When NASA launches its latest voyage to the International Space Station on May 12, it will carry a blood clotting experiment from the UCF College of Medicine 麻豆精品 S檚 newest faculty member. The research will include illuminated bone marrow cells floating in space to find better ways to keep astronauts and Earthlings healthier.

Hansjorg Schwertz specializes in occupational health and focuses his research on how microgravity and radiation in space impact the body 麻豆精品 S檚 blood-clotting functions. After an extensive career overseas and at the University of Utah, he comes to UCF to serve as the associate director for Translational Aerospace Medicine Research at the UCF Center for Aerospace and Extreme Environments Medicine (CASEEM).

As humans prepare for longer missions to the moon, Mars and beyond, the center is exploring how factors such as microgravity, radiation and isolation impact the human body in space and how that knowledge can drive innovation into diagnostics, treatment and disease prevention for patients on Earth.

麻豆精品 S淲hen it comes to putting footprints on the moon, there is no better place to be than UCF, 麻豆精品 S� he says.

NASA Concerned About Blood Clots in Space

Pre- and post-mission medical testing of astronauts on the International Space Station has shown that spaceflight changes their immune system and blood clotting ability. A few astronauts have even developed blood clots during a flight or after returning. For that reason, Schwertz is leading the NASA-funded Megakaryocytes Orbiting in Outer Space and Near Earth (MOON) study, which he began working on at the University of Utah and continues to collaborate with the university’s researchers on.

麻豆精品 S淲hen it comes to putting footprints on the moon, there is no better place to be than UCF. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Hansjorg Schwertz

Megakaryocytes are bone marrow cells that create platelets, which circulate in the blood stream and can stop bleeding or form blood clots. Both cells also play a key role in immune responses.

The MOON study is examining how space flight affects the development and function of megakaryocytes as they create platelets. The results could provide important knowledge about the risks of inflammation, immune responses and blood clot formation that will help space travelers and patients on Earth, Schwertz says.

His team is sending human cells to the ISS on board the SpaceX 34 resupply mission. Once they are aboard the space station, astronauts will culture the cells and help to develop megakaryocytes in space.

One part of the experiment is to watch the cells in real time, and how they develop their 麻豆精品 S渄aughter cell, 麻豆精品 S� the platelets. Because the research will be in microgravity, the cells will float. They 麻豆精品 S檒l be stained with fluorescent dye so UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 researcher can examine them remotely at better accuracy.

Schwertz says mentors taught him, 麻豆精品 S渟eeing is believing, 麻豆精品 S� so he is 麻豆精品 S済enuinely excited 麻豆精品 S� to see megakaryocytes float in space.

Advancing Personalized Medicine

One of the challenges of space medicine research is that so few people have gone to space, so the sample pool is small. As space travel and colonization progress, more people will be traveling to and working on the moon and beyond.

Healthwise, many will be different than astronauts who are selected after going through vigorous testing and selection criteria. Thus, space is a new frontier of healthcare.

Schwertz hopes his study will unlock technologies and therapies to keep astronauts 麻豆精品 S� blood clotting mechanisms controlled, prevent abnormal clotting and bring those discoveries back to Earth.

麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檙e examining the impact of space flight on each person 麻豆精品 S檚 cells, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淭his is personalized medicine, and isn 麻豆精品 S檛 that what healthcare is all about? 麻豆精品 S�

Emmanuel Urquieta, vice chair for Aerospace Medicine at the UCF College of Medicine and founding director of CASEEM, Schwertz’s work reflects the program’s broader mission to connect spaceflight research with practical clinical and operational solutions.

麻豆精品 S淥ur aerospace medicine program is intentionally designed to be operational and translational in nature, 麻豆精品 S� Urquieta says. 麻豆精品 S淲e are building a program that can support the real medical needs of exploration missions while rapidly translating discoveries from spaceflight and extreme environments into innovations that improve health here on Earth. 麻豆精品 S�

Schwertz received his M.D. and Ph.D. from the School of Medicine at the University of Mainz, Germany. After a residency in Internal Medicine/Cardiology at the University of Halle, Germany, he did a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Utah, where he also served as faculty.

In 2012, he 听was awarded a prestigious Lichtenberg-Professorship for Experimental Hemostasis and returned to Germany where he directed a research laboratory. He returned to Utah in 2015, where he completed his residency training in Occupational Medicine and was a faculty member, researcher and community physician.

The material is based upon work supported by NASA under award No. 80NSSC22K0255. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

The mission will include multiple health studies on the four astronauts to determine how radiation, microgravity, isolation and other factors impact their physical health, mind and behavior 麻豆精品 S� crucial information that will help pave the way for future lunar surface missions and develop our understanding about humans 麻豆精品 S� deep space capabilities.

Thanks to new technology and modern medicine, researchers have better ways to understand the impact of space flight on human health.

麻豆精品 S淎rtemis II is both a historic and biomedically important mission, 麻豆精品 S� says 听Emmanuel Urquieta, the UCF College of Medicine 麻豆精品 S檚 vice chair for aerospace medicine and director of the university 麻豆精品 S檚 new Center for Aerospace and Extreme Environments Medicine (CASEEM).

麻豆精品 S淔or the first time since Apollo 17, humans will travel beyond the Earth 麻豆精品 S檚 magnetic field. That matters enormously from a research perspective, because now we have technology to thoroughly understand the health impact of embarking into deep space. The knowledge gained from Artemis II will help shape the future of safe human space exploration and drive innovations that can benefit medicine here on Earth and help us start preparing us for a mission to Mars. 麻豆精品 S�

The Space Coast 麻豆精品 S檚 College of Medicine

As the closest medical school to the Kennedy Space Center, UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 College of Medicine is charting a new frontier in healthcare as humans prepare for longer missions to the moon and Mars, and commercial space flights take more civilians into space.

The goal: explore how factors such as microgravity, radiation and isolation impact the human body in space and how that knowledge can drive innovation into diagnostics, treatment and disease prevention on Earth.

