From transforming how images illuminate complex surfaces to creating new tools for healthcare simulation, 91�Թ��� Pegasus Professor Gregory Welch has spent more than three decades expanding what immersive technology can do.

Now, the field he has helped advance is honoring his lasting influence.

Welch received the 2026 Career Impact Award at the 25th Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality (ISMAR), which brings together the world’s leading researchers, practitioners and innovators shaping the future of extended reality.

The AdventHealth Endowed Chair in Healthcare Simulation at 91�Թ���’s College of Nursing and co-director of the Synthetic Reality Lab at 91�Թ���’s , Welch was recognized for his significant and sustained contributions to the field.

“This award is especially meaningful to be recognized by a community I have been a part of for decades.”

For Welch, that work reflects a deep dedication to both the technology and the people who’ll take it further, especially students and educators.

“This award is especially meaningful to be recognized by a community I have been a part of for decades,” says Welch. “It is also fulfilling to know that all of my efforts, the leadership, service, research and education, not only have been noticed by my peers, but have been judged to have had a long-term impact.”

Throughout his career, Welch has collaborated across disciplines to tackle challenges facing industries ranging from defense to healthcare. His research spans virtual and augmented (VR/AR) reality, virtual beings, motion tracking, displays and healthcare technology. Much of his work focuses on human-computer interaction — blending analytical thinking and creativity to build effective interactive experiences.

Among his most influential contributions is research on spatial augmented reality that he co-developed in 1998. That work earned the ISMAR Long Lasting Impact Paper Award nearly two decades later, and its impact remains visible today.

Using mathematical equations, Welch and his co-authors created a way to adjust projected imagery to appear realistic on complex surfaces. Their work helped advance projection mapping — the technology behind spectacles such as the light shows at Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom.

“That work is still something I’m deeply proud of — it was something that came together as a result of a lot of work with a lot of different people. It’s rewarding to see it now used all over the world,” says Welch.

Turning Patented Ideas into Powerful Solutions

Welch has authored more than 200 publications and is a named inventor on 31 patents. His inventions include a physical-virtual patient simulator, a “smart” wound simulator, sterile field detection mechanisms, directional electrodes for deep brain stimulation and tactile telepresence for isolated patients.

His list of inventions continues to grow. Two new patents issued this year build on a record of innovation that has helped place 91�Թ��� among the top 20 U.S. public universities for utility patents granted.

One new invention provides a system for generating spatially explicit auditory cues — sounds that convey direction, distance and height — through devices such as AR/VR headsets or vehicle speakers to enhance a recipient’s situational understanding.

Potential applications include helping military personnel track the positions and movements of squad members and equipment, improving vehicle navigation and making emergency vehicle sirens easier for drivers to perceive.

“It’s about using components of different home automation systems to help each other.”

The most recent patent addresses a gap in home automation: A home automation controller can send a command to a device, but did the intended change actually happen?

A lightbulb could be burned out. A broken sprinkler head could send water over the curb instead of onto the lawn. In either case, confirmation by another nearby device can allow the problem to be detected.

“It’s about using components of different home automation systems to help each other, in a sense,” says Welch. “Such as using a camera on another device in a room to determine if a light is illuminating or using home security cameras to confirm the sprinkler system worked properly — and if they didn’t, help the homeowner determine why.”

By connecting devices with complementary capabilities, the system could help users verify that their devices are functioning as intended and identify problems when they’re not.

Strengthening Future Generations

Welch’s impact extends beyond his innovations. An active leader, volunteer and mentor in IEEE communities, he has served in numerous board roles and shared his expertise through more than 100 presentations, panels and workshops worldwide.

“ My … passion to help others … continues to energize me every day in my work to advance immersive technologies, create solutions and support the next generation of researchers …”

He also leads the , a U.S. National Science Foundation-funded platform designed to transform research using immersive technologies. The project recently reached two major milestones for virtual reality research.

His contributions have earned dozens of awards and honors, including recognition as an IEEE fellow, a National Academy of Inventors fellow and a Pegasus Professor — 91�Թ���’s highest faculty honor. He received the IEEE Virtual Reality Technical Achievement Award in 2018 and the IEEE Virtual Reality Service Award earlier this year.

For Welch, the drive to discover remains inseparable from helping others do the same.

“My career, in this industry and in academia, is driven by a passion to help others — that’s what continues to energize me every day in my work to advance immersive technologies, create solutions and support the next generation of researchers who will make the next discoveries.”

We are America’s Space University. And we celebrate 91�Թ��� Space Week to honor our origin as we dare to build what’s next.

Where Global Leaders Unite to Forge the Future of Space

at 91�Թ��� extends far beyond a single discipline.

91�Թ��� students can choose from numerous space-related programs spanning business, engineering, hospitality, medicine, planetary science, optics and policy — preparing them for in-demand careers across the space sector.

Joining a space-focused student organization can strengthen your skills, connect you with like-minded peers and offer opportunities to turn your studies into real-world work.

Learn more about some of these groups and how to get involved.

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Who they are: 91�Թ���’s chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), a technical society dedicated to the aerospace profession, welcomes students of all experience levels and academic disciplines. It boasts nearly 400 active members, with many  studying aerospace, mechanical or electrical engineering or computer science.

Ways to get involved: AIAA@91�Թ��� sponsors industry tours, guest speakers, professional development events, socials and creative engineering projects. One is a multi-year effort in partnership with SEDS and Seagate Space to engineer the first sea-based launch by university students in the nation.

How to find them: Join the to stay up to date with announcements and general information, or follow on Instagram.

Astronomy Society

Who they are: The Astronomy Society is dedicated to cultivating a deep appreciation for space while providing valuable opportunities for students aspiring to build careers in astronomy.

