MERRIT ISLAND, Fla. – Officials marked a significant milestone Wednesday with the launch of the Florida University Space Research Consortium, a partnership between three universities and the Kennedy Space Center that aims to enhance space research and technology capabilities.
The collaboration between the University of Florida, the University of Central Florida, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, marks the first time a NASA center has been affiliated with a university consortium, providing Kennedy Space Center with the opportunity to enhance its research and technology capabilities to meet NASA needs, according to the Director of Kennedy Space Center Janet Petro.
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“This symbiotic partnership makes way for collaborative research opportunities and increased exposure to advanced technology, significantly enhancing NASA’s research output in fields such as aerospace engineering, material science, robotics and environmental science, all of which are necessary for long-term human exploration as we learn to live and work deeper into space than ever before,” Petro said.
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Petro said this partnership will provide students with unique opportunities to expand their knowledge and experience before entering the workforce.
“It can also impact how students learn, potentially influencing the development of a new academic program in participating universities while providing students internship and cooperative education opportunities with hands-on experience in aerospace and related fields,” Petro said.
During the news conference, Gov. Ron DeSantis highlighted Florida’s leadership in space, saying there’s a projected annual economic impact of $1.1 billion.
“So hopefully we’ll have more universities that will be brought to bear on this. So this is one of its kind in the country. No one else has done this,” DeSantis said. “It just shows that Florida is committed to leading and continuing to make great progress on the issues that really matter to a lot of people.”
DeSantis also said there is an “interest” in moving the NASA headquarters from Washington to the Kennedy Space Center.
“Hopefully, with the new administration coming in, they’ll see a great opportunity to just headquarter NASA here on the Space Coast of Florida,” DeSantis said.
In November 2024, Space Florida’s Board of Directors designated the Florida University Space Research Consortium as the state’s official space research entity, which will facilitate the awarding of NASA research grants in partnership with the Kennedy Space Center.