Aerospace Engineering

Matthew Wood can thank the friend from his sixth-grade math class for inspiring his current career in aerospace engineering. While learning the principles of pre-algebra, the pair would discuss the more interesting topic of aviation. Wood’s friend would show off his model airplanes and talk about his dream of becoming a pilot. These daily discussions […]

A University of Central Florida researcher has received NASA funding to create aerospace engineering opportunities for high schoolers from underserved and underrepresented communities to encourage them to think about space. “Novel Experience Geared to NASA Engineering Design Challenges,” or NEXTGEN-EDC, seeks to ignite local high school students’ interest in STEM through engineering projects, professional development […]

When the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft finally launched from the Kennedy Space Center as part of the Artemis 1 mission, it will not only be a triumph for NASA, but for the UCF alumni who contributed to its development. More than 30 alumni work on the project, including Ben Bair ’19, a […]

Just one small piece of space debris can damage or disable a satellite. Much of this debris, also known as space junk, is catalogued through space-based space surveillance, which uses optical sensors to track objects in orbit that could pose a risk for collision. However, some objects can be too small to track. UCF aerospace […]

Perla Latorre-Suárez fights back tears as she thinks about the sacrifices her parents made, sending her to the mainland from Puerto Rico so she could live her dreams of working in the aerospace industry. “You know they’ve given it all for me and my brother — I’m sorry,” Latorre-Suárez said as she wiped her eyes. […]