To further those efforts, UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 CASEEM includes faculty experts in medicine, engineering, computer science, psychology, arts and educational leadership. This interdisciplinary group will work together to research and develop new technologies for keeping space travelers healthy, as well as soldiers on military missions, deep sea explorers and mountain climbers.

What Lies Ahead for Artemis II 麻豆精品 S檚 Astronauts

• Understanding Radiation Exposure Effects

Traveling to the moon 麻豆精品 S� which humans haven 麻豆精品 S檛 returned to since 1972 麻豆精品 S� means astronauts will go beyond Earth 麻豆精品 S檚 Van Allen belts, which protect humans from cosmic radiation and solar storms. Space travelers to the International Space Station stay within Earth 麻豆精品 S檚 magnetic field. During their 10-day mission, Artemis II is anticipated to break Apollo 13 麻豆精品 S檚 record (248,655 miles) for the farthest distance humans have traveled from Earth.

Fifty years ago, researchers could do little more than measure radiation. This time will be different, says UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 William 麻豆精品 S淓d 麻豆精品 S� Powers, chief medical officer of CASEEM and the former chief of NASA 麻豆精品 S檚 Medical Operations branch where he was a primary medical support physician for six shuttle missions.

麻豆精品 S淢edical knowledge, technology and the ability to diagnose disease have advanced significantly since then, 麻豆精品 S� he says.

Physicians and scientists will be able to determine how radiation impacts cells, organs, blood proteins and other molecular functions.

Artemis crew members will carry dosimeters in their pockets that measure radiation exposure in real time. Monitors inside the Orion spacecraft will also gather radiation information throughout the flight for future analysis.

An astronaut suffering a medical condition in space is always a concern, but deep space travel brings additional challenges, Powers explains. While astronauts on the International Space Station can be returned to Earth in about a day, as happened recently when a crew member became ill, returning from the moon may take several days or more.

麻豆精品 S淣one of the four astronauts on this flight is a physician, 麻豆精品 S� Powers says. 麻豆精品 S淎nd a space capsule certainly doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 have the same equipment you 麻豆精品 S檇 have in a hospital emergency room. 麻豆精品 S�

• Does Space Flight Reduce Immunity?

Previous research has shown that spaceflight missions alter the and reactivate dormant viruses in the human body. As part of the Artemis II mission, NASA will conduct an AVATAR (A Virtual Astronaut Tissue Analog Response) experiment that will investigate how deep space impacts specific cells and tissues as well as some vital bodily functions including immune system responses.

For this experiment, NASA-funded scientists created 麻豆精品 S渙rgan-on-a-chip 麻豆精品 S� devices that contain each astronaut 麻豆精品 S檚 bone marrow cells. This technology allows scientists to examine molecular changes and cell function.

麻豆精品 S淲ith this technology we can see how the body responds to stimuli across the whole mission, 麻豆精品 S� says Jennifer Fogarty, CASEEM 麻豆精品 S檚 chief scientist who came to UCF after serving as chief scientist for NASA 麻豆精品 S檚 Human Research Program. 麻豆精品 S淭his capability will help us map the body 麻豆精品 S檚 molecular changes with tissue/organ function and much better predictive capabilities. 麻豆精品 S�

As the 麻豆精品 S渙rgan-on-a-chip 麻豆精品 S� technology advances and proves accurate, it will allow NASA physicians to provide personalized and proactive medicine to astronauts because they will be able to predict a crew member 麻豆精品 S檚 biological response to space flight. Such technology could be used before NASA sends an actual crew to Mars. The space agency could place the crew 麻豆精品 S檚 personalized chips on unmanned flights to the Red Planet to better understand the potential health risks for each individual.

麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 basically sending small versions of astronauts to Mars before we send astronauts to Mars, 麻豆精品 S� Fogarty says.

• Teamwork and Behavior

Selecting an astronaut crew that will perform well under the stresses of space flight is always a top NASA priority. But deep space missions present additional personnel challenges, including communication delays, increased isolation and resource constraints.

Astronauts on moon and Mars missions also must live in a capsule that is significantly smaller than the International Space Station, highlighting the need for crews to work together seamlessly and be able to manage any conflicts.

The Artemis flight will conduct an experiment called ARCHeR (Artemis Research for Crew Health and Readiness) that will evaluate how astronauts perform individually and as a team during the mission.

They will wear sleep and movement monitors before, during and after the mission to evaluate their cognition and team dynamics.

麻豆精品 S淵ou watch the astronauts on TV, and it looks so easy, 麻豆精品 S� Fogarty says. 麻豆精品 S淏ut human performance is critical in space. You have multiple duties to conduct and you 麻豆精品 S檙e always pushing operations. So we need to understand how the team performs, their reserve and resilience. The mission itself is the experiment. 麻豆精品 S�

Star Nona 2026

UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 leading space medicine experts, valued strategic partners and an astronaut who holds NASA 麻豆精品 S檚 record for spacewalks will gather April 10 in Lake Nona 麻豆精品 S檚 Medical City to discuss how they can work together to keep space travelers healthy and use that research to create groundbreaking clinical innovations on Earth.

The 麻豆精品 S淪tar Nona 2026 麻豆精品 S� event is led by the Lake Nona Research Council, which is focused on encouraging interdisciplinary scientific partnerships between industry, academia and healthcare.

The council includes physicians and researchers from UCF, Orlando Health, AdventHealth, the Florida Space Institute, the Orlando VA Medical Center, Nemours Children 麻豆精品 S檚 Health, business and industry.

For more information, including how to register for the event, visit www.ucf.edu/news/progressing-the-final-frontier-of-medicine-space.

As a 67-year-old retiree, Amy Lendian wants you to know it 麻豆精品 S檚 never too late. Never too late to start over; to go for your dream career; to earn your college degree.

