This month’s edition of the S.P.A.C.E. Newsletter celebrates one of SpaceU’s most exciting and newest annual traditions — Space Week! It’s a time when we spotlight the groundbreaking research, hands-on learning, and innovative partnerships that demonstrate UCF's leadership in space research and education. This month showcased the many ways our faculty, students, and alumni are shaping the future of exploration and innovation beyond our planet.

This is also the last edition for 2025 — thank you for reading, and we wish you a happy holiday season. We look forward to sharing more news in 2026!

Share your (or your student, colleague, or fellow alumni’s) research, achievements, and unique stories with our COS Marketing team by filling out the COS Submit News form on our website. We will review and consider possibilities for sharing news. Make sure to include any relevant links, files, and photos!

The College of Sciences brought the SpaceU spirit to life at our Alumni Space Tailgate during UCF’s first ever Space Week. From reconnecting with fellow Knights to celebrating our place at the forefront of space education and research, it was an evening filled with energy, pride, and community. Thank you to our alumni and friends who joined us for an out-of-this-world kickoff to the week.

As the university celebrates UCF Space Week and First-Generation Student Awareness Week, Kaaliyah McGaughy’s story serves as a strong example of the determination and daring spirit of Knights to boldly forge the way forward.

As McGaughy grew as an engineering student, she found herself drawn to another path. Space wasn’t just a mystery to be admired — it was a place she wanted to understand. 

“I wanted to do more of the research, learn about space and do more experimental things with that instead of more hands-on things with engineering.” 

With support from faculty members like Pegasus Professor of Astronomy and Planetary Sciences Daniel Britt, who founded the Exolith Lab, she switched her major from aerospace engineering to physics on the astronomy track. 

“I’m glad I made the decision,” McGaughy says. “I still have engineering under my belt. I love it. I’d still do it in a heartbeat. But physics was just another avenue I wanted to explore.”

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. 

“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 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,” says Addie Dovie, professor and chair of the Department of Physics. “There’s an opportunity for students with more of an engineering background to pursue this doctorate.” 

What you need to know: This U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship program is among the most prestigious honors possible for students pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in STEM fields around the U.S. 

Why this year is significant for UCF: From the 13,000 graduates who applied for the fellowship nationwide, the NSF awarded only 1,500 (about one in nine). Those honorees receive financial support for advanced education and a stipend for their research. Six of them are UCF alums who are now set up to advance research in the areas of interest they discovered as undergraduates. 

Physics alumna Madisyn Brooks is a researcher interested in studying the earliest observable galaxies and black holes to understand their growth, evolution, and differences from those in closer galaxies like the Milky Way. At UCF, she found a path through her studies of Saturn’s rings in the Planetary Rings group under the direction of Dr. Joshua Colwell. This fun and welcoming environment allowed her to grow her skills and discover a new love of observational data analysis. 

“I came to UCF because of its connection to the Space Coast, and now I’m looking at the real possibility of working as a research scientist at a NASA institute, hopefully while also working at a planetarium,” she says. 

As Thanksgiving approaches, the College of Sciences (COS) would like to extend our gratitude to all staff in the college for their unwavering dedication and hard work.  

The College of Sciences Staff Council plays a central role in fostering a supportive and collaborative environment, ensuring staff feel heard and valued. Christina Alecse, administrative project manager for UCF RESTORES, reflects on the importance of that mission and the appreciation felt across the college. 

“The Staff Council supports the College of Sciences by serving as a collective voice and ensuring we maintain a positive and inclusive workplace for our dedicated and hardworking staff,” says Alecse. 

A key part of that support system comes from actively listening to employees throughout COS. With the season of gratitude in mind, Nikita Campbell, administrative coordinator for the Department of Physics, emphasizes how meaningful it is to represent staff voices and strengthen connections across COS. 

“The Staff Council supports the College of Sciences by truly listening to our staff; their likes, concerns, needs, and ideas and bringing those insights forward to the Dean’s Office,” says Campbell. 

