{"id":156348,"date":"2026-10-28T12:30:02","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T16:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=156348"},"modified":"2026-10-28T11:41:13","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T15:41:13","slug":"7-stellar-honorees-earn-ucfs-2026-spaceu-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/7-stellar-honorees-earn-ucfs-2026-spaceu-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Stellar Honorees Earn UCF\u2019s 2026 SpaceU Awards"},"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><strong>We are <\/strong><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/space\/\"><strong><em>America\u2019s Space University<\/em><\/strong><\/a><em><strong>.<\/strong><\/em><em><strong> And we celebrate UCF Space Week to honor our origin as we dare to build what\u2019s next.<\/strong><\/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>UCF celebrated seven dynamic contributors to Central Florida\u2019s robust <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/space\/\">space<\/a> ecosystem with its 2026 SpaceU Awards.<\/p>\n<p>America\u2019s Space University honored two students, three faculty, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/partnerships\/\">Pegasus Partner<\/a>, and a space company leader for advancing space development, discovery, exploration and engagement. The awards were part of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/spaceweek\/\">the second UCF Space Week<\/a>, which runs Oct. 25-30 and showcases the university&#8217;s impact across the space sector.<\/p>\n<p>Tuesday\u2019s SpaceU Awards ceremony at the Celeste Hotel drew more than 200 community leaders and supporters from UCF, industry and government. The event also spotlighted the inaugural UCF Space Ideation Challenge, a national competition showcasing practical, forward-looking ideas to strengthen U.S. leadership in space and accelerate the emerging space economy.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;Their achievements remind us that exploration is about more than reaching new frontiers \u2014 it is about advancing knowledge, creating opportunities and improving lives on Earth and beyond.&#8221; \u2014 Alexander N. Cartwright, UCF president<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Our SpaceU Award recipients embody the ingenuity and determination that have defined UCF from the start. They ask bold questions, take on difficult challenges, and pursue ideas that have the potential to change what we know, what we can do and where we can go&#8217;,&#8217; said UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright. &#8220;Their achievements remind us that exploration is about more than reaching new frontiers \u2014 it is about advancing knowledge, creating opportunities and improving lives on Earth and beyond.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>UCF originated in 1963 to help supply talent and technology for Central Florida\u2019s growing space program. Today, SpaceU has become a vital force for enhancing Florida\u2019s vibrant space economy through excellence in research, innovation and workforce development \u2014 leading the nation in producing talent for the aerospace and defense industries.<\/p>\n<p>Other Space Week events include the inaugural UCF Innovate Day, which highlights how university research translates into real-world applications; <em>The Economist\u2019s<\/em> fourth-annual Space Economy Summit; the National Space Society\u2019s Space Settlement Summit; and the SpaceU Symposium, featuring student, faculty and staff research. The week also includes a SpaceU Drone Show on Memory Mall and the 10th-annual Space Game against Baylor at Acrisure Bounce House Stadium.<\/p>\n<p>Here are the 2026 SpaceU Awardees.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-156396 img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Noah-Brockhoff.jpg\" alt=\"Alexander Cartwright and Noah Brockhoff\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Noah-Brockhoff.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Noah-Brockhoff-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Noah-Brockhoff-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Noah-Brockhoff-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Noah-Brockhoff-360x240.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-156396 img-fluid lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Alexander Cartwright and Noah Brockhoff\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Noah-Brockhoff.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Noah-Brockhoff-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Noah-Brockhoff-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Noah-Brockhoff-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Noah-Brockhoff-360x240.jpg 360w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Noah-Brockhoff.jpg\"><\/p>\n<h2>Student Space Research Award<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Noah Brockhoff, Junior, College of Engineering and Computer Science<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Brockhoff\u2019s research is helping to address the critical challenge of minimizing the effects of moon dust on spacecraft and landing sites. At UCF\u2019s Exolith Lab, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/degree\/mechanical-engineering-bsme\/\">mechanical engineering<\/a> major spent 300 hours building a simulated lunar lander to study how lunar dust traveling at terminal velocity could damage spacecraft. NASA is partnering with UCF on the research and plans to use the findings, connecting Brockhoff&#8217;s work directly to the future of space exploration.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"img-fluid aligncenter wp-image-156395 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Keanu-Brayman.jpg\" alt=\"Alexander Cartwright and Keanu Brayman\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Keanu-Brayman.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Keanu-Brayman-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Keanu-Brayman-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Keanu-Brayman-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Keanu-Brayman-360x240.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"img-fluid aligncenter wp-image-156395 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Alexander Cartwright and Keanu Brayman\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Keanu-Brayman.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Keanu-Brayman-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Keanu-Brayman-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Keanu-Brayman-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Keanu-Brayman-360x240.jpg 360w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Keanu-Brayman.jpg\"><\/p>\n<h2>Student Space Innovator Award<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Keanu Brayman, Senior, College of Engineering and Computer Science<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Brayman, a mechanical engineering major, is making contributions to space innovations with commercial applications. As an intern at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, he has worked on trajectory optimization for the Human Landing System, additive manufacturing technology for lunar resource utilization and robotic in-space laser welding \u2014 a necessity for assembling large structures on the lunar surface. Brayman is also a researcher in UCF\u2019s Astrodynamics, Space and Robotics Laboratory, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/4-knights-named-goldwater-scholars-elevating-ucf-to-a-historic-national-milestone\/\">Goldwater Scholar<\/a>, and an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/meet-ucfs-2025-astronaut-scholars\/\">Astronaut Scholar<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-156398 img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Paula-do-Vale-Pereria.jpg\" alt=\"Alexander Cartwright and Paula do Vale Perreria\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Paula-do-Vale-Pereria.