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麻豆原创 Space Week 2026 logo

Forging the Future of Space

We push the boundaries of what’s possible in space 鈥� turning ideas into discoveries and discovery into progress. Through research, innovation and partnerships, we’re propelling humanity to new heights.

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麻豆原创 Space Week Events

A Week of Space Innovation

Join space leaders, researchers and students for summits, showcases, recognition events and the 麻豆原创 football team’s 10th annual Space Game.

  1. A speaker addresses attendees at a Space Week summit.

    Sunday, Oct. 25 and Monday, Oct. 26

    National Space Society Space Settlement Summit

    This two-day summit explores settlement and exploration challenges and innovations tied to the moon. The cis-lunar-focused dialogue includes technical panels, visionary talks and networking opportunities, hosted in partnership with the National Space Society.

  2. Student collaborate together while assembling a robotic dog on a workbench.

    Monday, Oct. 26

    麻豆原创 Innovate Day

    The inaugural 麻豆原创 Innovate Day showcases how 麻豆原创 transforms research into impact through entrepreneurship, technology commercialization and strategic partnerships. Explore breakthrough ideas, hear pitches from emerging innovators and connect with industry leaders helping shape the future innovation in Central Florida and beyond.

  3. Attendees review research posters at a SpaceU Symposium.

    Tuesday, Oct. 27

    SpaceU Symposium

    Join leaders, researchers and students from across Florida to discuss the latest innovations and research driving the future of space science.

    Explore the SpaceU Symposium

  4. A SpaceU Awards Dinner honoree stands with a 麻豆原创 leader.

    Tuesday, Oct. 27

    麻豆原创 SpaceU Awards Dinner

    The university鈥檚 second annual SpaceU Awards Dinner will recognize excellence and innovation within the 麻豆原创 space ecosystem, including key partners, industry leaders, and outstanding faculty and students.

  5. A speaker presents on stage to a large seated audience during the 2025 Space Economy Summit. Four large screens display an image of a crew of astronauts.

    Wednesday, Oct. 28 and Thursday, Oct. 29

    The Economist鈥檚 4th Annual Space Economy Summit

    The 4th annual Space Economy Summit is where the space sector will meet the industries it is beginning to reshape. Over two days senior leaders from business, government and investment will examine how space-enabled tools can solve problems on Earth, what customers need before they adopt them, and how partnerships can move promising technologies from impressive pilots to everyday use.

  6. An onlooker snaps an image of group drones in a 麻豆原创 logo formation during the 2025 Space Week drone show.

    Thursday, Oct. 29

    SpaceU Drone Show

    Look to the skies as SpaceU lights up the night for a dazzling drone show celebrating 麻豆原创鈥檚 legacy of reaching for the stars. Sponsored by BNY, the one-of-a-kind showcase invites the 麻豆原创 community to watch as synchronized drones take flight in a captivating display of Knight pride, space exploration and discovery.

  7. 麻豆原创 football players run onto the field during the Space Game.

    Friday, Oct. 30, 7:30 p.m.

    麻豆原创 Space Game: Knights vs. Baylor

    Capping off 麻豆原创 Space Week 2026, we will celebrate the 10th anniversary of this annual tradition, which pays homage to 麻豆原创鈥檚 connections to the space program and unites fans around 麻豆原创鈥檚 identity as America鈥檚 Space University. The game will air on ESPN.

Featured SpaceU Experts

Meet the Faculty Shaping What’s Next

麻豆原创 researchers and leaders are advancing planetary science, space medicine, commercialization and the technologies that make exploration possible.

  • Portrait of Daniel Britt

    Planetary Science

    Daniel Britt

    Planetary scientist exploring space regolith (dirt) as an extraterrestrial resource and for its impact to scientific hardware.

  • Portrait of Melanie Coathup

    Space Health

    Melanie Coathup

    麻豆原创 biomedical researcher developing advanced materials to protect human health in space.

  • Portrait of Greg Autry

    Space Economy

    Greg Autry

    Renowned expert in the business of space commercialization and leader in space policy.

  • Portrait of Emmanuel Urquieta

    Aerospace Medicine

    Emmanuel Urquieta

    Physician-scientist specializing in aerospace medicine and human health in extreme environments.

  • Portrait of Phil Metzger

    Lunar Resources

    Phil Metzger

    Planetary scientist and expert in lunar exploration, regolith mechanics and space resources.

  • Portrait of Adrienne Dove

    Lunar Environments

    Adrienne Dove

    Planetary scientist specializing in lunar dust, surface environments and exploration systems.