Ways to get involved: Members can participate in resume workshops, physics conferences, space-themed social meet-ups, and telescope operation training, and help organize or attend Knights Under the Stars stargazing events at Robinson Observatory on 91�Թ���’s main campus.

How to find them: Attend a general board meeting, follow on Instagram or join the .

Knights Experimental Rocketry

Who they are: Knights Experimental Rocketry designs and builds experimental rockets and payloads for collegiate competitions.

Ways to get involved: Students can get involved in a wide range of projects, from designing and building rockets, developing liquid rocket propulsion systems, and researching and testing electric thrusters.

How to find them: Join the follow on Instagram or visit .

Knights Satellite Club

Who they are: Knights Satellite Club is 91�Թ���’s center for satellite and space systems development. Students can join with little to no satellite experience and gain  engineering skills through low-cost projects that introduce them to spaceflight hardware, integration, testing, communications, recovery, and systems engineering.

Ways to get involved: Members can join progressively more challenging projects as their experience, skills and knowledge develop. Weekly committee meetings also welcome members with interests beyond engineering and science, including fundraising, event management and public relations.

How to find them: Find the latest information at .

Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS)

Who they are: SEDS empowers members to make an impact in space exploration through an interdisciplinary community spanning engineering, biology, economics, history, photography and more.

Ways to get involved: Attend speaker series, social events like space-movie viewings, professional workshops, rocketry tutorials and tours of space-industry companies. Members can also take part in research projects ranging from agriculture in simulated Martian regolith and space economics to solving space exploration challenges for NASA.

How to find them: �վ������� , stay up to date  through the or follow on Instagram.

Landing humans on the moon was just a dream when 91�Թ��� was founded in 1963. But we dared to believe — developing the talent and inventing the technologies to make it reality. That same spirit still drives us today.

We are America’s Space University. And we celebrate 91�Թ��� Space Week to honor our origin as we dare to build what’s next.

Where Global Leaders Unite to Forge the Future of Space

91�Թ��� Professor Anish Roshi Damodaran is investigating a new approach for a virtual super telescope that could allow scientists to observe planet formation and the early universe in unprecedented detail.

Damodaran previously led radio astronomy for the Arecibo Observatory, which 91�Թ��� began co-managing in 2018 under an agreement with the U.S. National Science Foundation. Following the telescope’s structural collapse in 2020, he continued to advance his research activities at 91�Թ���.

Damodaran is now one of 18 researchers in the U.S. selected for Phase I of NASA’s 2026 Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program. The nine-month, $175,000 award funds early development of technologies that demonstrate transformative potential and possible feasibility for eventual implementation.

“Having the opportunity to explore such a bold idea at its earliest stage, and to do so with the support of NASA and the NIAC community, is both professionally and personally inspiring,” Damodaran says.

The concept is known as PHOENIX — short for Photonics-Enabled Heterodyne Submillimeter/Far-Infrared Interferometer.

PHOENIX proposes using advanced photonic technologies to connect up to 25 spacecraft into a powerful space-based interferometer. Working together, the spacecraft could effectively function as a much larger telescope, capable of producing ultra-high-resolution observations at submillimeter and far-infrared wavelengths.

The project also brings together expertise in astronomy, photonics and space instrumentation from 91�Թ��� and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). This includes CREOL Pegasus Professor Peter Delfyett; CREOL professors Guifang Li and Stephen Eikenberry; Florida Space Institute researcher Julie Brisset; College of Sciences Professor Yan Fernandez; and JPL researchers Jacob Kooi and Jonathan Kawamura.

Jumpstarting a New Wave of Space Technology

Some of the most important stages in the evolution of the universe are also among the most difficult to observe. Stars, planets and galaxies often form from cold gas and dust that are invisible to the human eye.

Falling between infrared and radio wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum, submillimeter astronomy gives scientists a window into this otherwise hidden universe.

But observing these phenomena at extremely high resolution requires capabilities that are difficult to achieve with a conventional space telescope. A single telescope with an aperture measuring tens or even hundreds of meters would face significant launch constraints. Dividing that observing power across multiple smaller satellites presents its own challenges, including precisely synchronizing the spacecraft, and processing and transmitting the enormous amounts of data they collect.

“While existing facilities can detect cold gas and dust associated with planet formation, star formation, and galaxy evolution, they cannot directly resolve many of the critical structures where these processes occur,” Damodaran says.

Seeing the Universe in New Detail

PHOENIX could also provide new insights into how stars form within dense, dust-enshrouded environments. By combining high-resolution imaging with spectroscopy — an observation technique that uses light to analyze the chemical composition of matter — the observatory concept could allow astronomers to examine how turbulence, gravity and gas dynamics interact where stars form.

“One of the most exciting applications would be the direct observation of planet formation in protoplanetary disks around young stars,” Damodaran says, referring to the rotating disks of gas and dust which form planets. “PHOENIX could resolve structures on scales comparable to the size of the inner solar system — allowing scientists to observe how water, water ice, molecular gas and dust are assembled into planets, identify the signatures of newly forming worlds, and investigate the conditions that lead to potentially habitable planetary systems.”

On a larger scale, observations of gas and dust within distant galaxies could help researchers examine how star formation and supermassive black holes have influenced galaxy evolution over billions of years.

“One of the most exciting applications would be the direct observation of planet formation in protoplanetary disks around young stars.” — Anish Roshi Damodaran, Florida Space Institute professor

Testing an Ambitious Idea

The nine-month Phase I study represents an early step toward determining whether that vision could eventually become technically achievable. Rather than building the observatory itself, Damodaran and his collaborators will use the NIAC award to develop a more detailed mission architecture, identify critical enabling technologies, evaluate performance requirements, assess technology readiness and further define the scientific capabilities PHOENIX could provide.

Following his selection, Damodaran attended the NIAC orientation and symposium, where he met other NIAC fellows and learned about the range of early-stage concepts being pursued through the NASA program.