When the UCF Online history student assumes her spot at the console at Kennedy Space Center to lead the facility systems engineers for the upcoming historic Artemis II launch, that affirmation will echo within her once more.

麻豆精品 S淚 always believed in myself and felt that I could do this, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚t really is never too late. 麻豆精品 S�

Turning a Setback Into a Comeback

Lendian spent the majority of her adult life building her career as a fire protection engineer, helping design sprinkler systems and other fire safety infrastructure.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic happened. The construction industry came to a screeching halt. In her 60s, she suddenly faced unemployment.

麻豆精品 S淚 thought, 麻豆精品 S榃ho is going to want to hire me in my 60s? 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淏ut I made it my job to find a job. And not just any job. I set out for my dream job in the aerospace industry. 麻豆精品 S�

She logged in every day on her home computer to research job listings, dressed as if she was headed to an office. She sought career counseling. She joined virtual seminars to learn new software and online tools she knew she 麻豆精品 S檇 need to master if she wanted to break into the field. She learned how to rework her resume to leverage her relevant skills.

Her strategy and persistence paid off. She got a call back for a fire protection systems engineer position on base at Kennedy Space Center.

Finding Her Place in Space

On her first day at KSC, she attended a briefing where they discussed etiquette while serving on the console. She says it took her a moment to process what she was hearing.

麻豆精品 S淚 stayed up to watch Neil Armstrong walk on the moon. I have a photo of myself as a kid standing in front of an Apollo rocket. And you 麻豆精品 S檙e saying you want me to be on the console during a launch?! 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 thought, 麻豆精品 S業 麻豆精品 S檓 here. I arrived. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S�

Lendian served on the console for the Artemis I launch in November 2022.

Although she has since retired from her formal position with KSC and moved to Chicago, she is still employed as a part-time consultant and will be there again for Artemis II managing the fire protection systems on the launchpad.

Finishing What She Started

Her late-stage career change inspired her to consider other dreams she had yet to realize. A big one has been nearly 50 years in the making.

Lendian was 19 years old when she attempted college the first time. She enrolled in the University of South Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 electrical engineering program in the late 1970s. But after three years, she stopped her studies because she got married and needed to support her new family.

In 2021, she decided to resuscitate her dream of a college degree. She transferred her old credits into the program at Eastern Florida State College, earned her associate 麻豆精品 S檚 degree and looked to enroll in one of UCF Online 麻豆精品 S檚 degree programs so she could manage school with her full-time job.

The history degree she is working toward is affiliated with one of the top online institutions. UCF ranks No. 6 for Online Bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 Programs nationally according to the U.S. News & World Report.

麻豆精品 S淚 want that bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 degree, 麻豆精品 S� Lendian says. 麻豆精品 S淚 am doing this for me. I am going to do something that I love (history). And I am going to graduate. 麻豆精品 S�

Nov. 13, 2025, 3:55 p.m.听Jillian Gloria 麻豆精品 S�22听stands on a balcony at Blue Origin headquarters in Cape Canaveral, Florida, her eyes fixed on the horizon at Launch Complex 36 麻豆精品 S� the very launchpad her grandfather helped construct as a NASA engineer in the 1960s.

Engines ignite. Gloria 麻豆精品 S檚 breath catches as she wills the rocket to climb. Then she hears those crucial words: 麻豆精品 S淟iftoff detected. New Glenn has cleared the tower. 麻豆精品 S�

The Blue Origin rocket scientist has just witnessed the launch of her first NASA mission. It 麻豆精品 S檚 a goal the Orlando native has dreamed about since childhood; one marked by visions of the space shuttle soaring upward as she commuted to school and the roar of sonic booms when it returned to Earth 麻豆精品 S檚 atmosphere.

What makes this milestone even more rewarding is the determination, the hard work and the relentless tenacity it took her to get here.

麻豆精品 S淵our dreams are possible, 麻豆精品 S� Gloria says. 麻豆精品 S淎ll you need is passion and persistence. As long as you keep going, you can do anything in this world. You 麻豆精品 S檙e always going to end up where you 麻豆精品 S檙e meant to be. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淵ou 麻豆精品 S檒l Never Graduate 麻豆精品 S�

Gloria 麻豆精品 S檚 college journey began outside of Florida despite the numerous space-related research and partnerships available in her backyard at UCF. Like many of her peers, she thought she had to branch out from her hometown to gain the most out of her college experience.

She realized quickly she had made a mistake.

Not long after arriving at the University in Texas at Arlington, an academic advisor told her she would never graduate with an engineering degree if she started her academic career in algebra. She would need an additional 1.5 years of math and science classes alone before she could set foot in an engineering class.

Rather than catch up on the mathematics education and credits she needed to pursue engineering, he advised she 麻豆精品 S檇 be better off going after 麻豆精品 S渟omething more realistic for her current path like a business degree. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淎s an impressionable 18-19 year old, you listen to your adviser, right? 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 just remember dropping the business class a few weeks in because I thought, 麻豆精品 S楾his is not what I want to do, and I don 麻豆精品 S檛 care how long it takes me, I 麻豆精品 S檓 going to do get an engineering degree. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S�

Opportunity Comes Calling

She course-corrected and enrolled in the program at Valencia College. Valencia provided her the academic resources and tutoring she needed to overcome her initial struggles in math and science.

In 2018 ahead of transferring to UCF, she applied to the Central Florida Physics Research Exchange Program, a former initiative for undergraduate students to participate in a 10-week funded research project over the summer with UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 physics department.

She remembers doubting her chances of acceptance. After all, she was an aspiring aerospace engineer, not a true physics major. But the program came with the promise of $5,000, and for someone who was working her way through school, what did she have to lose?

As part of her application, she wrote a compelling letter to Professor of Physics William Kaden about his space weathering effects research for NASA and how much she 麻豆精品 S檇 love the chance to work in his lab.