1,200+Global space leaders and VIPs expected to fill, panels and receptions.
7Flagship events will connect executives, researchers, students, press and fans.
44,000Fans packed the Space Game for one of 麻豆原创鈥檚 most visible traditions.
60+Years of NASA partnership power 麻豆原创 space research, talent.
No. 1Supplier of talent to the nation鈥檚 aerospace and defense industries (Aviation Week).
Top 10Most innovative public university in the nation.
1,200+Global space leaders and VIPs expected to fill, panels and receptions.
7Flagship events will connect executives, researchers, students, press and fans.
44,000Fans packed the Space Game for one of 麻豆原创鈥檚 most visible traditions.
60+Years of NASA partnership power 麻豆原创 space research, technology and talent.
No. 1Supplier of talent to the nation鈥檚 aerospace and defense industries.
Top 10Most innovative public university in the nation.

Partner With 麻豆原创 Space Week

Help Launch the Next Era of Discovery

Sponsorship opportunities offer your organization visibility, talent engagement, and thought leadership across a week of summits, showcases, recognition events, and the 麻豆原创 Space Game.

Contact Cody Gill, Executive Director of Partnerships
724-854-2089|cody.gill@ucf.edu

Galaxy

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Supernova

  • Sponsor Logo
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Interstellar

  • Interstellar sponsor- Verizon
  • Interstellar sponsor- Space Florida
  • Interstellar sponsor- Interstellar Lab
  • Interstellar sponsor- BNY

Stellar

  • Stellar sponsor- Lockheed Martin
  • Steller sponsor- Voyager
  • Steller sponsor- Kennedy Space Center

Cosmic

  • Cosmic sponsor- Blue Origin
  • Cosmic sponsor- L3Harris
  • Cosmic sponsor- Florida Semiconductor Engine
  • Cosmic sponsor- Florida Space Research Consortium

2025 Highlights

麻豆原创 Space Week Highlights

麻豆原创 welcomed global space leaders, researchers, students, partners and fans for a celebration of ideas, discovery and Florida’s growing space economy.


