{"id":149472,"date":"2026-10-01T09:30:18","date_gmt":"2026-10-01T13:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=149472"},"modified":"2026-10-02T16:39:54","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T20:39:54","slug":"why-does-ucf-celebrate-space-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/why-does-ucf-celebrate-space-week\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Do We Celebrate UCF Space Week? Because Discovery Starts Here"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Landing humans on the moon was just a dream when UCF was founded in 1963. But we dared to believe \u2014 developing the talent and inventing the technologies to make it reality. That same spirit still drives us today.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>We are <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/space\/\">America\u2019s Space University<\/a>.<\/span> And we celebrate UCF Space Week to honor our origin as we dare to build what\u2019s next.<\/em><\/p>\n\t\t<section class=\"ucf-section ucf-section-space-week \" style>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"bg-inverse text-inverse\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row no-gutters\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-md-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"media-background-container h-100\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/09\/2608-BNR-Today-Story-Promo-Space-Week-Image-810x400-1.jpg\" alt=\"UCF student adjusts equipment on a large telescope at night, surrounded by cables and machinery, with a starry sky in the background.\" class=\"w-100\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" alt=\"UCF student adjusts equipment on a large telescope at night, surrounded by cables and machinery, with a starry sky in the background.\" class=\"w-100 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/09\/2608-BNR-Today-Story-Promo-Space-Week-Image-810x400-1.jpg\"><br>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-md-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"media-background-container h-100 d-flex flex-column align-items-center justify-content-center text-center\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/09\/2608-BNR-Today-Story-Promo-Space-Week-BG-800x400-1.jpg\" alt class=\" media-background object-fit-cover\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" alt class=\" media-background object-fit-cover lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/09\/2608-BNR-Today-Story-Promo-Space-Week-BG-800x400-1.jpg\">\n<div class=\"w-75 mx-auto pt-3\">\n<noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/09\/2608-BNR-Today-Story-Promo-Space-Week-Lockup.png\" alt=\"UCF Space Week Oct. 25-30, 2026\" class=\"w-100\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" alt=\"UCF Space Week Oct. 25-30, 2026\" class=\"w-100 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/09\/2608-BNR-Today-Story-Promo-Space-Week-Lockup.png\">\n<p class=\"text-center pt-4 line-height-1 font-size-sm\">Where Global Leaders Unite to Forge the Future of Space<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\n<hr>\n<p>With <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/faculty\/\">world-renowned faculty<\/a>, hands-on learning experiences and a location less than an hour from Florida\u2019s Space Coast, UCF continues to prove why it\u2019s America\u2019s Space University \u2014 where education, industry and exploration unite to shape the future of space.<\/p>\n<p>Oct. 25 marks the start of the second <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/spaceweek\/\">UCF Space Week<\/a>, a university-wide celebration of all the ways Knight Nation boldly pushes space forward. The observance highlights UCF\u2019s vital role in advancing space research, supporting Florida\u2019s fast-growing space economy, and preparing the next generation of explorers, engineers, and entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n<p>Here are a few key reasons why we celebrate UCF Space Week and how SpaceU is launching the next era of space innovation.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-full wp-image-155734 img-fluid aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_1.jpg\" alt=\"Founded to fuel the space industry, UCF remains a launchpad for those who dare to dream beyond Earth.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_1-384x512.jpg 384w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_1-300x400.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_1-270x360.jpg 270w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-full wp-image-155734 img-fluid aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20600%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Founded to fuel the space industry, UCF remains a launchpad for those who dare to dream beyond Earth.\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20600%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_1-384x512.jpg 384w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_1-300x400.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_1-270x360.jpg 270w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_1.jpg\"><\/p>\n<h2>A Legacy in Fueling the Space Industry&#8217;s Talent Pipeline<\/h2>\n<p>When the university first opened in 1963, landing humans on the moon was a dream that seemed out of reach. Yet UCF dared to believe \u2014 and take action \u2014 by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/research\/\">supplying talent and research<\/a> to the nearby space industry based on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/orlando\/\">Space Coast<\/a> just 35 miles east. UCF\u2019s purpose has only grown stronger more than six decades later as space exploration fuels transformative innovation here on Earth.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-full wp-image-155728 img-fluid aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_2-1.jpg\" alt=\"UCF students can study 35+ space-related degrees, including engineering, science, medicine and more.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_2-1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_2-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_2-1-384x512.jpg 384w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_2-1-300x400.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_2-1-270x360.jpg 270w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-full wp-image-155728 img-fluid aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20600%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"UCF students can study 35+ space-related degrees, including engineering, science, medicine and more.\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20600%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_2-1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_2-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_2-1-384x512.jpg 384w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_2-1-300x400.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_2-1-270x360.jpg 270w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_2-1.