land safely from there will take new techniques still being developed.

To do this, we’ll need to build safe and cost-effective lunar landing pads for spacecraft. These will be critical as these pads will have to stop lunar dust and particles from sandblasting everything around them at more than 10,000 miles per hour as a rocket takes off or lands.

That’s why UCF planetary scientists Phil Metzger ’00MS ’05PhD and Dhaka Sapkota are hard at work developing methods for landing pads that are safe and cost-effective to build in space, since carrying heavy building materials and equipment to the moon quickly becomes cost prohibitive.

They’ve developed a magnetic sorting technology, that coupled with a method known as sintering that uses microwaves to melt lunar soil, is economical and could one day be used on the moon.

Workforce of Tomorrow

All the research and technology we develop will mean nothing if the workforce to continue and advance it isn’t ready. Even in this area, UCF is stepping up and leading the way.

One way the university is doing this is through NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project Space Technology Artemis Research, or M-STAR, program. The initiative will prepare students to be the workforce of tomorrow and develop the technology needed to return to the moon.

Faculty who are experts in engineering,��physics ���Ի���medicine will work together to create a suite of scientific and educational efforts to support the technology capabilities in the areas of robotics, materials for extreme environments, and entry, descent, and landing technologies.

UCF is one of seven universities selected for the prestigious award.

The Future

As America’s Space University, there are many more projects at UCF supporting the U.S. space program, return to the moon, and interplanetary exploration, in addition to the ones mentioned here.

These stories of innovative people and projects will continue to be told, and the research and academics behind them will offer new ways for students and the community to become involved in appreciating space and supporting this new chapter in the nation’s space history.

“UCF was founded as the university for the Space Coast, … Artemis is just the next step on that adventure,” says Associate Professor of History Amy Foster.

This brings the total number of current UCF researchers whose names are attached to asteroids to 17, along with another 13 former researchers.

The honor comes just in time for today’s International Asteroid Day, which was started in 2015 to raise awareness about asteroids. The small planetary bodies could offer untold riches in rare and precious metals if mined, but they could also be catastrophic if a large one was to hit Earth.

The announcement of the new names was made recently by the International Astronomical Union Working Group for Small Bodies Nomenclature. The names are in recognition of the researchers’ impact on space science and are a distinction for UCF space research.

“There were more than one hundred asteroids named by the IAU working group this month, and researchers associated with UCF and Arecibo received nearly a tenth of them,” says Noemí Pinilla-Alonso, an associate scientist at �����’s and an expert astronomer who had an asteroid named for her in 2017. “These awards are to individuals based on research excellence. It’s clear that the planetary group at UCF is getting stronger and that the quality of these researchers at UCF is being noticed by our colleagues at other institutions.”

Two of the new recipients — Estela Fernández-Valenzuela and Mário De Prá — are preeminent postdoctoral scholars at the institute.

Fernández-Valenzuela received the honor for her work on the study of trojan asteroids and trans-Neptunian objects by means of performing photometric and stellar occultations techniques. This type of research can lead to clues to understanding how the solar system was formed, Fernández-Valenzuela says.

The asteroid named in her honor is known as 35646 Estela = 1998 KO66 and is in the asteroid belt orbiting the sun between Mars and Jupiter.

“I feel very grateful that my work is recognized by other scientists in my field,” Fernández-Valenzuela says. “It makes me proud of what I do and motivates me to move forward.”

The astronomer says now that the asteroid shares her name, she may turn her sights to it.

“There is not much information about it, so that is nice,” Fernández-Valenzuela says. “Now I can be the first to study some of its properties.”

Fellow preeminent postdoctoral scholar De Prá received the honor for his work using photometry and spectroscopy to study primitive asteroids to infer their composition, and in particular, asteroids beyond the orbit of Neptune.

Primitive asteroids are dark asteroids with low reflectivity that are thought to contain primitive material relatively unchanged since the formation of the solar system.

“I feel very honored of having such recognition,” De Prá says. “It is something that I would never dream of in the past.”

De Prá says it was great to learn that the asteroid named after him, 30088 Deprá = 2000 EK128, has features similar to the primitive asteroids he studies.

“I was very happy to find out that the object is located in the inner asteroid belt and has a low albedo, which suggests a primitive nature, typical of the objects that I usually study,” De Prá says. “Also, the asteroid is a member of the Polana family, which has been deeply studied by our research group.”

The Polana family is part of the long list of more than 500 asteroids studied by the Primitive Asteroids Spectroscopic Survey (PRIMASS), led by FSI with De Prá as co-investigator.

UCF researchers also receiving the new honor are:

• Julie Brisset, an associate scientist with FSI. Brisset’s research focuses on the behavior of dust grains in microgravity conditions with applications to the structure of small body surfaces and rings in the solar system.
• Kerri Donaldson-Hanna, an assistant professor in �����’s Department of Physics. Her research focuses on understanding the formation and evolution of airless bodies such as the Moon, Mercury, Mars’ moons and asteroids.
• Adrienne Dove, an assistant professor in �����’s Department of Physics. Her studies include the cohesive behavior of materials in microgravity, CubeSat experiments, and the electrostatic charging properties of lunar and asteroid regoliths.
• Josh Colwell, a Pegasus Professor and chair of �����’s Department of Physics. His work involves studying the structure and dynamics of Saturn’s rings, the behavior of materials in microgravity, and the electrostatic charging of lunar and asteroid regoliths.
• Phil Metzger, an associate scientist with FSI. Metzger is a leader in the study of the mechanical properties of lunar and asteroid regoliths, including how rocket exhaust interacts with regolith and requirements to protect Apollo sites from damage.
• Zoe Landsman, chief scientist of �����’s and a researcher with FSI. Landsman specializes in observations and modeling of asteroids and other airless bodies, particularly M-types and low albedo asteroid families. She also was noted as an educator who actively engages in public outreach.
• Maria Womack, a courtesy professor in �����’s Department of Physics. She has served as a professor at multiple universities and a program director for the National Science Foundation. Her research includes studies of comets and active centaurs.
• Sean Marshall, an observatory scientist at Arecibo Observatory, which UCF manages in Puerto Rico for the National Science Foundation under a cooperative agreement. Marshall studies near-Earth asteroids using radar and light curve observations to find their sizes, shapes and rotation states, adding infrared observations to find their thermal properties.
• Maxime Devogele, an observatory scientist at the Arecibo Observatory. His work includes measuring the polarimetric properties of near-Earth and Main Belt asteroids.
• Flaviane Venditti, an observatory scientist at the Arecibo Observatory. Venditti specializes in radar observations of near-Earth asteroids, impact mitigation techniques, and spacecraft dynamics.