“In many ways, the process feels like undertaking a second Ph.D. thesis,” Damodaran says. “It requires questioning assumptions, exploring alternative approaches, identifying critical technology gaps and developing a compelling scientific case. As a scientist and instrument developer, I find that immensely rewarding.”

Future Stages of NASA’s NIAC Program

NASA’s NIAC program supports visionary aerospace concepts through progressive phases of study. Eligible Phase I recipients can propose for Phase II, which provides up to $750,000 for two years of further concept development and requires researchers to prepare a roadmap for continued development.

Phase III provides up to $2 million for another two years of exploration and development, with the goal of strategically transitioning concepts with the highest potential impact for NASA, other government agencies or commercial partners. NASA plans to make six to eight Phase II awards and one Phase III award annually.

The PHOENIX project is supported by a $175,000 Phase I award through NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts program. 

What happens when students from an entertainment law class and a podcasting class walk into a graveyard together? At 91�Թ���, they bring to life the most ambitious cross-college collaboration yet from an Emmy-winning faculty duo.

Legal studies senior lecturer was inspired one day when she came across a video of someone wandering through cemeteries, reading headstones and telling the stories of the people buried beneath them. The videos were pulling in millions of views. Pons, who teaches both entertainment law and funeral law at 91�Թ���, saw a learning opportunity for her legal studies students.

She reached out to , a senior instructor in 91�Թ���’s Nicholson School of Communication and Media (NSCM) and veteran broadcast journalist, as the first step to what would go on to become a student-produced podcast, The Dead Speak.

Pons’ entertainment law students paired with Brunson’s audio reporting and podcasting students during the Spring 2026 semester — creating a cross-disciplinary collaboration unlike anything either department had attempted before.

The two faculty members are repeat collaborators. Their prior work legal studies-related documentaries that have earned five regional Emmy awards.

But this project presented a whole new challenge. It required bringing together nearly 100 students of very different skill sets to deliver a finished product that would both accurately and legally “bringing the dead back to life.”

Bringing the Dead to Life in Sound

Each class took on a distinct role in the production. Pons’ legal studies students were the researchers. Using legal databases, death records, obituaries and cemetery records — while exercising the entertainment law and copyright skills they were developing in class — they identified deceased Floridians or people with strong Florida ties whose stories were compelling, historically verifiable and legally safe to tell.

A few students even ventured into cemeteries to find their subjects, while others utilized websites for virtual tours of burial grounds.

“Law comes into play because a lot of research goes into databases where death records are kept,” Pons says. “The entertainment law aspect comes in because we have ethical considerations, like copyright, public domain and how to verify the veracity of a record. ‘Did that person really die in 1867?’ Those are the kinds of questions that sharpened our legal research skills.”

“The entertainment law aspect comes in because we have ethical considerations, like copyright, public domain and how to verify the veracity of a record.” — Irene Pons ’00, senior lecturer

Once initial research was completed, the classes met together in person, divided into groups, in NSCM’s state-of-the-art podcasting studio. They pitched their research and determined which subjects would make the strongest episodes.

“My students were coming at this from what I call ‘seeing with your ears,’” Brunson says. “Does this subject and the time period they’re in present rich audio and sound opportunities? Does their story present rich opportunities to tell it in a sonic way?”

From there, Brunson’s students took over, writing scripts that would be narrated in first person and finding voice actors to give an accurate voice to the deceased.

Some students reached out to professional voice-acting collectives, and several professionals were so intrigued that they volunteered their voices. Other students recruited friends, family members or peers who matched the voice characterization they needed.

They further enhanced the production by recording real-world ambient sounds like crickets chirping, musical instruments or an audience cheering to create the backtracks that bring each episode to life.

In total, the collaboration produced 12 publicly accessible episodes that can be streamed on .

Everlasting Benefits

The response from students on both sides was immediate and enthusiastic. Pons’ law students were so enamored by the experience that many asked if they could come into the studio themselves to see their research brought to life.

“They were so invested in what they were doing,” Pons says. “At the end of class, they were like, ‘Do we have to leave?’ That was their favorite part of the whole semester.”

For Brunson’s podcasting students, the project offered an avenue for creativity while still adhering to journalism’s standards of accuracy and reporting and will ultimately serve them well on their resumes.

“The benefits are two-way. You get smarter by working with really smart and creative people, and you push understanding of ourselves as humans and as a community forward.” — Rick Brunson ’84, senior instructor

“We have dead-set rules against making things up over here,” Brunson says. “They really enjoyed this opportunity to go out, get sound, create a period of time and make it immersive in a listener’s mind. It stretched their muscles as audio storytellers. Students can say, ‘This is something I built. This is something that went out and is public-facing.’ I think that is so much more valuable to students than just getting an A on a test.”

He adds that the experience reaffirmed what he’s always believed about project-based learning.

“It’s cross-pollination,” he says. “The benefits are two-way. You get smarter by working with really smart and creative people, and you push understanding of ourselves as humans and as a community forward.”

Pons hopes to continue The Dead Speak podcast and partnership with Brunson’s class with her Entertainment Law course in Spring 2027 and her Death, Dying and the Law course in Fall 2027.

“When faculty have the opportunity, they should take advantage of collaborating like this,” she says. “It was so rewarding for the students and for us as professors just to see the smiles on their faces. That says it all.”

We are America’s Space University. And we celebrate 91�Թ��� Space Week to honor our origin as we dare to build what’s next.

Where Global Leaders Unite to Forge the Future of Space

91�Թ��� celebrated seven dynamic contributors to Central Florida’s robust space ecosystem with its 2026 SpaceU Awards.

America’s Space University honored two students, three faculty, a Pegasus Partner, and a space company leader for advancing space development, discovery, exploration and engagement. The awards were part of the second 91�Թ��� Space Week, which runs Oct. 25-30 and showcases the university’s impact across the space sector.

