As Florida’s space industry accelerates at an unprecedented pace, the University of
South Florida is stepping into a larger role by investing in space research, expanding
faculty expertise and strengthening partnerships that position it at the forefront
of the state’s growing space economy.

That momentum was recently underscored by USF’s admission into the Florida University
Space Research Consortium, a statewide alliance of leading universities working in
coordination with Space Florida and Kennedy Space Center to advance research, workforce
development and innovation across the space sectors.

“Florida has a deep and influential history in space, anchored by the Kennedy Space
Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, and the state is making a very intentional
push to build on that legacy and grow its space industry even further to play a more
significant role in the future,” said Ahmad Vaselbehagh, associate professor and aerospace
engineering program director at the USF College of Engineering. “USF is recognizing
this moment and investing to be part of it, alongside other major research universities
in the state.”

A Strategic Moment for Space, and for USF

With launches from Florida tripling in recent years and the global space economy projected
to exceed $1 trillion by 2032, the state has made space a central economic and research priority. The Florida University
Space Research Consortium was created to align university research strengths with
this rapid growth, amplifying the impact of academic innovation across Florida. Members
include the University of Florida, University of Central Florida, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University, Florida Tech, Florida State and Florida International University.

USF’s entry into the consortium coincides with the launch of its new aerospace engineering
program and a broader commitment to building long-term capacity in space-related research.

“We are not just observing what’s happening, we are building the expertise, infrastructure
and partnerships needed to contribute meaningfully,” Vaselbehagh said. “That includes
recruiting faculty whose research directly supports the future of space exploration
and continuing to expand those capabilities over time.”

Building Smarter, Safer, More Autonomous Spacecraft

One area where USF is expanding its impact is in spacecraft autonomy – how spacecraft
navigate complex environments and respond to unexpected conditions without relying
on constant communication with Earth.

Andrea D’Ambrosio, who recently joined USF’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering as an assistant professor, conducts research on optimal guidance and control
of spacecraft, using artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance autonomy
while ensuring safety, reliability and performance. His work addresses a critical
challenge facing the space community: how to trust and certify AI-driven control systems
for real-world missions.

“AI has enormous potential in space, but these systems must be provably reliable,”
D’Ambrosio said. “My research focuses on certifying the stability of machine-learning-based
controllers and ensuring they adhere fundamental physics principles, so that they
can be safely integrated with traditional control systems that have been used for
decades.”

His research also advances space situational awareness, including the tracking, orbit
determination and behavioral analysis of satellites and space debris – an increasingly
urgent challenge as Earth’s orbital environment becomes more crowded. This work extends
beyond Earth’s orbit into the cislunar region, the vast and highly dynamic space between
Earth and the Moon that will support upcoming lunar missions, such as NASA’s Artemis
program.

“This region exhibits significantly greater dynamical complexity, posing higher challenges
and far less predictability than conventional orbits closer to Earth,” D’Ambrosio
said. “We need new tools and new algorithms to maintain mission safety, enable effective
collision avoidance, and ensure long-term sustainability in space, especially in the
cislunar region.”

Designing the Next Generation of Space Missions

Xiaoyu Liu, who joined USF in January 2026 as assistant professor in the Department
of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, complements that work through research on
space mission design and planning, with an emphasis on how humans and robotic systems
can work together effectively in extreme and uncertain environments.

Before artificial intelligence, most engineering systems relied on carefully designed,
rule-based decision frameworks. While effective in controlled environments, those
approaches exhibit significant limitations in space, where missions must respond to
an enormous range of unknown and unpredictable conditions.

“In space, it is nearly impossible to design a decision tree for every possible scenario
within realistic time and budget limits. The environment is too complex, the resources
too limited, and the unknowns too great. That’s where machine learning becomes essential
because it allows systems to adapt rather than follow rigid rules.”

Liu’s research explores how machine learning enables more adaptive, data-driven decision-making,
allowing space systems to respond to situations that cannot be fully anticipated in
advance. Rather than programming millions of possible outcomes, AI-based approaches
can learn from data and adapt in real time – an essential capability for future lunar
and deep-space missions.

Liu uses large-scale, simulation-based frameworks to study how teams of astronauts
and robotic systems can be optimally configured for specific mission objectives.

“By running tens of thousands of simulations, we can generate evidence that helps
mission planners make more informed decisions, especially when communication delays
or unexpected events make real-time guidance from Earth impossible,” said Liu.

His work is particularly relevant to deep-space and lunar missions, where rapid decision-making
is essential during critical phases such as landing, navigation, and hazard avoidance.
By integrating machine learning with traditional engineering approaches, Liu’s research
helps expand what autonomous systems can safely accomplish in space.

AI’s Expanding Role Beyond Earth

Together, this research reflects a broader transformation in space exploration: the
growing reliance on artificial intelligence to support autonomy, adaptability, and
resilience far from Earth.

“In space, you have limited resources,” Liu said. “AI-enabled systems allow spacecraft
to operate more independently while still working alongside proven, certified technologies.
That balance is essential as missions become more ambitious.”

Collaboration at the Core

As part of the Florida Space Research Consortium, USF faculty are actively pursuing
partnerships with government agencies, industry leaders, startups, and national laboratories,
including opportunities tied to the International Space Station National Laboratory
and future lunar missions.

“Advancing space research requires collaboration,” D’Ambrosio said. “No single institution
can do it alone, so we need to combine expertise, infrastructure and perspective to
move the field forward.”

Looking Ahead

For USF, joining the Florida Space Research Consortium marks the beginning of a sustained
investment, participation, and collaboration not a single milestone.

“This is about building long-term capacity,” Vaselbehagh said. “The Consortium will
enable all the members to leverage each other’s strengths towards a shared goal to
advance  Florida’s space research and industry and contributing to the next era of
exploration, from Earth’s orbit to the Moon, Mars and beyond.”