Nearly 200 university researchers and representatives of the space industry gathered Tuesday (4\/21) at the Kennedy Space Center to launch the next phase of the Florida Space Research Consortium (FSRC), a statewide partnership designed to align Florida\u2019s universities around space research, innovation and workforce development.<\/p>\n
Representatives of the eight partner institutions in the consortium \u2014 Embry\u2011Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida A&M University, Florida Institute of Technology, Florida International University, Florida State University,\u00a0 the University of Central Florida, the University of Florida and the University of South Florida \u2014 joined NASA officials, space industry leaders and investors in a day-long discussion of how to strengthen Florida\u2019s competitiveness in a rapidly expanding global space economy.<\/p>\n
\u201cFlorida\u2019s space sector \u2014 spanning civil, commercial and national security missions \u2014 has entered a period of rapid growth, creating new opportunities for collaboration among universities, industry and government agencies,\u201d said Robert Long, president and CEO of Space Florida, the official aerospace economic development agency for the state.<\/p>\n
David Norton, Ph.D., UF\u2019s vice president for research serves as the FSRC board chair.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur eight partners bring extraordinary research strength, talent and capacity,” Norton said. “Together, they represent over 300,000 students and $3 billion in annual research activity. The FSRC creates an opportunity to easily connect researchers, students and industry partners across Florida and collaborate in ways that weren\u2019t possible before.\u201d<\/p>\n
KSC Director Janet Petro added, \u201cTo the nation, Kennedy Space Center is best known as the launching location for some of NASA\u2019s most exciting and impacting missions. However, Kennedy\u2019s portfolio also includes important research and technology development to help support the next generation of deep space exploration. Through partnerships with our Florida universities, we are accelerating and fortifying our capabilities, and we are excited for the universe of opportunities collaborations like this unlock.\u201d<\/p>\n
Representatives from the member universities shared dozens of ways their faculty are advancing a wide range of space research that supports everything from exploration and discovery to practical technologies needed for future missions. Ongoing work across the consortium includes developing smarter spacecraft and satellites; improving propulsion, navigation and communications systems; designing new materials that can withstand the harsh conditions of space; and creating technologies to manufacture, build and operate in space and on the lunar surface.<\/p>\n
Researchers are also focused on the human side of spaceflight and the science that helps us better understand our universe and our planet. This includes studies of how people, plants and biological systems function in space; efforts to grow food in lunar and Martian conditions; and research in planetary science, astrophysics, space weather and Earth observation.<\/p>\n
Together, these efforts reflect a shared commitment to advancing knowledge, supporting long\u2011duration space missions, strengthening the space economy, and translating scientific breakthroughs into real\u2011world benefits, Norton said.<\/p>\n
Former NASA Administrator and U.S. Senator Bill Nelson called the consortium a long\u2011needed step for Florida.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpace is the one subject that brings people together,\u201d Nelson said. \u201cIt\u2019s not partisan \u2014 it\u2019s nonpartisan \u2014 and it\u2019s a noble enterprise. What you are doing here today is enormously important for the future of this state.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Nearly 200 university researchers and representatives of the space industry gathered Tuesday (4\/21) at the Kennedy Space Center…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":245024,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[28,30,29],"class_list":{"0":"post-245023","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-florida","8":"tag-florida","9":"tag-florida-headlines","10":"tag-florida-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/245023","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=245023"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/245023\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/245024"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=245023"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=245023"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=245023"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}