Tuesday’s SpaceU Awards ceremony at the Celeste Hotel drew more than 200 community leaders and supporters from 91�Թ���, industry and government. The event also spotlighted the inaugural 91�Թ��� Space Ideation Challenge, a national competition showcasing practical, forward-looking ideas to strengthen U.S. leadership in space and accelerate the emerging space economy.

“Their achievements remind us that exploration is about more than reaching new frontiers — it is about advancing knowledge, creating opportunities and improving lives on Earth and beyond.” — Alexander N. Cartwright, 91�Թ��� president

“Our SpaceU Award recipients embody the ingenuity and determination that have defined 91�Թ��� from the start. They ask bold questions, take on difficult challenges, and pursue ideas that have the potential to change what we know, what we can do and where we can go,” said 91�Թ��� President Alexander N. Cartwright. “Their achievements remind us that exploration is about more than reaching new frontiers — it is about advancing knowledge, creating opportunities and improving lives on Earth and beyond.”

91�Թ��� originated in 1963 to help supply talent and technology for Central Florida’s growing space program. Today, SpaceU has become a vital force for enhancing Florida’s vibrant space economy through excellence in research, innovation and workforce development — leading the nation in producing talent for the aerospace and defense industries.

Other Space Week events include the inaugural 91�Թ��� Innovate Day, which highlights how university research translates into real-world applications; The Economist’s fourth-annual Space Economy Summit; the National Space Society’s Space Settlement Summit; and the SpaceU Symposium, featuring student, faculty and staff research. The week also includes a SpaceU Drone Show on Memory Mall and the 10th-annual Space Game against Baylor at Acrisure Bounce House Stadium.

Here are the 2026 SpaceU Awardees.

Student Space Research Award

Noah Brockhoff, Junior, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Brockhoff’s research is helping to address the critical challenge of minimizing the effects of moon dust on spacecraft and landing sites. At 91�Թ���’s Exolith Lab, the mechanical engineering major spent 300 hours building a simulated lunar lander to study how lunar dust traveling at terminal velocity could damage spacecraft. NASA is partnering with 91�Թ��� on the research and plans to use the findings, connecting Brockhoff’s work directly to the future of space exploration.

Student Space Innovator Award

Keanu Brayman, Senior, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Burnett Honors College

Brayman, a mechanical engineering major, is making contributions to space innovations with commercial applications. As an intern at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, he has worked on trajectory optimization for the Human Landing System, additive manufacturing technology for lunar resource utilization and robotic in-space laser welding — a necessity for assembling large structures on the lunar surface. Brayman is also a researcher in 91�Թ���’s Astrodynamics, Space and Robotics Laboratory, a Goldwater Scholar, and an Astronaut Scholar.

Early Career Space Achievement Faculty Award

Paula do Vale Pereira, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science

do Vale Pereira develops approaches for exploring the hidden oceans of icy moons. She specializes in space systems, spacecraft engineering, and planetary exploration technologies for navigating some of the solar system’s most challenging environments. do Vale Pereira contributes to shaping the next decade of planetary exploration through NASA’s Decadal Astrobiology Research and Exploration Strategy and the Ocean Worlds Working Group. Her lab investigates spacecraft thermal performance, orbital dynamics, lunar surface power transmission, and innovative satellite structures.

Mid-Career Space Achievement Faculty Award

Emmanuel Urquieta, Associate Professor of Medicine, Vice Chair for Aerospace Medicine, College of Medicine

Urquieta is a physician and scientist helping to make human spaceflight safer through research, education, and aerospace-medicine leadership. He founded and directs SpaceU’s Center for Aerospace and Extreme Environments Medicine, leading 91�Թ���’s efforts to promote research, education, clinical care, and operational capabilities to protect human health and performance in space. At 91�Թ���, he established Florida’s first academic Division of Aerospace Medicine and spearheaded the development of an aerospace medicine residency, master’s degree program, and specialized research and simulation capabilities for future exploration missions.

Lifetime Space Achievement Faculty Award

Daniel Britt, Pegasus Professor of Astronomy and Planetary Sciences, College of Sciences

Britt’s trailblazing contributions to planetary science have expanded the world’s understanding of the solar system. A member of several NASA mission teams, he managed the camera project for Mars Pathfinder and has contributed hardware to Mars missions, extending 91�Թ��� technology in reaching the stars. He directs 91�Թ���’s Center for Lunar and Asteroid Surface Science and studies the physical properties of asteroids, comets, the moon and Mars. Since joining 91�Թ��� in 2003, his honors include six NASA Achievement Awards and an asteroid named 4395 Danbritt.

Industry Partner Impact Award

Lockheed Martin

Global industry leader Lockheed Martin is a cornerstone of Florida’s space ecosystem and a long-time champion of 91�Թ���. Since 1981, Lockheed Martin’s College Work Experience Program at 91�Թ��� has provided paid professional opportunities to more than 10,000 students. Many have gone on to join the company. The partnership also supports mentorship, scholarships and cutting-edge faculty research in robotics, AI, advanced manufacturing and hypersonics. Last year, Lockheed Martin became a Pegasus Partner, expanding collaboration with 91�Թ��� on research, workforce development and economic growth.

Innovative Space Leader Award

Michael Edmonds, Chief Commercial Officer, Blue Origin

Edmonds’ leadership fosters business, government and customer relationships essential to the growth of commercial space. He also serves as president of Club for the Future, Blue Origin’s nonprofit dedicated to inspiring young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, arts and math. Under Edmonds’ leadership, the organization has awarded $1 million in grants to 19 space-focused nonprofits, extending STEAM outreach worldwide. Through educational challenges and postcards flown to space and back, the club makes exploration tangible for students across the globe.

Landing humans on the moon was just a dream when 91�Թ��� was founded in 1963. But we dared to believe — developing the talent and inventing the technologies to make it reality. That same spirit still drives us today.