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Paula-do-Vale-Pereria-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Paula-do-Vale-Pereria-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Paula-do-Vale-Pereria-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Paula-do-Vale-Pereria-360x240.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-156398 img-fluid lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Alexander Cartwright and Paula do Vale Perreria\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Paula-do-Vale-Pereria.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Paula-do-Vale-Pereria-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Paula-do-Vale-Pereria-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Paula-do-Vale-Pereria-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Paula-do-Vale-Pereria-360x240.jpg 360w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Paula-do-Vale-Pereria.jpg\"><\/p>\n<h2>Early Career Space Achievement Faculty Award<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Paula do Vale Pereira, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>do Vale Pereira develops approaches for exploring the hidden oceans of icy moons. She specializes in space systems, spacecraft engineering, and planetary exploration technologies for navigating some of the solar system&#8217;s most challenging environments. do Vale Pereira contributes to shaping the next decade of planetary exploration through NASA\u2019s Decadal Astrobiology Research and Exploration Strategy and the Ocean Worlds Working Group. Her lab investigates spacecraft thermal performance, orbital dynamics, lunar surface power transmission, and innovative satellite structures.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-156399 img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Manny-Urquieta.jpg\" alt=\"Alexander Cartwright and Manny Urquieta\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Manny-Urquieta.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Manny-Urquieta-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Manny-Urquieta-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Manny-Urquieta-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Manny-Urquieta-360x240.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-156399 img-fluid lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Alexander Cartwright and Manny Urquieta\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Manny-Urquieta.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Manny-Urquieta-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Manny-Urquieta-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Manny-Urquieta-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Manny-Urquieta-360x240.jpg 360w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Manny-Urquieta.jpg\"><\/p>\n<h2>Mid-Career Space Achievement Faculty Award<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Emmanuel Urquieta, Associate Professor of Medicine, Vice Chair for Aerospace Medicine, College of Medicine<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Urquieta is a physician and scientist helping to make human spaceflight safer through research, education, and aerospace-medicine leadership. He founded and directs SpaceU\u2019s Center for Aerospace and Extreme Environments Medicine, leading UCF&#8217;s efforts to promote research, education, clinical care, and operational capabilities to protect human health and performance in space. At UCF, he established Florida\u2019s first academic Division of Aerospace Medicine and spearheaded the development of an aerospace medicine residency, master\u2019s degree program, and specialized research and simulation capabilities for future exploration missions.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_156400\" style=\"max-width: 1200px;\" class=\"figure mx-auto d-block\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"figure-img img-fluid w-100 wp-image-156400 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Ryan-LongFox.jpg\" alt=\"Alexander Cartwright and Jared Long-Fox\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Ryan-LongFox.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Ryan-LongFox-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Ryan-LongFox-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Ryan-LongFox-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Ryan-LongFox-360x240.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"figure-img img-fluid w-100 wp-image-156400 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Alexander Cartwright and Jared Long-Fox\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Ryan-LongFox.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Ryan-LongFox-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Ryan-LongFox-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Ryan-LongFox-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Ryan-LongFox-360x240.jpg 360w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Ryan-LongFox.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Planetary Exploration Research Scientist and UCF physics alum Jared Long-Fox &#8217;26PhD (right) accepts the Lifetime Space Achievement Faculty Award on Pegasus Professor Dan Britt&#8217;s behalf. Britt mentored Long-Fox while he was a student.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Lifetime Space Achievement Faculty Award<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Daniel Britt, Pegasus Professor of Astronomy and Planetary Sciences, College of Sciences<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Britt&#8217;s trailblazing contributions to planetary science have expanded the world&#8217;s understanding of the solar system. A member of several NASA mission teams, he managed the camera project for Mars Pathfinder and has contributed hardware to Mars missions, extending UCF technology in reaching the stars. He directs UCF\u2019s Center for Lunar and Asteroid Surface Science and studies the physical properties of asteroids, comets, the moon and Mars. Since joining UCF in 2003, his honors include six NASA Achievement Awards and an asteroid named 4395 Danbritt.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_156404\" style=\"max-width: 1200px;\" class=\"figure mx-auto d-block\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"figure-img img-fluid w-100 wp-image-156404 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Tahlee-Baynard.jpg\" alt=\"Tahllee Baynard and Alexander Cartwright\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Tahlee-Baynard.