Born from the challenge of the Space Race, UCF was created to transform imagination into innovation and prepare people to launch humanity beyond its limits.

UCF Space Week celebrates this mission annually by welcoming global space leaders, researchers, students, partners, and fans to campus for collaboration, discovery, and the development of Florida’s growing space economy.

Take a look back at some of the standout sights and celebrations from UCF Space Week 2026.

Knightro poses beside illuminated SpaceU letters and a large model of the moon, with a UCF Football uniform displayed nearby.
(Photo by Antoine Hart)

Knightro brought SpaceU spirit to the Celeste Hotel, welcoming industry partners gathered for UCF Space Week 2026.

Visitors explore a space-themed exhibition at UCF's John C. Hitt Library, examining artifacts, photographs and memorabilia displayed in glass cases.
Students take in the UCF John C. Hitt Library’s From Orbit to Archives exhibition. (Photo by Brooke Morris ’22)

UCF Libraries hosted several events, special programs and multiple exhibitions built from University Archives and Special Collections in celebration of UCF Space Week 2026.

One exhibit in the Digital Exploration Center’s Immersion Studio, curated by graduate research assistant Eric Thompson ’19, brought six decades of UCF, United States and international space history and culture beyond the archives and into visitors’ hands.

Representatives from the City of Orlando and Orange County government pose alongside Knightro at UCF Innovate Day, with two individuals holding framed proclamations in front of a UCF Innovate backdrop.
(Photo by Antoine Hart)

The inaugural UCF Innovate Day showcased how UCF transforms research into impact through entrepreneurship, technology commercialization and strategic partnerships. During the event, representatives from the City of Orlando and Orange County government presented UCF with a special proclamation honoring UCF Space Week.

Panel moderator Ben Patz addresses five panelists — Joe Sleppy, Guifang Li, Jason Eichenholz, Melanie Coathup and Jonathan Reyes — seated onstage during UCF Innovate Day, with an audience in the foreground.
(Photo by Antoine Hart)

A featured panel during UCF Innovate Day brought together (from left) moderator Ben Patz ’85MS, co-founder and general managing partner of DeepWork Capital; Joe Sleppy ’18, CEO of Capacitech Energy; Guifang Li, UCF professor of optics and photonics; Jason Eichenholz ’95MS ’98PhD; Melanie Coathup, a professor in UCF’s College of Medicine; and Jonathan Reyes ’15 ’17MS ’19PhD, CEO of Halo Engines.

A lunar rover with large, treaded wheels navigates simulated moon dust while two participants in white protective suits observe in the background at UCF's Exolith Lab.
(Photo by Antoine Hart)

UCF’s Florida Space Institute and its Exolith Lab hosted NASA’s Lunabotics Challenge. The Exolith Lab is home to the world’s largest simulated lunar surface, where NASA tests rovers and equipment for upcoming moon missions. Get an inside look at a facility tour from Exolith Lab Chief Engineer Max Kuehn ’22.

(Photo by Antoine Hart)

UCF honored seven contributors helping shape Central Florida’s thriving space ecosystem at the 2026 SpaceU Awards. UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright (center) joined the honorees and their representatives. From left: planetary exploration research scientist and UCF physics alum Jared Long-Fox ’26PhD, accepting on behalf of Daniel Britt; mechanical engineering major Noah Brockhoff; UCF Associate Professor of Medicine Emmanuel Urquieta; UCF Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering Paula do Vale Pereira; mechanical engineering major Keanu Brayman; Tahllee Baynard, Lockheed Martin’s vice president of system prototypes; and Michael Edmonds, Blue Origin’s chief commercial officer.

A woman wearing a black SpaceX shirt speaks with a UCF student at a SpaceX table at Rosen College's fall career fair.
Salma Tujjar (left) talks with Rosen College of Hospitality Management students at the fall career fair. (Photo by Nick Leyva ’15)

UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management hosted its fall career fair, which welcomed some of the world’s top companies, including Pegasus Partner Universal Orlando Resort, Marriott International, Walt Disney World Resort’s Swan and Dolphin Resort, and SpaceX.

Two spectators stand with their arms around each other while watching a colorful drone formation resembling a Pegasus in the night sky on UCF's Memory Mall.
(Photo by Dana Weisman)

Drone shows on UCF’s main campus and at Acrisure Bounce House commemorated UCF’s identity as America’s Space University, including a special show presented by BNY that brought the community together on Memory Mall.

UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright and First Lady Melinda Cartwright smile on the football field at Acrisure Bounce House as a drone show illuminates the night sky with the UCF logo.
UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright and First Lady Melinda Cartwright join in celebrating UCF Space Week.
Hundreds of illuminated drones form the words "SPACEU" and the UCF logo above Acrisure Bounce House against the night sky.
UCF’s newly renovated Roth Tower shines during the Mission X Space Game’s drone show. (Photo courtesy of UCF Athletics)
Hundreds of drones form a Mission X Space Game design above the crowded Acrisure Bounce House during the football game.
A drone show lit up the sky above Acrisure Bounce House during the UCF Football Mission X Space Game. (Photo by Brooke Morris ’22)

Space Week’s grand finale was marked by the 10th anniversary of the UCF Space Game. This year’s unique uniform theme paid tribute to UCF’s origin story as America’s Space University.

Citronaut wearing a blue spacesuit rides in a silver flying saucer prop surrounded by students and fans.
Students from the College of Engineering and Computer Science revamped their custom Citronaut saucer robot for pregame events ahead of the UCF football team’s Mission X Space Game. (Photo by Brooke Morris ’22)

A Citronaut robot is one of several inventions built by UCF students in the College of Engineering and Computer Science that make the game day atmosphere uniquely UCF.

UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright speaks with space explorer Mark Hagle on the sidelines during UCF's Mission X Space Game. Hagle wears a blue flight jacket featuring NASA mission patches.

UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright and UCF donor, consultant and space visitor Marc Hagle take in the atmosphere at Acrisure Bounce House.

Orlando Health sports medicine physician Tracy Nogle and UCF Clinical Associate Professor of Physical Therapy Jennifer Tucker stand beside a white, space-themed, child-sized adaptive vehicle on the football field at Acrisure Bounce House, with fans filling the stadium behind them.
Orlando Health sports medicine physician Tracy Nogle (left) and UCF Clinical Associate Professor of Physical Therapy Jennifer Tucker ’23PhD (right) were recognized with a custom-built Go Baby Go! car that was recently donated to a child with mobility challenges.

In recognition of the 10th anniversary of the Space Game, UCF’s Go Baby Go program, Orlando Health and UCF Athletics partnered to build 10 space-themed vehicles (like the one pictured above) customized for children with mobility challenges.

An aerial nighttime view of Acrisure Bounce House shows an illuminated football field surrounded by packed stands during UCF Football's Mission X Space Game.
Acrisure Bounce House hosted homecoming and the Space Game over six days. (Photo courtesy of UCF Athletics)

UCF took on Baylor at Acrisure Bounce House for the Mission X Space Game.

UCF students dressed in astronaut costumes cheer and wave illuminated foam sticks in the packed student section during the Mission X Space Game.
UCF students decked out in space-themed gear for the Mission X Space Game. (Photo by Brooke Morris ’22)

The UCF football team’s Space Game has become a fan favorite.

Members of the UCF dance team perform on the football field in blue Citronauts tops and black skirts, raising illuminated lights as fans shine their phone flashlights in the stands.
(Photo courtesy of UCF Athletics)

The dance team helped lead the “Lights Up, Lights Down” tradition during the Mission X Space Game.