Where Global Leaders Unite to Forge the Future of Space

A rover’s next move on another planet could begin in a 91�Թ��� lab.

Before its wheels encounter a rocky slope or an unexpected obstacle, a virtual assistant could help operators answer a critical question: Can it get through?

Luis Rabelo, a professor in 91�Թ���’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, is leading a team of 91�Թ��� undergraduate researchers/engineers developing an AI-driven digital twin to investigate how the technology could support robotic exploration when communication with Earth is delayed.

Digital twins are virtual representations of physical systems that can use data from their physical counterparts to model and simulate behavior. By testing a rover’s movements virtually before executing commands, operators could anticipate obstacles and evaluate potential actions without waiting for every instruction to travel to the robot and back.

The research builds on an international collaboration involving Rabelo and 91�Թ��� planetary scientist , director of 91�Թ���’s . 91�Թ��� aerospace engineering graduate student Carson Gray ’26 has helped develop the digital-twin software and advised the student teams that constructed 91�Թ���’s rover prototypes.

Connecting Physical and Virtual Systems

The team uses RE-RASSOR, the Research and Education Regolith Advanced Surface Systems Operations Robot, a low-cost, 3D-printed educational platform adapted from NASA’s original RASSOR mining robot.

Each rover costs approximately $400 to produce, allowing students to experiment with digital twin software on comparatively inexpensive hardware, says Gray, a mechanical engineering alum. That accessibility could make advanced robotics research more feasible for university laboratories with limited resources.

During a demonstration, Gray showed how an iPhone’s camera and LiDAR sensor, mounted on the rover, help the system construct a 3D virtual representation of the robot and its surroundings in real time.

“It’s a two-way street. The robot is constantly sending its position — you can move it in the digital twin, and then that will be sent to the robot. … At the end of the day, you want them mirroring each other,” Gray says.

Rabelo says a digital twin’s update frequency must reflect the behavior of the physical system it represents. For robotic systems, that means accounting for changes second by second rather than relying on the longer-term predictions used in conventional simulations.

“The digital twin depends on the time constant of the system,” Rabelo says. “That’s the difference.”

That connection between physical and virtual systems could help operators make more informed decisions in unfamiliar lunar or planetary terrain.

“Say on the moon, if the environment is very bumpy, rocky, you might not always know if a command is going to be successful or not,” Gray says. “So you can see in the simulation if it can go over this bump successfully. And then if it does, then you can do it on the real rover with a lot more confidence than if you didn’t have the simulation.”

Building on Earlier Research

The work grew out of a collaboration between 91�Թ��� and the Universidad Politécnica de Durango in Mexico. During the 2025-26 academic year, Rabelo and Metzger advised an international senior design project focused on developing an AI-driven digital twin of RASSOR.

A central objective was to investigate how digital twins could help operators work around communication delays. The farther a robot travels from Earth, the longer commands and information can take to pass between it and the people directing it.

Rabelo describes a test scenario with a simulated three-second delay in each direction, creating a six-second round trip. The digital twin could help operators anticipate the rover’s behavior and identify potential problems before they occur.

Preparing for Future Space Exploration

Rabelo envisions expanding the research beyond individual rovers to groups of autonomous robots collaborating on complex logistics tasks at the moon’s south pole.

Different robots could perform specialized tasks, from surveying terrain and identifying resources to collecting materials and transporting equipment. A shared digital twin could help coordinate their movements across a larger environment.

“You have to have a bigger digital [twin] of the entire piece of the moon where all of those things have to go,” Rabelo says.

Such technology could eventually help researchers coordinate robotic operations across distant planetary environments, where communication delays make continuous human oversight difficult.

For now, this student-built platform lays the groundwork for a larger ambition: helping future robotic teams explore farther, with operators better prepared for what comes next.

The research received $5,000 in support from the Florida Space Grant Consortium through 91�Թ���’s Florida Space Institute. Undergraduate senior design teams developed the rover prototypes under the guidance of Rabelo, Gray and Metzger.

Landing humans on the moon was just a dream when 91�Թ��� was founded in 1963. But we dared to believe — developing the talent and inventing the technologies to make it reality. That same spirit still drives us today.

We are America’s Space University. And we celebrate 91�Թ��� Space Week to honor our origin as we dare to build what’s next.

Where Global Leaders Unite to Forge the Future of Space

While taking a break from his job responsibilities on “another planet,” Matthew Montgomery ’08 ’09MS settled in for some light reading: The Handbook of Space Resources. Curious about the authors’ backgrounds, he flipped through the contributors list.

The two-time 91�Թ��� electrical engineering alum couldn’t help but smile when he spotted two familiar names: acclaimed 91�Թ��� planetary scientists Daniel Britt and Phillip Metzger ’00MS ’05PhD.

Even on a mission to “Mars,” 91�Թ��� was right there with him.

On Oct. 19, 2025, Montgomery entered a 1,700-square-foot, 3D-printed habitat at NASA’s Johnson Space Center with three crewmates for NASA’s Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA). Together, they’ve simulated living on Mars, conducting research and collecting data as if they were 140 million miles from Earth.

Their work includes spacewalks with and without virtual reality, time-delayed communications, crop growth, meal preparation and consumption, exercise, hygiene activities, maintenance work, personal time, science work and sleep — all to help prepare for future missions.

The 39-year-old isn’t a trained astronaut or a NASA scientist. After an 18-month application and screening process, being selected to volunteer for this mission meant stepping away from his loved ones and Floating Lava Studios, his Los Angeles-based film production company, for more than a year.

He cultivated the skills that helped him land this gig, in part, at 91�Թ���.

An Orlando native, Montgomery enrolled through an early admission program while still a senior at nearby University High School. As a Burnett Honors Scholar, he immersed himself in research opportunities and lab work while earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering.