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Tahlee-Baynard-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Tahlee-Baynard-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Tahlee-Baynard-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Tahlee-Baynard-360x240.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"figure-img img-fluid w-100 wp-image-156404 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Tahllee Baynard and Alexander Cartwright\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Tahlee-Baynard.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Tahlee-Baynard-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Tahlee-Baynard-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Tahlee-Baynard-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Tahlee-Baynard-360x240.jpg 360w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Tahlee-Baynard.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Lockheed Martin&#8217;s Vice President of System Prototypes Tahllee Baynard (right) accepts the Industry Partner Impact Award on the organization&#8217;s behalf.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Industry Partner Impact Award<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Lockheed Martin<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Global industry leader Lockheed Martin is a cornerstone of Florida\u2019s space ecosystem and a long-time champion of UCF. Since 1981, Lockheed Martin\u2019s College Work Experience Program at UCF has provided paid professional opportunities to more than 10,000 students. Many have gone on to join the company. The partnership also supports mentorship, scholarships and cutting-edge faculty research in robotics, AI, advanced manufacturing and hypersonics. Last year, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/lockheed-martin-ucf-expand-longstanding-partnership-fueling-floridas-prosperity\/\">Lockheed Martin became a Pegasus Partner<\/a>, expanding collaboration with UCF on research, workforce development and economic growth.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-full wp-image-156401 img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026.jpg\" alt=\"Alexander Cartwright and Michael Edmonds\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026-360x240.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-full wp-image-156401 img-fluid lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Alexander Cartwright and Michael Edmonds\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026-360x240.jpg 360w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026.jpg\"><\/p>\n<h2>Innovative Space Leader Award<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Michael Edmonds, Chief Commercial Officer, Blue Origin<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Edmonds\u2019 leadership fosters business, government and customer relationships essential to the growth of commercial space. He also serves as president of Club for the Future, Blue Origin\u2019s nonprofit dedicated to inspiring young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, arts and math. Under Edmonds&#8217; leadership, the organization has awarded $1 million in grants to 19 space-focused nonprofits, extending STEAM outreach worldwide. Through educational challenges and postcards flown to space and back, the club makes exploration tangible for students across the globe.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As part of the second UCF Space Week, the honors celebrate individuals and organizations who are advancing development, discovery, exploration, and engagement in the field.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":156402,"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":[54523,5,23,24,27],"tags":[54500,973,979,54496,2876,55120,54711,3703,4361,55095],"tu_author":[],"class_list":["post-156348","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academics","category-colleges","category-research","category-science-technology","category-student-life","tag-aerospace-medicine","tag-college-of-engineering-and-computer-science","tag-college-of-medicine","tag-emmanuel-urquieta","tag-lockheed-martin","tag-paula-do-vale-pereira","tag-pegasus-partnerships","tag-philanthropy","tag-space","tag-ucf-space-week"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v22.3 (Yoast SEO v28.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>7 Stellar Honorees Earn UCF\u2019s 2026 SpaceU Awards | University of Central Florida News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"As part of the second UCF Space Week, the honors celebrate individuals and organizations who are advancing development, discovery, exploration, and engagement in the field.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/7-stellar-honorees-earn-ucfs-2026-spaceu-awards\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"7 Stellar Honorees Earn UCF\u2019s 2026 SpaceU Awards\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"As part of the second UCF Space Week, the honors celebrate individuals and organizations who are advancing development, discovery, exploration, and engagement in the field.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/7-stellar-honorees-earn-ucfs-2026-spaceu-awards\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"University of Central Florida News | UCF Today\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/UCF\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-10-28T16:30:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/10\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Group.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Nicole Dudenhoefer &#039;17\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@UCF\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@UCF\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Nicole Dudenhoefer &#039;17\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucf.edu\\\/news\\\/7-stellar-honorees-earn-ucfs-2026-spaceu-awards\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucf.edu\\\/news\\\/7-stellar-honorees-earn-ucfs-2026-spaceu-awards\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Nicole Dudenhoefer '17\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucf.edu\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/9d80c5f96623baaf4ec084540ceb2407\"},\"headline\":\"7 Stellar Honorees Earn UCF\u2019s 2026 SpaceU Awards\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-10-28T16:30:02+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucf.edu\\\/news\\\/7-stellar-honorees-earn-ucfs-2026-spaceu-awards\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1155,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucf.edu\\\/news\\\/7-stellar-honorees-earn-ucfs-2026-spaceu-awards\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucf.edu\\\/wp-content\\\/blogs.dir\\\/20\\\/files\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/UCF_SpaceU-Awards-2026_Group.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Aerospace Medicine\",\"College of Engineering and Computer Science\",\"College of Medicine\",\"Emmanuel Urquieta\",\"Lockheed Martin\",\"Paula do Vale Pereira\",\"Pegasus Partnerships\",\"Philanthropy\",\"space\",\"UCF Space Week\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Academics\",\"Colleges &amp; 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