The letter worked. Kaden would go on to become Gloria 麻豆精品 S檚 mentor throughout her 2.5 years at UCF and kickstarted her hand in research that yielded projects on finding water on the moon, collaborations with the German Aerospace Center (DLR), work with UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 and a co-authorship on a NASA-funded paper published in 2021 in the听Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology.

麻豆精品 S淭he world of research at UCF really provided me the actual work experience and opportunities to turn me into an engineer and a candidate that these companies sought after. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Jillian Gloria 麻豆精品 S�22, Blue Origin engineer

麻豆精品 S淭he world of research at UCF really provided me the actual work experience and opportunities to turn me into an engineer and a candidate that these companies sought after, 麻豆精品 S� says Gloria, who keeps her senior-year textbook Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Propulsion, Second Edition on her office desk. 麻豆精品 S淚 worked with industry hardware, a vacuum chamber that 麻豆精品 S檚 worth hundreds of thousands of dollars at NASA, flew a payload on a Masten Space Systems Xodiac rocket to track rocket plumes during launch and landing on the moon. I was a published author before I graduated. It all was such an amazing opportunity. That was the first time when I felt like I was actually doing the work I had dreamed about. The things I was exposed to at UCF really 听just opened my eyes onto what 麻豆精品 S檚 available out there in terms of my career. 麻豆精品 S�

Building a Road to Space

Since graduating in 2022, Gloria launched over a dozen successful missions across three launch-vehicle programs (Atlas V, Delta Heavy, Vulcan Centaur) at United Launch Alliance as a propulsion systems test engineer.

In January 2025, she joined the Blue Origin team as an integrated vehicle test engineer, specializing in the integration, testing, refurbishment, and optimization of complex fluid and pneumatic systems for her fourth launch vehicle, New Glenn.

In other words, she validates the build of the rocket, ensuring its integrity and functionality through every build stage before launch.

She is energized every day by the opportunities available to her to grow and learn within the company, who in addition to their rocket program is also developing a lunar lander and space station.

麻豆精品 S淭his work matters. It 麻豆精品 S檚 the future. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Jillian Gloria

麻豆精品 S�We 麻豆精品 S檙e all working together for the benefit of Earth, and you feel it every day you go to work at Blue Origin, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淭his work matters. It 麻豆精品 S檚 the future, it 麻豆精品 S檚 the next generation launch vehicle, and it just plays a hand in Blue 麻豆精品 S檚 mission statement that we want to build a road to space. 麻豆精品 S�

Every milestone they hit 麻豆精品 S� like the recent successful launch and first-time landing of the New Glenn rocket that ferried NASA 麻豆精品 S檚 twin ESCAPADE spacecraft to begin their journey to Mars 麻豆精品 S� helps get them closer to that goal.

While current generations may not see it, she knows the work she is doing at Blue Origin is developing the infrastructure for future generations who will one day consistently travel to and live on other celestial bodies.

麻豆精品 S淭he stars are the final frontier. It calls to us, 麻豆精品 S� Gloria says. 麻豆精品 S淵ou can 麻豆精品 S檛 really explain it, but when you look up at the sky, it kind of touches your soul. It just makes me feel more connected to something that 麻豆精品 S檚 so far away and so beautiful. It 麻豆精品 S檚 everything. 麻豆精品 S�

UCF Trustee Chair Subith Vasu and postdoctoral scholar Justin Urso 麻豆精品 S�15 麻豆精品 S�22PhD have been awarded a $750,000 grant from NASA to study the effects that AAM may have on communities. The UCF researchers have partnered with Ocala International Airport on this project, which will specifically explore the effects of pollution and noise on the surrounding neighborhoods.

麻豆精品 S淲e partnered with Ocala International Airport because of the air traffic around that community, 麻豆精品 S� Vasu says. 麻豆精品 S淎nything that flies makes noise, and it can be annoying for residents. We 麻豆精品 S檙e looking at how to minimize the risk so the community isn 麻豆精品 S檛 bothered. 麻豆精品 S�

Ocala International Airport was a prime partner due to its potential for implementation. Vertiports are the specialized launch pads for electrical air vehicles such as drones and air taxis. Companies like Amazon are interested in using AAM technology for fast and convenient home deliveries while organizations like NASA aim to develop this new transportation system that will deliver both goods and people around the world, safely and efficiently.

麻豆精品 S淚f you live in Ocala and want to take a flight to Europe, California or New York, where do you go? 麻豆精品 S� Vasu says. 麻豆精品 S淭he Tampa and Orlando airports are two hours away by car. Depending on where you live, AAM can be very helpful. 麻豆精品 S�

Urso says we could see the development of a vertiport at the Ocala International Airport by 2035. The City of Orlando also has a vested interest in AAM and is working with NASA to develop an air transportation system plan. Vasu says, in the future, they may expand their project to include Orlando International Airport.

An additional partner on the project is Yingru Li, a professor of sociology at UCF, who will conduct community assessments to provide important data on the City of Ocala. Vasu says the goal is to put UCF at the forefront of this developing industry.

麻豆精品 S淭here 麻豆精品 S檚 a lot of opportunity within AAM for UCF and the state of Florida, 麻豆精品 S� Vasu says. 麻豆精品 S淲e just want to push UCF as a leader in that field. 麻豆精品 S�

That philosophy has landed the UCF industrial and organizational psychology doctoral candidate on a mountain in the middle of a blizzard during an Arctic ski trip. It 麻豆精品 S檚 what has encouraged him to complete 50-mile ultramarathons. And it 麻豆精品 S檚 a big part of what is pushing him into his next big endeavor: rowing across the Atlantic Ocean.

According to the , 1,736 rowers have successfully crossed an ocean as of November 2025. Exponentially more people (over 7,000) have summited Mount Everest.

Motivated by the pursuit of a life well lived, and for the betterment of his research into optimizing teamwork in isolated, confined and extreme environments like outer , K盲osaar has every intention of adding his name to that exclusive list despite what his team is up against.