“91�Թ��� provided me the technical foundation to get where I’m at,” Montgomery says. “I think engineering is one of the best undergraduate degree programs that anyone can pursue. Foundationally, it teaches you problem-solving skills that can be broadly applied to almost anywhere you go. I also learned solid research principles, and lab work was critical. You need both sides. There’s a lot of opportunity (at 91�Թ���). I’ve taken a more entrepreneurial approach (in my career), and I think 91�Թ��� really sets you up for that.”

As CHAPEA’s science officer, Montgomery draws on his engineering background to contribute expertise in LED lighting, robotics, controlled environment agriculture and embedded control systems.

Ahead of the mission’s scheduled Oct. 31 conclusion, Montgomery answered questions via video about life inside the habitat — and what it could mean for humanity’s future beyond Earth.

A Glimpse of Life on Mars

Why did you say yes to this mission?
When I read through the application, I really felt meant for this mission. It comes down to a simple answer: The researchers asked for help, and they had a worthy cause.

I think there’s a powerful lesson and reminder in there — when you’re pursuing lofty goals or reaching for the stars, you do need support. All you need to do is communicate your vision and ask for help. When you do, people show up and support you.

What does a routine day look like?
Our day-to-day life is similar to astronauts on the International Space Station and representative of what will be expected of Mars-surface astronauts: drone and rover operations, exercise testing, bio collections. Each day has a mix of standard items — resistance or cardio exercise, science and experiment work, crop care,  maintenance, ensuring you get your daily caloric intake goals met.

We also perform spacewalks, or extravehicular activities, in two forms: virtual reality (VR) or non-VR.

Outside the airlock, we have a simulated Mars surface with red regolith simulant. During non-VR spacewalks, we participate in surface equipment checks, maintenance, infrastructure builds, and a lot of science and geological-type tasks.

On VR spacewalks, we put on headsets and use treadmills that allow us to traverse much larger distances. Compared to the International Space Station, you might be doing spacewalks every day on Mars, and that tempo is something NASA isn’t used to. We need to gather data: Does that tempo start to affect cognition or physical performance?

When you are on the surface of these more remote environments, you’re going to want to use that time to not only survive, but gather data and increase the body of scientific knowledge.

How well did you pack for 378 days?
I consider myself a light packer, and I’ve learned you really don’t need a whole lot to get by. That way of life translated well into the mission.

I did bring some comforts. I’m glad I brought a buckwheat pillow. I find them really comfortable, especially when they’re broken in. I brought a good pair of headphones and a set of spudger tools.

We packed quite a few books. We have a nice library of music and movies. Owning a production company, I really enjoy film, and members of the crew are film fans, too.  It’s been something we’ve bonded over.

I wish I had brought a small mirror for my room. One of the other crew members brought high-quality microphones we could plug into different devices. It’s contributing to this interview.

In the end, there are four of us. When we come together, we have quite the spread and our bases covered.

How do you hope this mission will advance space exploration?
A lot has to come together to advance space research. The technical side is probably thought of first, but an important piece is the human aspect.

An important aspect of our mission is time-delayed communication. That’s something NASA has limited experience with but is looking to gain through experiments like this.

If we think about the ISS or the moon, they’re relatively close to the Earth, and [communication] is nearly instantaneous. But as we push farther out to Mars, that distance gets quite long. We have no [option for] instant [communication] like a phone call or video chat. A lot becomes written, and we have to account for the time it takes to send messages and receive responses.

Ultimately, all of this will hopefully create new processes, procedures and plans for surface missions where mission control isn’t quite as integrated with the crews.

What have you learned about yourself during this mission?
I should give myself a little grace and have a short memory. I’m driven to strive for really high-performing outputs, but in complex situations, especially on long-duration missions, you’re going to make mistakes and things aren’t going to go as planned. You need to assess those accurately, learn the lesson and move on.

The good part about a long-duration mission is there’s usually an opportunity to give something a go again. There’s a little comfort in that.

I’ve also learned I should trust myself a little more. When something doesn’t feel right or I’m feeling [drawn to] a particular course of action, I should dive in and pinpoint where that’s coming from. A few [times during] this mission, [doing that has] led to better outcomes.

What advice do you have for future Mars explorers?
Acquire a broad set of skills. I’m continually impressed by the crew’s breadth and depth of knowledge. When it’s just the four of you and you have to rely on yourself and each other, having that broad set of skills is incredibly important. You’ll be the ones solving problems, and that could be the difference between life and death and the success of the mission.

Foster a deep sense of inquisitiveness. You need to be present. Being [observant] might lead to new discoveries. It might also lead to preemptive measures that help your safety and success.

Check everything. That’s both good for data and good for safety.

Funded by the Department of War’s Joint Hypersonics Transition Office, the 91�Թ���-led project aims to develop and test a design for a dual-mode, liquid, rotating detonation engine at 91�Թ���’s brand-new Center of Excellence in Hypersonic and Space Propulsion (HyperSpace Center).

The project builds on previous 91�Թ��� research and may improve energy efficiency and reduce costs for commercial space access and transatlantic travel.

The research is in its early stages, but Ahmed says he’s hopeful this transformative technology will be realized over the course of the project.

“In simple terms, it could propel you at Mach 5 and above.”

“In simple terms, it could propel you at Mach 5 and above,” he says. “It will work like an aircraft engine that ingests air but transitions into a rocket engine that could take you to space or at faster speeds and bring you back into air mode propulsion again.”

Continuing to advance the emerging field of hypersonic travel and build upon previous successes is something Ahmed is looking forward to with his dual-mode detonation engine research.

Ahmed’s proposed engine technology may lend itself to making hypersonic travel possible – meaning that transatlantic travel may be possible in a fraction of the time it takes for conventional aircraft.

