Phil Metzger News

Space debris can endanger spacecraft and damage satellites that are critical to everything from communication to GPS, air traffic control, surveillance and national security.

As NASA makes its second launch attempt for the Artemis 1 mission, planetary scientist Phil Metzger ’00MS’05PhD — who worked on the Space Shuttle program Launch Team — shares insight on launch preparations and scrubs.

More than 20 faculty and researchers and dozens of students and alumni are working on multiple projects that support America’s space program and NASA’s return to the moon — including the Artemis 1 mission launching this year.

UCF faculty participate in pop culture convention to help people understand space science and why it matters in an entertaining way.

The work reflects UCF’s role as a leader in producing the technology and workforce needed for the nation’s new space race.

Phil Metzger ’00MS’05PhD, a planetary scientist with nearly 30 years of experience at NASA, shares stories from working on the space shuttle missions, his controversial research on whether Pluto is a planet, and what the future of space exploration will look like. 

UCF researchers are working with private companies to develop some intriguing ways to get astronauts to the moon safely.

The designations recognize the researchers’ impact on space science and showcase UCF’s impact on space exploration.

Understanding how dust behaves on the moon and other planetary surfaces is critical for future space exploration missions.