They are not experienced sailors or fishermen. In fact, in their everyday lives they are a wood chemist, a geneticist, a psychologist and a banker who had never held an oar in their hands until three years ago when they committed to this goal.

麻豆精品 S淲e just have one life. We have to allow ourselves to dream, even if they seem wild. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Andres K盲osaar, UCF student

They had not attempted to actually row on the Atlantic, whose waves can measure up to 20 feet high, until a few days ago when they performed a test run ahead of their official embarkment Dec. 11.

Their 30-foot-by-5-foot vessel must be self-sustaining with enough food and provisions to withstand a 5,000-calorie/day diet over their 3,000-mile voyage westward. There is no getting off the boat once the endeavor has started. If an emergency dictates otherwise, they will forfeit their journey.

They intend to row in pairs in two-hour time blocks. That 麻豆精品 S檚 12 hours of rowing a day, with never more than a two-hour break in between shifts, for 40 days straight.

The challenges 麻豆精品 S� and potential glory 麻豆精品 S� ahead are as vast and wide as the ocean itself.

麻豆精品 S淲e just have one life. We have to allow ourselves to dream, even if they seem wild, 麻豆精品 S� K盲osaar says. 麻豆精品 S淚f someone asks me if I would like to do something extraordinary, I can’t say no. 麻豆精品 S�

What It Takes to Row the Ocean

Races across the Atlantic have been formally organized since 1997, and since 2015, the World 麻豆精品 S檚 Toughest Row Atlantic competition has been held annually every December.

In 2025, more than 30 teams and another 10 individuals in solo boats will participate in the challenge. K盲osaar 麻豆精品 S檚 team, Team Rowtalia, will be on the starting line Dec. 11, in San Sebastian de la Gomera, Canary Islands, when they push off for English Harbour, Antigua and Barbuda.

麻豆精品 S淭he race organizers actually say that 80% of the whole endeavor is getting to the starting line, 麻豆精品 S� K盲osaar says. 麻豆精品 S淭he rowing itself is the easy part. There is nothing else to do. There is nothing to think about anymore. You just have to cross the ocean. 麻豆精品 S�

K盲osaar learned about the World 麻豆精品 S檚 Toughest Row three years ago when a friend in his home country of Estonia approached him with the idea to enter the race. His now teammate prepared a 30-minute presentation to sell him on the idea.

K盲osaar isn 麻豆精品 S檛 easily intimidated. He spent a month in Antarctica for research earlier this year. He was willing to say yes 60 seconds into his buddy 麻豆精品 S檚 presentation, but he politely sat through the full pitch before agreeing. They decided to recruit two of their former fraternity members 麻豆精品 S渂old and na茂ve enough 麻豆精品 S� to join their daring mission.

They found a coach to teach them the rowing technique since none of them had any experience. They raised $163,000 of their $184,000 goal, which includes the cost of the boat they purchased in May. They accumulated 200 hours of individual training time on the Baltic Sea, with more than half of those hours accumulated during a five-day practice session. Most of their training has been done on indoor rowing machines.

They have listened to podcasts of former ocean-crossers to get a sense of what to expect. Their biggest takeaway: 麻豆精品 S淲hile it’s going to be hard, you 麻豆精品 S檙e there to get the experience. Just try to enjoy it. 麻豆精品 S�

They also prepared with a team-building trip to the Finnish Arctic, camping in a tent in remote snowfields for six days to pressure test how they worked as a team in such a harsh environment.

K盲osaar 麻豆精品 S檚 field of research and the expertise he has gained in his years studying at UCF make him uniquely suited to navigate how their team dynamic and effectiveness will be impacted by factors like emotions, personalities and situational behaviors that will inevitably reveal themselves under such environmental strain.

While they each have their individual motivations and aspirations for this endeavor, they have also discussed their shared vision as a unit. One definition of a successful mission, K盲osaar points out, is solely focused on the optimization of the desired outcome. A team could despise each other and the experience throughout the entire process, never wanting to interact with their teammates again once the mission is complete, but still be considered successful if the goal is completed.

K盲osaar likes to define a successful team more holistically.

麻豆精品 S淚 think a better way of looking at it is to think about this concept of team viability; do we think that in the future we could work again successfully? 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淥ur ultimate goal is that we hope to cross the ocean such that we are willing and able to do that again in the next few years with the same team. 麻豆精品 S�

Ocean Tides to Outer Space

Part of what makes this journey so appealing to K盲osaar is the insight and street cred he will gain in his field and research subjects.

The psychology behind teamwork in isolated, confined and extreme environments applies to fields with life-and-death stakes on the line: think submariners, certain military deployments, oil riggers and his specialties, astronauts and Antarctic-based researchers.

K盲osaar first zeroed in on this specialized field as a clinical psychology graduate student in Estonia as he wrote a cover letter applying for a European Space Agency internship.

麻豆精品 S淚 was thinking in space we have astronauts, we have people, so we need psychologists, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淚 realized that that 麻豆精品 S檚 me. That 麻豆精品 S檚 what I want to do. That 麻豆精品 S檚 my life. My eyes went big and I was like, 麻豆精品 S榃ow, OK, let’s go. 麻豆精品 S� 听From that moment I started dedicating my life and time toward that. 麻豆精品 S�

As he looked for research opportunities, he came across Research Professor Shawn Burke at UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Institute of Simulation and Training, whose work in team leadership and resiliency has been funded by powerhouse names including the U.S. Army Research Institute, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Office of Naval Research, the U.S. National Science Foundation, DARPA and NASA.

Since joining her lab in 2021, he has contributed to two NASA research grants, once an unfathomable dream that has now become his reality. He credits Burke for molding him into a confident researcher who has grown considerably from his immersive experiences.

麻豆精品 S淲ithout UCF being so big in its focus on the space field, seeing rockets launching in the evening when I’m driving home, just this widening of understanding what 麻豆精品 S檚 [achievable] 麻豆精品 S� I think this has been something that wouldn 麻豆精品 S檛 be possible without being exactly here, 麻豆精品 S� K盲osaar says.