“We have significant plans of using that technology for hypersonic travel and other initiatives, reducing cost for commercial space access and making transatlantic travel quicker.”

“We’re very excited about this program because it builds up a lot of the capabilities that we have at the lab with exploring detonation-based propulsion, where we could drive high energy efficiency propelling you at faster speeds and functioning in different modes,” he says. “We have significant plans of using that technology for hypersonic travel and other initiatives, reducing cost for commercial space access and making transatlantic travel quicker.”

For this project, 91�Թ��� is collaborating with researchers at the University of Michigan, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Raytheon Technologies and Pratt & Whitney.

Researcher’s Credentials
Ahmed joined 91�Թ���’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, part of 91�Թ���’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, in 2014. He is also a faculty member of the Center for Advanced Turbomachinery, Director of the Center of Excellence in Hypersonic and Space Propulsion (HYPERSPACE Center) and the director of the Propulsion and Energy Research Laboratory. He served more than three years as a senior aero/thermo engineer at Pratt & Whitney military engines working on advanced engine programs and technologies.

He also served as a faculty member at Old Dominion University and Florida State University. At 91�Թ���, he is leading research in propulsion and energy with applications for power generation and gas-turbine engines, propulsion-jet engines, hypersonics and fire safety, as well as research related to supernova science and COVID-19 transmission control. He earned his doctoral degree in mechanical engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He is a DoD Distinguished Faculty Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics associate fellow, and a U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory and Office of Naval Research faculty fellow.

We are America’s Space University. And we celebrate 91�Թ��� Space Week to honor our origin as we dare to build what’s next.

Where Global Leaders Unite to Forge the Future of Space

Whether it’s solving the world’s biggest problems or investigating the potential of novel discoveries, researchers at 91�Թ��� are on the edge of scientific breakthroughs that aim to make an impact. Through the , student and faculty researchers condense their complex studies into bite-sized summaries so you can know how and why Knights plan to improve our world.

Name: Hansjorg Schwertz, M.D., Ph.D.

Position(s): Assistant professor of aerospace medicine; associate director for translational aerospace medicine research at the 91�Թ��� Center for Aerospace and Extreme Environments Medicine (CASEEM)

Why are you interested in this research?
We study some of the smallest and most overlooked cells in the blood. Platelets are famous for stopping bleeding and forming blood clots, but they also talk to the immune system, help initiate and control inflammation, and play roles in conditions from infection to cancer. They are made by much larger cells in the bone marrow called megakaryocytes, which grow to an enormous size, pack themselves with the machinery for making proteins, and then extend long, branching arms from which thousands of platelets are released. What makes these cells especially intriguing to us is that platelets have no nucleus, yet they carry RNA blueprints and can finish processing them and build new proteins when they are activated. Understanding that hidden layer of platelet behavior has been the thread of our work for years.

During spaceflight, astronauts experience changes in blood clotting and immune regulation, and surprisingly little is known about what happens to megakaryocytes and platelets during a mission. That gap is what drew us in. I should be clear that this is not my research. It is our laboratory’s research, carried forward by many hands. We all run the experiments — technicians, students and collaborators — and often analyze the data through nights and weekends. The flight experiment on the International Space Station was simply the next question we got to ask together.

Who inspires you to conduct your research?
Family comes first: My wife and our daughters are my inspiration, my support and honestly my drivers. They push me and motivate me on the days when experiments fail, which is most days in research. I also want to show them, by example rather than words, that everything is possible if you are willing to work for it.

My mentors are the other half of the answer: Guy Zimmerman and Andy Weyrich at the University of Utah. They taught me how to do science, but more importantly how to treat people in science. Whatever our laboratory accomplishes rests on what they built, and the fact that our collaborations are still active says a lot about the kind of environment they created.

Furthermore, the students — whether I am talking to schoolchildren or university students — watching someone encounter the beauty of megakaryocytes and platelets for the first time is a reminder that the work matters beyond the laboratory.

And finally, within the MOON study itself, [University of Utah researchers and collaborators] Marina Tristao and Neal Tolley are the core team. We do the heavy lifting as a team, and none of this flies without them.

How does 91�Թ��� empower you to do your research?
91�Թ��� has built something rare: a Division of Aerospace Medicine whose research goal is to understand how microgravity, radiation, and isolation affect the human body, and to turn that knowledge into better care for people in space and on Earth. As a tenure-track faculty member in the division and associate director for translational aerospace medicine research at the Center for Aerospace and Extreme Environments Medicine, I have an institutional home that is committed to exactly this kind of work. “Translational” is a word I care about: it means the path from a cell in a dish to an astronaut on orbit to a patient in a hospital should be short, and 91�Թ��� is organized around making it short.

Just as important, 91�Թ��� lets the collaboration continue. The MOON study began at the University of Utah and depends on partners there, on BioServe Space Technologies, whose hardware keeps our cells alive on orbit, and on the astronauts who perform the experiments themselves. Being able to keep that team together while growing new collaborations here is the real empowerment.

What major grants and honors have you earned to support your research?
The MOON study is supported by a NASA research award, and our laboratory has been fortunate to receive support over the years from the Volkswagen Foundation through a Lichtenberg Professorship, the German Research Foundation, the American Heart Association, and others. I say “our laboratory” deliberately because grants are written by teams and carried out by teams, and the funding belongs to the work, not to one person.

The honors I have received, including young investigator awards from the thrombosis and hemostasis community early in my career and fellowship in the occupational and aerospace medicine colleges more recently, mean the most as recognition of the mentors who trained me and the colleagues who did the work alongside me.

Why is this research important?
Because astronauts’ blood changes in space, and one of the more sobering possibilities is an increased risk of blood clots on long missions. We do not yet completely understand why, because no one has watched the cells that control clotting — the megakaryocytes and platelets — develop and function over the course of a spaceflight. Our experiment was the first to grow megakaryocytes on the International Space Station, and by comparing those cultures with blood samples taken from crew members before and after flight, we hope to connect what we see in a dish to what actually happens in a person.