The spirit of thankfulness is also reflected in the everyday dedication that keeps the college running. Iolanda Gusman, post-award specialist for the COS Finance Buisness Center, points to the consistent professionalism of staff who work behind the scenes to support students, faculty, and operations. 

“I deeply appreciate the dedication and professionalism of COS staff, who go above and beyond every day to keep operations running smoothly,” says Gusman. 

Beyond advocacy and communication, the Staff Council helps build a sense of community through events, recognition, and opportunities to come together. Matt Darby, administrative assistant in the Department of Anthropology, shares how these efforts help celebrate the people who make COS stronger. 

“Bringing important issues to COS leadership on behalf of all staff and organizing social and outreach events are key ways the Staff Council supports our community,” says Darby. 

Together, these reflections serve as a heartfelt reminder, especially during this season of gratitude, of just how thankful the College of Sciences is for its staff, the COS Staff Council, and the many ways they help the college thrive every day.

Whether it’s solving the world’s biggest problems or investigating the potential of novel discoveries, researchers at UCF are on the edge of scientific breakthroughs that aim to make an impact. Through the Research in 60 Seconds series, student and faculty researchers condense their complex studies into bite-sized summaries so you can know how and why Knights plan to improve our world. 

Associate Professor of Physics Kerri Donaldson Hanna’s research will use imaging technology to investigate how mysterious volcanic features formed on the celestial body. 

She says she is interested in her research because it is remarkable to have the ability to study planetary bodies through spacecraft and telescopic observations, as well as laboratory studies. 

Donaldson Hanna has had the privilege of collaborating with researchers at various stages of their academic pursuits, drawing inspiration from their dedication and expertise. 

“My research group includes undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers as well as my colleagues and teammates located at research institutions from the U.S. and U.K.,” she says. “Working with such great people really motivates me and makes we want to keep pushing forward even when things are tough.”

There’s still much we don’t understand about our universe, but scientists are uncovering new clues by studying rocks, down to the smallest particles of dust, that reveal the story of how our solar system formed. 

UCF Associate Professor of Physics Ryan Ogliore is advancing knowledge of the solar system by analyzing rocks from space. 

“Using microanalytical techniques, I study extraterrestrial samples of various forms down to the level of atoms,” Ogliore says. “Samples can include rocks from meteorites that land on Earth, as well as materials collected from asteroids, comets and other planets through robotic or crewed missions.” 

Among some of his most significant projects, Ogliore highlights his work with NASA’s Stardust mission to comet Wild 2, a nearly 20-year investigation that revealed surprising results. 

“We sent a spacecraft to collect microscopic dust from a comet, full of primordial ice, and discovered that its composition was made up of igneous rocks — materials that form during very high temperature events in the solar system,” he says. “That finding suggested the comet wasn’t just a leftover piece of the solar system’s building blocks, as we first thought, but rather a record of a more complex later stage of solar system formation.”

Physics Professor Viatcheslav Kokoouline is investigating the dissociative recombination of D2H+ ions to understand how stars form, the origins of water and life in the universe, and potential technological applications. 

Space observations, combined with laboratory astrophysics methods, help scientists understand how the universe forms. Kokoouline and his colleagues are studying the dissociative recombination (known as DR) of the H3+ ion and its isotopic modification, the D2H+ ion — a process that occurs throughout space, including in regions where planets are formed and in planetary atmospheres. By studying this process, Kokoouline is advancing our understanding of the chemical composition and conditions of the universe, including the presence of water and the formation of life. 

“I’m interested in the fundamental, microscopic processes that occur in molecular plasma and how molecules behave under varying temperatures. In space, many processes, including DR, occur in plasma and are affected by their surrounding environment,” he says.

The Charge | Written by: Aryah Britt 

With coffees in hand and views all around of posters and space experiments, guests attended the Florida Space Institute's second annual "SpaceU Symposium" at the Psychology Building atrium on Friday for Space Week. 

The event allowed students to highlight their work to researchers and space industry leaders to celebrate innovation and explore the future of space exploration. 

Matthew McMenamin, a third-year astrophysics major with a mathematics minor, researches how yeast ferments in microgravity. His experiment measures the yeast’s ability to produce ethanol, something humans use not only for disinfectants and bread but also for potential use in future space missions. 