He hopes this rowing challenge will build upon the practical skills he has gained at UCF for his future research by providing him with firsthand knowledge of the isolation and extreme circumstances his astronaut subjects in space work through.

麻豆精品 S淚 don’t think I would be able to fully understand the participants of the studies or the subjects we 麻豆精品 S檙e studying without putting myself in that situation and really being like, 麻豆精品 S極K, that’s what you guys feel, 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� K盲osaar says.

With his impending graduation in the spring, K盲osaar is looking forward to continuing his work, making real contributions and impact to this next frontier of space exploration.

麻豆精品 S淚 don 麻豆精品 S檛 want to use the cliche words of becoming interplanetary species, but that 麻豆精品 S檚 basically what we are thinking about. I think this could have huge implications for the sustainability of humans in space, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淚 think being able to support those endeavors and support this development of humanity, that 麻豆精品 S檚 a big part of why I do it, and I 麻豆精品 S檓 passionate about it. 麻豆精品 S�

Andres K盲osaar 麻豆精品 S檚 team, Team Rowtalia, will have solar-powered internet on board. You can follow their journey across the Atlantic on Instagram at .

Founded to reach the moon, we 麻豆精品 S檙e already on our way to the next frontier. Built for liftoff, America 麻豆精品 S檚 Space University celebrates UCF Space Week Nov. 3-7.

Where Global Leaders Unite to Boldly Forge the Future of Space

When humans return to the moon, they won 麻豆精品 S檛 be alone. NASA will send robotic machines with them, and like all relationships, trust will be critical.

Through a partnership with Cislune Inc., UCF is using immersive technologies to improve trust between humans and artificial intelligence for decision-making in space when circumstances are changing and data remains uncertain 麻豆精品 S� ultimately ensuring astronaut safety and mission success.

Led by UCF Associate Professor Gerd Bruder as principal investigator, Phase I of the project was funded through a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant in which UCF collaborated with Cislune to design and build a moon mission simulator. The system was used to refine human decision-making behavior and optimize interactions between astronauts and autonomous systems across the mission timeline.

The project aims to help reduce cognitive workload for astronauts while enhancing critical data, such as breathable oxygen levels, propellant stores and rover range. It 麻豆精品 S檚 also an example of how Knights are developing tech solutions that will propel humanity 麻豆精品 S檚 possibilities in space, which UCF was founded to fuel.

麻豆精品 S淚n future lunar missions, humans will be working in concert with highly autonomous machines 麻豆精品 S� and both will be making decisions while inundated with data from an ever-growing network of sensors and computers, 麻豆精品 S� says Hiroshi Furuya, a UCF computer science doctoral student and graduate research assistant who worked on the project.

Cislune provided insights into space mission operations from previous work with space robotics and rovers, while experts from UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 supplied expertise in using virtual reality (VR) to create immersive simulations. The collaboration highlights how UCF often works with industry to generate collective impact.

UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 team leveraged interdisciplinary knowledge from computer science, engineering and human factors in healthcare 麻豆精品 S� examining decision support systems designed for nurses and medical professionals.

麻豆精品 S淭he healthcare research gave us an insightful window into how practitioners evaluate systems when risk and time pressure are critical features of the workplace, which has important connections for space health and missions, 麻豆精品 S� says Furuya, who was previously awarded a NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship for his graduate studies.

AdventHealth Endowed Chair in Healthcare Simulation , co-director of SREAL, provided insights into factors that influence trust and the design of human subject experiments.

麻豆精品 S淚 find it fascinating how seemingly subtle changes in how relevant information is conveyed can impact trust and decision making, 麻豆精品 S� says Welch, a computer scientist and engineer in UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 College of Nursing.

The team studied how human-machine trust, uncertainty and decision-making intersect by using VR simulations. The resulting simulator prototype immerses users in a realistic, mission-relevant environment.

The simulator could be crucial not only for the Artemis program, but also for future lunar and deep space exploration missions.

Cislune and UCF have submitted a proposal for Phase II of the project, which will expand the simulator and conduct research studies to improve the way machine assistants can help astronauts make decisions under stress and uncertainty.

Greg Autry, who serves as UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 associate provost for Space Commercialization and Strategy, is nationally recognized for his leadership in space research and innovation, including how the space landscape is evolving with the rapid expansion of private flights.

Autry has been nominated by President Trump to become chief financial officer of NASA. Pending confirmation by the U.S. Senate, he will be responsible for ensuring the financial health of the agency and will oversee all financial management, budget, strategic planning, and performance activities relating to NASA 麻豆精品 S檚 programs and operations.

麻豆精品 S淥ur space agency has a long history of excellence in financial management, and I am looking forward to joining the incredible team at NASA, 麻豆精品 S� Autry said. 麻豆精品 S淚 have been honored to help move UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 incredible space enterprise forward, and I hope to return after my service at NASA. 麻豆精品 S�

Autry, known as UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 麻豆精品 S渟pace czar, 麻豆精品 S� is a leading researcher on entrepreneurship. Before joining UCF last year, he was director and clinical professor of Space Leadership, Policy and Business at the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University.

Autry is a visiting professor at Imperial College London. He also serves as the vice president for space development at the National Space Society and chairs the Business Case sub-committee for NASA 麻豆精品 S檚 In Space Production Applications program (InSPA) which sends manufacturing experiments to the International Space Station.

At UCF, Autry has been working to lead the College of Business 麻豆精品 S� efforts to establish Executive and MBA programs in Space Commercialization while helping the university enhance and expand awareness of its many space programs.

UCF was founded in 1963 to provide talent for the space industry and today continues to be a top provider of talented graduates and research to a space economy expected to grow to more than $1 trillion in the 2030s and triple that by mid-century.

UCF is the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 top supplier of graduates to the aerospace and defense industry, according to Aviation Week Network.