Whatever comes of it will be a team accomplishment in the fullest sense: our laboratory on the ground, Marina, Neal, and myself running the experiments, collaborators in Utah, the engineers who built the hardware, and the astronauts who gave their time and their blood. If the findings help protect crews heading to the moon and Mars, that is the goal. And because the same cells misbehave in sepsis and clotting disorders here on Earth, there is a good chance the work helps patients who will never leave the ground.

Florida’s wildlife is closely connected to the environments it has inhabited for generations. But as temperatures rise and rainfall patterns shift, those conditions are changing, creating new challenges for species across the state.

For white-tailed deer and Florida panthers, those challenges may look very different. Southern deer populations could face greater pressure as rising temperatures and shifting water conditions alter their habitat, while Florida panthers’ limited genetic variety may restrict their ability to respond to future environmental change.

“The main goal is putting this research on … the radar for wildlife managers so they can use it to implement conservation measures. ” — George Zaragoza ’26PhD, postdoctoral scholar

Research conducted by 91�Թ��� College of Sciences postdoctoral scholar George Zaragoza ’26PhD combines genomic data with habitat suitability models to examine how suitable habitats may change and whether individual populations have the genetic variety and adaptive potential needed to respond.

The research revealed a latitudinal pattern among Florida’s white-tailed deer, with southeastern populations more vulnerable than those farther north. For Florida panthers, the concern is their low genetic variety and limited adaptive potential despite a genetic rescue program in the 1990s.

“The main goal is putting this research on these interconnected species on the radar for wildlife managers so they can use it to implement conservation measures that will help these species thrive in the future,” says Zaragoza, who earned a doctorate in integrative conservation biology at 91�Թ���.

South Florida Deer Face a Hotter, Drier Future

The greatest concerns for white-tailed deer are concentrated in South Florida and the greater Everglades, where projections indicate increasingly dry conditions over the next 50 to 100 years.

“The ecology of the South Everglades relies a lot on water dynamics and how populations respond to higher or lower water levels,” Zaragoza says.

For deer, those changes can affect the plants they rely on for food.

“If water levels are lower than historically expected, those nutrient-rich food sources may become less available,” he says. “Too much water can create a different challenge by making low-lying areas unreachable to deer.”

Central and northern Florida deer populations are projected to face similar conditions, though the shift is expected to be less pronounced than in South Florida.

Genetics Reveal How Deer Are Adapted to Their Environment

Zaragoza’s research also examined genetic characteristics that may help explain how Florida deer have adapted to their environments.

Two genes of particular interest related to circadian rhythm are THADA, associated with metabolism and thermoregulation, and PROK2, associated with the timing of nocturnal activity.

Zaragoza says the findings may point to a role in regulating seasonal metabolic energy use and reproduction-related physiological processes.

“There are consistently these sort of genes that are involved in the timing of these physiological processes that have to do with how deer are storing energy,” Zaragoza says.

Zaragoza also identified genes associated with immune processes more often than expected by chance. This may be particularly important in Florida, where deer are exposed to a wide range of viruses, including those transmitted by arthropod vectors such as ticks, mosquitoes and biting flies.

The research may also help explain why Florida deer have a different reproductive timeline than populations farther north. Differences in sunlight, temperature and other environmental conditions may have contributed to adaptations in these cycles.

Florida Panthers Face a Different Challenge

For Florida panthers, the primary concern is whether the species has enough genetic variety to respond to future environmental conditions.

The population experienced a severe genetic bottleneck, leading to a genetic rescue program in the 1990s that introduced Texas pumas into the Florida population.

While subsequent research has shown that Florida panthers remain a distinct population, Zaragoza’s research indicates that genetic variation remains low.

“With limited genetic variation, Florida panthers have limited adaptive potential, especially as their habitat is also threatened,” he says. “It highlights the importance of suitable habitat and ensuring that it remains for the future.”

The research identified genetic variants involved in regulatory processes, including how and when genes are expressed. While this does not provide direct evidence of epigenetic mechanisms, it raises questions about whether epigenetic mechanisms could contribute to the panthers’ ability to respond to environmental changes despite their limited genetic variety.

“If a population with low genetic variation is able to use these epigenetic mechanisms to respond to future change, then that gives that population another potential way to adapt to future change that we’d like to better understand,” Zaragoza says.

For now, habitat protection remains particularly important for the species. Some South Florida habitats remain at risk of development or conversion, including in protected areas and wildlife refuges.

Connecting Genetics and Habitat

A central part of Zaragoza’s research brings together two types of information often studied separately: genetics and ecology.

By comparing projected changes in suitable habitat with genetics and adaptive potential, researchers can begin to prioritize populations based on vulnerability.

A population experiencing a substantial shift in suitable habitat may be better positioned to respond if it has high genetic variation and adaptive potential. Conversely, a population facing a similar environmental shift but lacking genetic variation could be at greater risk.

Zaragoza says this approach could give wildlife managers another tool for making decisions about Florida’s wildlife.

“There has been some work before, but especially in terms of environmental change, there really haven’t been these vulnerability assessments done with white-tailed deer and Florida panthers in the past,” Zaragoza says.

Making this information accessible could help managers identify populations that may need additional support, minimize habitat loss and consider strategies to protect vulnerable species.

An Integrative Approach to Conservation

For Zaragoza, the work also demonstrates the value of combining disciplines to answer complex conservation questions.

“There are so many tools and technologies available that really help us merge ecology and genetics into more of an integrative perspective,” Zaragoza says.

For him, understanding wildlife is ultimately about using science and technology to improve humanity’s relationship with the natural world.

“It comes down to realizing that we’re part of this greater ecosystem and we have a responsibility to steward it,” Zaragoza says.