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>Every year, thousands of students gain real-world experience, conduct interdisciplinary research and participate in programs \u2014 including the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/ucf-space-medicine-initiatives-are-taking-off\/\">&nbsp;aerospace medicine program<\/a> \u2014 directly connected to industry, preparing them for in-demand roles across the space sector.<\/p>\n<p>The university\u2019s excellence in providing talent is supported by data, as the American Society of Engineering Education consistently ranks UCF in the top five nationally for awarding bachelor\u2019s degrees in (2025):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/degree\/aerospace-engineering-bsae\/\">Aerospace engineering<\/a> (No. 4)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/degree\/mechanical-engineering-bsme\/\">Mechanical engineering<\/a> (No. 5)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/degree\/computer-science-bs\/\">Computer science<\/a> (No. 5)<\/li>\n<li>And No. 10 for awarding engineering bachelor\u2019s degrees overall \u2014<strong> the highest in Florida<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Advancing Research That Reaches New Frontiers<\/h2>\n<p>When visionaries look to the future, they also look to UCF \u2014 a leader in space research, innovation and education with 14 experiments sent to space aboard commercial rockets since 2016. UCF Space Week spotlights these breakthroughs, connecting the community with the pioneering work happening right on campus.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-full wp-image-155726 img-fluid aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_3-copy.jpg\" alt=\" By studying how space conditions accelerate aging, UCF researchers could help protect astronauts and inform treatments for age-related diseases on Earth.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_3-copy.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_3-copy-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_3-copy-384x512.jpg 384w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_3-copy-300x400.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_3-copy-270x360.jpg 270w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-full wp-image-155726 img-fluid aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20600%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\" By studying how space conditions accelerate aging, UCF researchers could help protect astronauts and inform treatments for age-related diseases on Earth.\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20600%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_3-copy.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_3-copy-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_3-copy-384x512.jpg 384w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_3-copy-300x400.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_3-copy-270x360.jpg 270w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_3-copy.jpg\"><\/p>\n<h3>Studying Aging in Space<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Researcher:<\/strong> Professor Michal Masternak, College of Medicine<br>\n<strong>Project:<\/strong> Masternak and his team study <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/new-ucf-study-links-microgravity-space-radiation-to-accelerated-aging\/\">how the extreme conditions of space affect human aging and health<\/a>. By simulating microgravity and space radiation, the researchers identified molecular changes associated with accelerated aging, offering insights that could help protect astronauts on long-duration missions and inform future therapies for age-related diseases on Earth.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-full wp-image-155729 img-fluid aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_4.jpg\" alt=\" UCF researchers are leading NASA&apos;s Lunar-VISE mission, which will send a robotic lander and rover to explore the moon&apos;s mysterious Gruithuisen Domes for the first time.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_4.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_4-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_4-384x512.jpg 384w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_4-300x400.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_4-270x360.jpg 270w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-full wp-image-155729 img-fluid aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20600%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\" UCF researchers are leading NASA&apos;s Lunar-VISE mission, which will send a robotic lander and rover to explore the moon&apos;s mysterious Gruithuisen Domes for the first time.\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20600%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_4.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_4-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_4-384x512.jpg 384w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_4-300x400.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_4-270x360.jpg 270w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_4.jpg\"><\/p>\n<h3>Unlocking Lunar Resources<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Researchers: <\/strong>Planetary Geologist and Associate Professor Kerri Donaldson Hanna and Interim Department Chair of Physics and Associate Professor Adrienne Dove<br>\n<strong>Project:<\/strong> Donaldson Hanna and Dove are leading <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/research\/lunarvise\/\">NASA\u2019s Lunar-VISE (Lunar Vulkan Imaging Spectroscopy Explorer) mission<\/a>, which aims to uncover clues about an unexplored part of the moon and potential insight for deeper space exploration.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-full wp-image-155730 img-fluid aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_5.jpg\" alt=\"UCF researchers are developing photonics technology to help future space telescopes detect Earth-like planets and search their atmospheres for signs of life.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_5.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_5-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_5-384x512.jpg 384w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_5-300x400.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_5-270x360.jpg 270w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-full wp-image-155730 img-fluid aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20600%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"UCF researchers are developing photonics technology to help future space telescopes detect Earth-like planets and search their atmospheres for signs of life.\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20600%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_5.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_5-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_5-384x512.jpg 384w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_5-300x400.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_5-270x360.jpg 270w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_5.jpg\"><\/p>\n<h3>Detecting Habitable Worlds<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Researcher:<\/strong> Professor Stephen Eikenberry, College of Optics and Photonics<br>\n<strong>Project:<\/strong> Eikenberry and his team are developing advanced photonics technology to help future space telescopes detect Earth-like planets hidden by the brightness of nearby stars. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/ucf-researchers-advance-tech-that-could-help-scientists-detect-habitable-worlds-beyond-our-solar-system\/\">NASA-funded project<\/a> could improve scientists\u2019 ability to directly observe potentially habitable worlds and search their atmospheres for signs of life.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-full wp-image-155737 img-fluid aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_6_2.jpg\" alt=\"29% of Kennedy Space Center employees are UCF alums.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_6_2.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_6_2-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_6_2-384x512.jpg 384w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_6_2-300x400.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_6_2-270x360.jpg 270w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-full wp-image-155737 img-fluid aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20600%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"29% of Kennedy Space Center employees are UCF alums.\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20600%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_6_2.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_6_2-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_6_2-384x512.jpg 384w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_6_2-300x400.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_6_2-270x360.jpg 270w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week-2026_6_2.jpg\"><\/p>\n<h2>Building Partnerships That Propel Discovery<\/h2>\n<blockquote><p>UCF Space Week highlights these crucial collaborations with support from Blue Origin, KPMG, Lockheed Martin, Verizon, Space Florida and SpaceX.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>At the heart of UCF\u2019s success is collaboration. The university works closely with NASA, government agencies, private companies, and research institutions to create opportunities that bridge education, research, and real-world application. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/partnerships\/\">These partnerships<\/a> help students gain experience and industry insight while advancing technologies that will define the next phase of space exploration.<\/p>\n<p>On Sept. 9, UCF partnered with the U.S. Space Force\u2019s innovation enterprise to launch the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/feed\/update\/urn:li:activity:7503587996806492160\/\">SpaceWERX East Coast Innovation Gateway<\/a>. The effort strengthens connections between government, academia, industry and entrepreneurs to help promising ideas move faster from research to real-world capability.<\/p>\n<p>UCF is also helping space\u2011related research, innovation and workforce development across through the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/florida-space-research-consortium-names-ucfs-alain-berinstain-as-director\/\">Florida Space Research Consortium<\/a>. Alain Berinstain, who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/alain-berinstain-brings-bold-collaborative-vision-as-new-director-of-florida-space-institute-at-ucf\/\">joined UCF in January as director of the Florida Space Institute<\/a>, now leads the eight-university initiative \u2014 underscoring UCF\u2019s leadership and expertise in this evolving field.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-full wp-image-155732 img-fluid aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_7.jpg\" alt=\"Launched in Spring 2026, UCF&apos;s online space MBA is powering the next generation of economic development.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_7.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_7-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_7-384x512.jpg 384w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_7-300x400.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_7-270x360.jpg 270w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-full wp-image-155732 img-fluid aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20600%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Launched in Spring 2026, UCF&apos;s online space MBA is powering the next generation of economic development.\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20600%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_7.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_7-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_7-384x512.jpg 384w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_7-300x400.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_7-270x360.jpg 270w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2025\/11\/Why-We-Celebrate-UCF-Space-Week_2026_7.jpg\"><\/p>\n<h2>Powering Florida\u2019s Space Economy<\/h2>\n<p>Space is no longer just a frontier \u2014 it\u2019s the future. With the global space economy projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035, UCF is preparing the visionaries who will fuel discovery and shape that growth.<\/p>\n<p>Now expanding its impact into the business of space, UCF is helping lead the business of space under the direction of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/zaheer-ali-named-program-director-of-ucfs-space-commercialization-and-strategy-initiative\/\">Space Commercialization and Strategy Program Director Zaheer Ali<\/a> . His work is building a pipeline of leaders ready to drive innovation, strengthen national security and unlock opportunities that will advance humanity\u2019s future beyond Earth.<\/p>\n<h2>Reaching for What\u2019s Next<\/h2>\n<p>UCF Space Week isn\u2019t just about looking back at past achievements \u2014 it\u2019s about imagining what comes next. With a legacy built on exploration and a community fueled by curiosity, UCF continues to inspire students and researchers to reach higher, think bolder and push the boundaries of what\u2019s possible.<\/p>\n<p>Because at UCF, space isn\u2019t the final frontier \u2014 it\u2019s just the beginning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Space has always inspired what Knights do. The same unstoppable spirit that launched UCF still drives us \u2014 to challenge, lead and dare to explore the unknown.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":155572,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"lazy_load_responsive_images_disabled":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":"","_wp_rev_ctl_limit":""},"categories":[54523,5,23,24],"tags":[54867,55042,973,979,981,1775,14916,4361,54741],"tu_author":[],"class_list":["post-149472","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academics","category-colleges","category-research","category-science-technology","tag-alain-berinstain","tag-barry-s-miller-college-of-business","tag-college-of-engineering-and-computer-science","tag-college-of-medicine","tag-college-of-optics-and-photonics","tag-florida-space-instit","tag-research","tag-space","tag-zaheer-ali"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v22.3 (Yoast SEO v28.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Why Do We Celebrate UCF Space Week?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Space has always inspired what Knights do. 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