麻豆精品 S淪pace is the most important thing to happen in at least half a millennia, 麻豆精品 S� Autry said. 麻豆精品 S淲e are charting a new future for humanity, improving the lives of billions, saving our biosphere, making our nation more secure, and creating jobs right now. 麻豆精品 S�

As space travel expands and becomes less exclusive to the wealthiest demographic, it will require more people to be educated and trained in space-specific medicine, business, psychology, science, engineering, even hospitality for cities with launch sites around the world.

麻豆精品 S淚t won 麻豆精品 S檛 be long before careers are available for anyone like me who always wanted to be involved in space but couldn 麻豆精品 S檛 get into an astronaut program, 麻豆精品 S� Autry says. 麻豆精品 S淭his is where the preparation will happen, at UCF, to enter an industry with unlimited potential. 麻豆精品 S�

This strategic collaboration combines Operator Solutions 麻豆精品 S� hands-on operational expertise with UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 academic and research excellence to develop cutting-edge training programs, pioneer medical research and enhance real-world response capabilities in high-risk environments.

Key Initiatives of the Partnership

The collaboration will drive multiple initiatives aimed at improving medical preparedness in spaceflight and extreme environments.

• Developing Medical Training Modules for Commercial Spaceflight

Operator Solutions and UCF will provide specialized training for physicians, paramedics, flight nurses, medical students and resident physicians. The focus will be on triage procedures, in-flight patient care using helicopters and managing mass casualty incidents at sea. Operator Solutions is also developing a medical skills lab at UCF, where paramedics can master critical techniques such as wound care, fluid resuscitation and stabilization under high-stress conditions. Additionally, trainees will gain hands-on experience in the College of Medicine 麻豆精品 S檚 Anatomy Lab, learning life-saving procedures like chest tube insertion and evisceration treatment.

• Enhancing In-flight Medical Care for Space Travelers

With the number of space travelers increasing and missions lasting longer, Operator Solutions and UCF aim to develop new technologies to improve point-of-care medical treatment in space. Their research will focus on ultrasound and telemedicine systems for treating conditions such as kidney stones and blood clots, as well as real-time health monitoring solutions for astronauts 麻豆精品 S� critical for long-duration missions, including those planned for Mars.

Advancing the Future of Aerospace Medicine

As America 麻豆精品 S檚 Space University, UCF is the ideal academic partner for this endeavor. The university was founded to provide talent to fuel the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 space program and today is a national leader in many areas of space research, including developing new technologies for space missions and advancing the health and well-being of space travelers.

This partnership strengthens an unrivaled opportunity for UCF students to prepare for careers in this rapidly growing field. UCF is creating a new space medicine curriculum that will involve students from many disciplines, including medicine, nursing, engineering, computer science, optics and photonics 麻豆精品 S� and establishing what will be the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 first master 麻豆精品 S檚 degree in space medicine.

Located in Melbourne, Florida, Operator Solutions combines decades of military, spaceflight and medical expertise to offer operational, rescue and recovery services to government and private companies. Its pararescuers are qualified to offer paramedic-level care anywhere in the world, including parachuting into remote rescue sites. The company specializes in open-ocean rescue of boaters and astronauts and helped develop procedures for astronaut rescue and retrieval for the commercial space program. Its workforce is 100% military veterans.

麻豆精品 S淭his partnership represents a significant leap forward in aerospace medical training, 麻豆精品 S� says Christopher Lais of Operator Solutions. 麻豆精品 S淏y combining our hands-on operational expertise with UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 world-class academic research, we are creating a framework that will shape the future of spaceflight medical preparedness and emergency response. 麻豆精品 S�

Emmanuel Urquieta, vice chair of at UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 College of Medicine, emphasized the growing importance of aerospace medical training.

麻豆精品 S淎s commercial space travel expands, ensuring that astronauts, spaceflight crews and emergency responders are equipped with essential medical knowledge and skills is critical, 麻豆精品 S� Urquieta says. 麻豆精品 S淭his collaboration will push the boundaries of medical science and training, helping us ensure safety and preparedness in extreme environments. 麻豆精品 S�

Urquieta is one of the world 麻豆精品 S檚 foremost leaders in space medicine. He came to UCF after serving as chief medical officer of the NASA-funded Translational Institute for Space Health led by the Baylor College of Medicine. His goal is to make UCF a model of interdisciplinary medical research focused on improving the health of space travelers and also those on Earth.

Setting the Standard for Space Mission Readiness

By leveraging their combined expertise, Operator Solutions and UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 College of Medicine are establishing new benchmarks in medical education, research and operational readiness for both spaceflight and emergency response. This partnership is poised to transform aerospace medicine, delivering life-saving solutions for the next generation of space missions.

Over its 40-year history, the ASF has awarded scholarships totaling over $9 million to more than 850 students. This year, 71 undergraduate students from 48 U.S. colleges and universities were named Astronaut Scholars, including three exceptional leaders from UCF.

Abigail Glover

To Abigail Glover, a Burnett Honors Scholar and mechanical engineering student at UCF, earning a prestigious award like the Astronaut Scholarship represents far more than just financial support. For her, it 麻豆精品 S檚 entry into a network of ambitious individuals sharing her passion for space, engineering and scientific discovery. Glover describes the Astronaut community as 麻豆精品 S渁 family of like-minded individuals who will always support you. 麻豆精品 S�

Much of Glover 麻豆精品 S檚 research has focused on planetary science. Some of her undergraduate research initiatives include studying the influence of humidity on simulated lunar highlands regolith properties and terra mechanics. Currently, her Honors Undergraduate Thesis is on 麻豆精品 S淨uantifying the Performance of the SPARTA Toolkit for use in Planetary Regolith Characterization Missions. 麻豆精品 S�

Glover is a project manager with the Regolith Interactions for the Development of Extraterrestrial Rovers (RIDER) program at UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 , where she coordinates with industry experts and leads a team focused on enhancing technologies for lunar regolith and rover wheel interaction. She has also worked with NASA 麻豆精品 S檚 Exploration Ground Systems 麻豆精品 S� assisting the Human Systems Integration team in preparing for Artemis II. Beyond her professional experiences, she founded the Lake-Sumter State College Astronomical Society in 2016. She also served as the social media and marketing chair for the UCF chapter of the American Society for Mechanical Engineers and is the creative chair for Students for the Exploration and Development of Space at UCF.