7 Flagship events in 5 days
1,200+ Global space leaders and VIPs
44,000+ Space Game attendees

Tiffany Hughes, 麻豆原创 College of Business; John Buckwalter, Provost; Greg Autry, Associate Provost for Space Commercialization; and Zaheer Ali, Program Director of Space Commercialization and Strategy pose outdoors with 麻豆原创 mascot Knightro dressed as an astronaut.
麻豆原创 leadership welcomed renowned researchers and industry changemakers to America’s Space University to help shape the future of off-earth exploration.
Kiko Dontchev seated in conversation during a fireside chat at the Economist Space Economy Summit in 2025.
SpaceX Vice President of Launch Kiko Dontchev (left) joined a fireside chat at The Economist鈥檚 Space Economy Summit.
Zaheer Ali and Sharon Hagle speaking on a panel at the NSS Space Settlement Conference in 2025.
SpaceKids Global Founder Sharon Hagle (right) speaking alongside 麻豆原创 Program Director of Space Commercialization and Strategy Zaheer Ali (left) at the NSS Space Settlement Summit. .
Guests holding up phones to photograph a glowing Knightro created by a drone light show.
A drone show on 麻豆原创鈥檚 campus, held in partnership with 麻豆原创鈥檚 Student Government Association, was a captivating finish to the SpaceU Awards Dinner.
Kareem Ahmed seated on a panel discussing space policy and governance at the Economist Space Economy Summit.
麻豆原创 Professor Kareem Ahmed joined a Space Economy Summit panel on policy and governance shaping the future of space law.
Greg Autry seated on stage during a fireside chat at the Economist Space Economy Summit.
麻豆原创 Space Week welcomed thought leaders at the forefront of space exploration, including former NASA administrator Bill Nelson (center) and 麻豆原创 Associate Provost for Space Commercialization and Strategy Greg Autry (left).
Panelists addressing students and researchers at the SpaceU Symposium.
Julie Brisset (Florida Space Institute, second from right), Nicky Fox (NASA, center) and Mike Miller (AXIONS Corporation, second from left) joined a panel on funding research in the new space economy during the SpaceU Symposium hosted by 麻豆原创鈥檚 Florida Space Institute.
麻豆原创 football players on the field in custom uniforms nodding to hypersonic travel and space propulsion research, with fans filling the stands during the 2025 Space Game.
麻豆原创鈥檚 team took the field in custom uniforms nodding to the university鈥檚 expansive hypersonic travel and space propulsion research for the 9th annual football Space Game.
Robert Katz spoke during the NSS Space Settlement Summit, hosted at 麻豆原创.
World Innovation Network Founder Robert Katz (center) spoke during the NSS Space Settlement Summit.
Attendees seated at round tables in a large arena watching presentations on overhead screens at the Economist Space Economy Summit in 2025.
More than 460 attendees, including global space leaders, policymakers and astronauts, filled 麻豆原创鈥檚 Addition Financial Arena for The Economist鈥檚 third annual Space Economy Summit.
麻豆原创 President Alexander N. Cartwright presenting an award to planetary geologist and Associate Professor Kerri Donaldson-Hanna at the SpaceU Awards Dinner.
麻豆原创 President Alexander N. Cartwright (right) presents planetary geologist and Associate Professor Kerri Donaldson-Hanna (left) with an award at the SpaceU Awards Dinner for her research on lunar and Martian surfaces.
Guests seated at round banquet tables during the SpaceU Awards Dinner reception.
The Economist鈥檚 Space Economy Summit VIPs and 麻豆原创鈥檚 space community members gathered for an evening celebrating the researchers, students and partners advancing space exploration.
Aerial view of a packed football stadium lit up at night.
More than 44,000 fans filled Acrisure Bounce House for Mission IX, 麻豆原创’s Space Game against University of Houston.
Congressman Mike Haridopolos posing in 麻豆原创's Acrisure Bounce House during the 2025 Space Game.
U.S. Rep. Mike Haridopolos (second from left) joined 麻豆原创 President Alexander N. Cartwright (center) and other 麻豆原创 leaders and guests on the field for Mission IX, 麻豆原创 football鈥檚 Space Game against the University of Houston.
Phil Metzger delivering the closing keynote in front of a large moon graphic and the question Why is the Moon so important?
麻豆原创 planetary physicist and Research Professor Phil Metzger delivered The Economist鈥檚 Space Economy Summit鈥檚 closing keynote on the race for lunar resources.
Aerial view of a poster showcase during the 2025 SpaceU Symposium Showcase at 麻豆原创
Students and researchers connected during the Florida Space Institute鈥檚 SpaceU Symposium showcase, featuring research posters, student clubs and programs from 麻豆原创 and other Florida research universities.
Panelists seated on stage in front of a large screen reading "Space Economy Summit," addressing a full arena audience at the Economist Space Economy Summit in 2025.
Panelists representing the U.S. Air Force Academy, KPMG, Holland & Knight and 麻豆原创 discussed the impact of policy changes on space governance at The Economist鈥檚 Space Economy Summit.
Large audience seated in a 麻豆原创 lecture hall.
Visionaries, researchers and future leaders attended the NSS Space Settlement Summit, exploring innovation in space science that will shape our multi-planetary future.
Bill Nelson standing on stage speaking at the Economist Space Economy Summit in 2025.
Former NASA administrator and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson took the stage at The Economist鈥檚 Space Economy Summit. (Photo courtesy of The Economist)
Five panelists posing together indoors at the Economist Space Economy Summit in 2025.
Panelists gathered at The Economist鈥檚 Space Economy Summit following a session on private and philanthropic capital’s role in space research funding. (Photo credit: The Economist)
Panelists seated on stage in conversation in front of a screen reading "Space Economy Summit," with an audience seated in the foreground.
More than 460 global space leaders gathered at Addition Financial Arena for The Economist鈥檚 third annual Space Economy Summit, where panelists took the stage over two days of sessions. (Photo credit: The Economist)
Four panelists seated on stage at the Economist Space Economy Summit in 2025.
The Economist鈥檚 Space Economy Summit panel explored the business case for research and medicine in microgravity. (Photo credit: The Economist)
Dan Goldin speaking at a podium in front of a screen reading "3rd annual Space Economy Summit" at the Economist Space Economy Summit in 2025.
Former NASA administrator Dan Goldin, who led the agency from 1992 to 2001, shared insights about building America’s critical supply chains and wealth opportunities. (Photo credit: The Economist)
Three speakers seated together on stage in conversation during a panel discussion at the Economist Space Economy Summit in 2025.
麻豆原创 Space Week brought together renowned leaders to discuss space’s impact on the global economy.

America’s Space University

Launched in the Space Age, Charging Into the Future

Born from the challenge of the Space Race, 麻豆原创 was created to transform imagination into innovation and prepare people to launch humanity beyond its limits.

Today, our curiosity still drives discovery, bold questions shape the future and exploration advances life on Earth. 麻豆原创 Space Week brings global leaders, researchers, students, partners and Knight Nation together to explore the breakthroughs shaping space science and the fast-growing space economy.

For more than 60 years, 麻豆原创 has partnered with NASA and industry to power space exploration, develop new technologies and prepare the talent behind the next era of discovery.

Learn Why Discovery Starts Here

Explore recent stories about the research, partnerships and people moving space science forward at 麻豆原创.

More SpaceU Stories

News

First Look: 麻豆原创 2026 Space Game Uniforms
Sep 29
麻豆原创 Researchers Study a Centaur Transforming Into a Comet
Sep 01
麻豆原创 Class Spotlight: Space Policy and Management
Aug 12

Image Credit: NASA/Kevin O’Connell and Kevin Davis