Researchers formerly affiliated with UCF who were recently honored were:

• Dylan Hickson was a preeminent postdoctoral scholar at the Arecibo Observatory. Hickson specializes in radar observations of near-Earth asteroids and understanding the properties of planetary surfaces and regolith using radar scattering measurements.
• Gal Sarid was an associate scientist with FSI. Sarid studies the thermal evolution of comets and asteroids, and the early compositional evolution of the solar system.

“It’s a great honor to the scientists here at UCF,” says Ray Lugo, director of FSI. “Now, we need to lead a mission to explore those small bodies, and maybe one named after a member of our staff.”

UCF researchers have made significant impacts in the field of asteroid research both in space and on the ground.

For example, Pegasus Professor of physics Humberto Campins, as well Donaldson-Hanna, are part of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission to sample asteroid Bennu, which is more than 200 million miles from Earth. Campins also has an asteroid named after him.

To help better prepare for these missions, Pegasus Professor of physics Dan Britt, founded the Exolith Lab, which makes high-fidelity regolith simulants that researchers can use to test building and landing on surfaces like the Moon, Mars and asteroids. Britt is also a current UCF researcher with an asteroid named after him.

Brisset is conducting a series of experiments aimed at estimating the possibility of surface regolith structural failure being at the origin of activity on asteroids. The research will help scientists better understand why some asteroids are active or ejecting dust that produces a tail almost like a comet.

Metzger’s research includes finding the best ways to one day mine asteroids and other off-world surfaces. He also notes the importance of asteroids in understanding the origin of our solar system.

“Asteroids are the leftover building material of planets,” Metzger says. “So they give deep insight to the origins and evolution of the solar system.”

There are currently 22,505 named asteroids.

The IAU working group that selects the names chooses them based on the proposals they receive. Names range from astronomers and scientists to famous historical and social figures such as Harriet Tubman. The group discourages proposing names of pets and does not allow offensive names and those that are purely commercial in nature.

The NASA-funded project code-named Q-PACE will help Physics Professor Joshua Colwell and his team better understand how planets form. The experiments involve marble-sized particles and what happens when they collide at low speeds in space. The project also helps UCF with one of its core missions – teaching students.

“We are always looking for ways to give students practical experience,” Colwell said. “Q-PACE is a unique opportunity because it gives students hands-on experience working with a space instrument as well as learning what it takes to work with a team. And the project isn’t just theoretical. Our experiments will give us valuable data to help us unravel the mystery of how planets formed in our solar system and around other stars. They are contributing to real science.”

Colwell knows real science. He has worked on a number of NASA missions, including the recently concluded Cassini mission that explored Saturn and its rings. His co-investigators – Assistant Professor Adrienne Dove and Florida Space Institute Research Scientist Julie Brisset – also have a lot of experience in the area of microgravity. They also share the desire to teach the next generation of scientists.

Trisha Joseph, an Orlando native, is planning on becoming a mission specialist for NASA after she graduates from UCF. She is majoring in mechanical engineering and was thrilled that Colwell took a chance on her.

“This is a great opportunity to learn hard and soft skills,” Joseph said. “When I started as a sophomore a lot of things were over my head, but working with other students and under Dr. Colwell I’ve learned so much. I received so much guidance and stuff they can’t teach you in school, like the etiquette of working on a professional team. I feel super blessed.”

She said she can’t wait to see the images beamed back from space once the experiments start running.

The cube satellite will perform more than 100 experiments and a high-speed video camera will capture all the action. Then the satellite will transmit the images by radio back to a ground station students are building at UCF. That’s added another layer of complexity to the project, said Doug Maukonen, a co-principal investigator. He is an engineer and research technician working in Colwell’s Center for Microgravity Research.

The students are also using magnets to create a lightweight and efficient attitude control system to keep the satellite oriented in the right direction while running the experiments. There are existing navigation systems the team could have used, Colwell said. But they would have been costly. So instead the team will build one and in the process learn how to troubleshoot by thinking outside the box.

The satellite will orbit the Earth for three to five years. At the end of its mission it will fall into the Earth’s atmosphere, burning up in the process.

Aerospace engineering major Jacob Hambur, of Ft. Myers, said he likes the pressure of a “real project.”

“School is good because it teaches you, but this is so much more because if you mess up here it’s on you,” he said. “You don’t want to be the guy who messes up and now your project is in space and it doesn’t work. The stakes are higher. I like that.”

This is one of two cube satellite projects currently being built at UCF, with Dove leading the SurfSat mission, also slated for launch next year. Maukonen said that one of the benefits of having students work on these projects is the skills they learn, which makes them attractive job candidates.
“I think we have a 100 percent track record,” Maukonen said. “We have our graduates working at places like NASA and JPL.”