Glover came to STEM from a background in art and theater, which initially left her feeling like an outsider in the world of engineering and research. In her first semester, she had difficulty adjusting to the demanding load of her STEM classes. With some encouragement from her mother, she returned to UCF for her second semester with renewed determination.

麻豆精品 S淚t has been a long journey of discovering my capabilities and limits, but I wouldn 麻豆精品 S檛 trade it for anything, 麻豆精品 S� she says.

Glover 麻豆精品 S檚 courage in asking questions and seeking new opportunities has been a powerful force in her development. A conversation with a professor led her to UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Exolith Lab, and a class interview connected her to the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars program, which set off a chain of experiences she says 麻豆精品 S渙pened doors to opportunities I would never have thought possible. 麻豆精品 S� Glover has received multiple scholarships and awards throughout her academic career such as the Office of Undergraduate Research Grant, the Pell Grant, and the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship.

Looking ahead, Glover hopes to contribute to long-term lunar habitation. She envisions herself continuing with lunar regolith research and building systems for sustainable human presence beyond Earth 麻豆精品 S檚 atmosphere. However, Glover 麻豆精品 S檚 past experiences have inspired her to remain adaptable, confident that 麻豆精品 S渓ife has a funny way of working out. 麻豆精品 S�

Charlotte Moore

With a passion for astronomy and a double major in and physics, Burnett Honors Scholar Charlotte Moore sees research as a way to learn more about the universe. Her research journey began in her first year and has transformed her academic experience, allowing her to build meaningful relationships and discover the collaborative spirit of the STEM community.

With her sights set on a doctoral degree in astronomy, Moore plans to focus on galaxy mergers, especially in tidal features at higher redshifts. 麻豆精品 S淥nce I finish my Ph.D., I hope to work at a university or other research institution to continue my research, 麻豆精品 S� she says. Currently, Moore is an undergraduate student researcher with Eric Bell from the University of Michigan working on the time constraints of the merger of Centaurus A from the Stellar Halo. She is also an undergraduate researcher with Theodora Karalidi, associate professor of physics at UCF, working on the impact of optical thickness on the polarization of the light of Jupiter.

Despite her accomplishments, Moore candidly acknowledges the challenge of imposter syndrome.

麻豆精品 S淭here are very few moments where I haven 麻豆精品 S檛 had doubts about what I 麻豆精品 S檓 doing, 麻豆精品 S� she says.

However, by immersing herself in new topics and projects, she has cultivated a sense of belonging in astronomy. Her hard work was marked by her first official publication, a moment that reinforced that she could make waves in the field of astronomy.

Moore credits her success to the incredible mentors she has encountered along her journey.

麻豆精品 S淒r. Karalidi has always pushed me to pursue outside opportunities that will help me towards my goal of graduate school, 麻豆精品 S� she says.

Additionally, she has benefited from the experiences of peers who have previously received the Astronaut Scholarship, utilizing their insights as she navigated her application process.

Beyond her academic pursuits, Moore is committed to helping others find their footing in research. As the secretary of the Society of Physics Students, she mentors fellow students, sharing her knowledge and experiences to guide them. Additionally, Moore has received multiple honors and awards, such as the Order of Pegasus in 2024, the Knights Achievement Scholarship, and the Allyn M. Stearman Scholarship. Moore embodies the academic excellence, commitment to community, and passion for discovery that the Astronaut Scholarship seeks to promote.

Luis Santori

As a second-time recipient of the Astronaut Scholarship Luis Santori, a Burnett Honors Scholar and mathematics major, also appreciates the opportunities the ASF community will offer for his growth as a researcher.

麻豆精品 S淭he doors that the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation opens will be crucial to my career, 麻豆精品 S� he says.

For Santori, the ASF community provides opportunities to collaborate, learn and grow as a researcher.

Santori is an undergraduate research assistant involved in multiple projects, including two with Kerri Donaldson Hanna and Adrienne Dove, associate professors in UCF’s Department of Physics, focusing on lunar craters and lunar regolith. He describes his mentors 麻豆精品 S� Hanna, Dove, and Professor Eduardo Teixeira from the UCF Department of Mathematics 麻豆精品 S� as instrumental in his growth and development as a researcher.

Santori 麻豆精品 S檚 research journey has been transformative for both his academic and personal development.

麻豆精品 S淩esearch has fostered personal growth by keeping me curious and introducing me to subjects beyond my curriculum, 麻豆精品 S� he says.

His research experiences have improved his communication skills, something that will be a necessity for him as he continues to promote his work.

Santori has also had to deal with the challenges that come with imposter syndrome, common in research where the uncertainty of discovery can lead to self-doubt. However, he reflects that by recognizing that it 麻豆精品 S檚 not productive to compare his path to the path of others, he has moved beyond this challenge. He also emphasizes the importance of maintaining a good work-life balance in sustaining a research career. His ability to work through these challenges and his dedication to his academic career have earned him the Allyn M. Stearman Research Fellowship, the Summer@ICERM 2023 Fellowship, and the 2024 NASA Exploration Science Forum Student Travel Grant.

Looking ahead, Santori plans to apply to doctoral programs in applied mathematics and planetary science, aiming to contribute to advancements in these fields. He is considering a career in academia, national labs or industry. With his passion and resilience, Santori is ready to make meaningful contributions to planetary science and mathematics as he continues on his academic journey as an Astronaut Scholar.

Those interested in the Astronaut Scholarship and other opportunities should reach out to the Office of Prestigious Awards at听OPA@ucf.edu.