UCF researchers are working with private companies to develop some intriguing ways to get astronauts to the moon safely. BY ZENAIDA GONZALEZ KOTALA | NOVEMBER 24, 2021 Imagine hitting a button and instantly creating a landing pad just moments before descending a rocket onto the moon or an asteroid. That’s the concept behind two research projects underway Read More …
According to the information written up by Zendaya Gonzalez Kotala, Assistant Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Communications at UCF, “Florida Space Institute (FSI) had some big wins this past year, especially in the area of post-doctoral success. FSI generated more than $11.8 million in grants, up from $9.1 million in 2019. Several of those Read More …
For many years, Florida Space Institute (FSI) and Arecibo Observatory (AO) have had a fruitful and longstanding relationship between the organizations and fellow researchers that embodies Hispanic pride and heritage. Noemi Pinilla-Alonso, Associate Researcher in Planetary Science at Florida Space Institute and Deputy Principal Scientist at Arecibo Observatory, talks about the relationship between FSI and Read More …
While the United Nations designated a weeklong celebration, space is a lifetime passion at UCF, reflected in its research and on the football field. BY ZENAIDA GONZALEZ KOTALA | OCTOBER 4, 2021 Today kicks off World Space Week, the largest annual space event that spans the globe. The United Nations designated the week in 1999 to help Read More …
In a bulletin published on Friday, Working Group on Small Bodies (WGSM) of the IAU announced the researchers who had been honored with asteroids bearing their names, in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the field of Planetary Science. The following honorees includes 8 current and 2 former UCF/FSI researchers and 4 colleagues at Arecibo Read More …
Claire grew up in the Space Coast/Titusville area, and attended Titusville High School before moving to Orlando to study at UCF. In April, she graduated from UCF with a Associate of Science in Nursing and in August, she graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. In her spare time, she loves to surf! Claire Read More …
BY ZENAIDA GONZALEZ KOTALA | MAY 3, 2021 When the James Webb Space Telescope launches later this year, UCF researcher Noemi Pinilla Alonso will be among a select group of scientists worldwide who will have more than 100 hours of observation time awarded to conduct her work. The JWST telescope, which has been described as Read More …
“Years behind schedule and billions of dollars over budget, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) often finds itself the butt of jokes. From satirical Webcomics to more scathing criticism, the flagship project of NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency is an easy target. Yet many would argue that those delays and budget concerns Read More …
The letters are the latest outpouring of support for the Arecibo Observatory and its telescope, which collapsed in December 2020. BY ROBERT WELLS | MARCH 22, 2021 “Pull yourself up with happyiness (sic). We are with you Arecibo, Come back strong. I’m so sorry it broke. Because it was beautiful.” These are the words of Orlando-area schoolchildren Read More …
As part of Women’s History Month, UCF is sharing stories of some of the extraordinary women on campus contributing to science and scholarship. BY ROBERT WELLS | MARCH 22, 2021 From sleeping on her apartment floor as an early career physician to preparing astronauts for spacewalks, Esther Beltran has never given up following her passions. Her advice Read More …