“Being able to produce alcohol in an environment different from Earth is really important for when we eventually go back to the moon,” McMenamin said. 

McMenamin explained that one of his biggest challenges was finding a way to detect very small ethanol levels. 

“I don't know how to do this. I was asking some of the professors, how would you detect something this low?” McMenamin said. “Definitely figuring out the way to detect the outlaw was really, really interesting to figure out.”

The Charge | Written by: Dawson Therre

UCF’s Model United Nations team achieved major success at the recent ArchMUN competition, held on Oct. 24-26 at the University of Georgia in Athens, earning the title of "Best Large Delegation."  

“Winning 'Best Large Delegation' means the team had the highest total points of any large university there,“ said Max Seltzer, a senior political science major and UCF's Model U.N. president. 

Seltzer said the team now boasts about 35 active members and continues to grow each semester. Sixteen delegates represented UCF at the recent Athens conference, where many earned individual accolades, including “Best Delegate” and other top committee awards.  

Model U.N. competitions bring together students from universities across the country to simulate the operations of the United Nations and other political bodies. Seltzer said delegates debate, negotiate and draft resolutions on a wide range of global issues. 

At last weekend’s conference, Seltzer said UCF participants tackled topics such as nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation, an alternate-history Colombian constitutional convention and even a “Game of Thrones”-themed committee centered on political and social strategy. 

“Despite the front-facing theme, at its core we always go back to debating political, social and economic issues,” Seltzer said. 

Times Now News 

If the boom around artificial intelligence weren’t already wild enough, the world’s richest tech leaders are now setting their sights beyond Earth, arguing that the only way to power the next generation of AI is to build massive data centers in outer space, possibly even on the Moon. 

What began as scattered speculation has evolved into an earnest debate among billionaires, aerospace engineers, and AI executives. With power constraints tightening on Earth—and regulators slow-walking new infrastructure, space suddenly looks like the next frontier for compute. 

As of now, space-based data centers are prohibitively expensive. But research by Phil Metzger, a former NASA scientist and now a professor at the University of Central Florida, suggests that within a decade the business case may flip. 

Metzger argues that for the first time, a serious commercial justification exists to industrialize space: 

“AI servers in space is the first real business case that will lead to many more.” 

His point: the exploding electricity demands of AI could push infrastructure off-planet faster than expected.

WFTV 

The University of Central Florida (UCF) will host UCF Space Week from November 3 to 7, celebrating its leadership in space research and innovation. 

UCF, known as America’s Space University, plays a pivotal role in Florida’s space economy through its research and partnerships with industry leaders. The event will highlight UCF’s contributions to space exploration and workforce development. 

“As America’s Space University, UCF is a launchpad for the next generation of space talent,” said UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright.

International Defense, Security, and Technology Inc.  

The Moon’s surface is more than a barren expanse of rock—it is a storehouse of untapped resources that could radically alter the future of space exploration and Earth’s energy landscape. Among the most valuable is water ice, with more than 10 billion tons preserved in perpetually shadowed craters near the lunar poles. This ice can be split into hydrogen and oxygen to create rocket fuel at a fraction of the cost of launching propellant from Earth. 

Innovative approaches to lunar mining are redefining what’s possible in space resource extraction, with the University of Central Florida leading the charge. Planetary scientist Dr. Phillip Metzger and his team at the Florida Space Institute have developed a more efficient, lower-energy method for extracting ice from the Moon—one of the most valuable in situ resources. Unlike traditional techniques that rely on heating lunar soil to vaporize ice, Metzger’s patent-pending method skips the energy-intensive phase change process altogether. Instead, it employs beneficiation—a proven separation technique—to isolate ice from surrounding minerals after extraction, dramatically reducing energy demands. 

Looking further ahead, Metzger envisions a future in which heavy industrial machinery is relocated off Earth to preserve biodiversity and reduce the planet’s carbon footprint. Such advancements in economically viable space mining could support global sustainability efforts while unlocking new frontiers in lunar and deep space exploration.

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