Talk:Florida Space Institute

Proposal to Add/Revise Content

• What I think should be changed (include citations):

Replace:

"The Florida Space Institute (FSI) is a research institute of the State University System of Florida and the University of Central Florida located in Orlando, Florida, United States.

FSI is currently led by Interim Director Dr. Julie Brisset."

with:

Since 1996, Florida Space Institute (FSI) has been an organization within the State University System of Florida and the University of Central Florida (UCF), located in Orlando, Florida, United States. FSI consists of researchers, educators, and staff from member universities in Florida who support space research, development, and educational activities. We conduct research and design projects in a number of planetary science areas such as asteroids to propulsion technologies for high-Mach aerospace vehicles and studying the origin of planets and Earth’s upper atmosphere. We also participate in space missions like NASA’s Explorer program, the JWST, next-gen suborbital flights, and high-altitude rocket launches. Additionally, FSI assists in the development of the civil, defense, and commercial space economy in Florida.

FSI is currently led by Interim Director Dr. Julie Brisset.

In History section replace:

"The Florida Space Institute, previously the Space Education and Research Center created in 1990 by UCF, was established in 1996 as a research institute within the State University System of Florida. In 2012, the institute moved from the Kennedy Space Center to the Central Florida Research Park at UCF. The move coincided with the end of the Space Shuttle program in 2011."

with:

Previously known as the Space Education and Research Center, established in 1990 by UCF, the Florida Space Institute was created in 1996 within the State University System of Florida as a research institute. Coinciding with the end of the Space Shuttle Program in 2011, FSI moved to the Central Florida Research Park at UCF from the Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, FL.

Add section Former Directors after History:

Add sub-section Ramon Lugo III (2013-2021):

Ramon Lugo III was the most recent director of the Florida Space Institute. He earned his bachelor's degree in Engineering and a master's degree in Engineering Management from the University of Central Florida in 1979 and the Florida Institute of Technology in 1982, respectively.

While still a student at UCF, Lugo III started his career with NASA in 1975. Over a period of many years, he served as the Executive Director of the Cape Canaveral Spaceport Management Office, Director and Deputy Director of the Expandable Launch Vehicle Services Program, Manager of the Facilities and Support Equipment Division in the Space Station Program Office, and as Chief of the Joint Performance Management Office. In April 2010, he was named the Director of the Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to being selected as the Director of FSI, he served as the facility's Deputy Director from 2007 - 2013.

Add sub-section Alan Stern (2011-2013):

Alan Stern served for two years as the director of the Florida Space Institute. Although a relatively short period of time, his stewardship of the program was nonetheless impactful and significant.

Stern received his bachelor's degrees in Physics & Astronomy and his master's degrees in Aerospace Engineering and Planetary Atmospheres from the University of Texas, Austin. He continued his education and earned a doctorate in Astrophysics and Planetary Science from the University of Colorado, Boulder. From 1991 to 1994 he served as both the leader of Southwest Research Institute's Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences group and was chair of NASA's Outer Planets Science Working Group. After this, from 1994 to 1998 he was the leader of the Geophysical, Astrophysical, and Planetary Science section in Southwest Research Institute's Space Sciences Department, and from 1998 to 2005 he was the director of the Department of Space Studies at Southwest Research Institute.

           In 2007, Stern had the distinction of being listed as one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in The World. Stern was elected to the Board of Directors of the Challenger Center for Space Science Education on August 27, 2008. In 2015, Stern was the recipient of Smithsonian Magazine's American Ingenuity Award in the Physical Sciences category. Most recently, Stern was inducted into the Colorado Space Hall of Fame in October 2016.

Add sub-section Jaydeep Mukherjee (2006-2011):

Dr. Jaydeep Mukherjee is the current Director of the NASA Florida Space Grant Consortium. An association comprised of seventeen public and private Florida Universities and colleges (led by the University of Central Florida and administered by the Florida Space Institute), the Consortium also includes all of Florida’s community colleges, as well as the Astronaut Memorial Foundation, Space Florida, Kennedy Space Center, and Orlando Science Center.

Dr. Mukherjee earned his bachelor’s degree in Physics from St. Xaviers College, Mumbai, a master’s degree in Physics from Mumbai University (University of Mumbai), India, and his M.S and Ph.D. degrees in Astronomy from the University of Florida. His accolades include being the Administrator of the NASA Florida Space Grant Consortium (FSGC) at the University of Florida before becoming the Director of NASA FSGC at the University of Central Florida, located at the Kennedy Space Center.

Dr. Mukherjee was a member of the 2003 Radio JOVE team that received the Group Achievement Award from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center for excellence in outreach. A decade prior to that, in 1993, he was awarded the Kerrick Prize by the Astronomy Department at the University of Florida for his commitment to the education of the public and to their understanding of Astronomy.

Between 2006-2011, he was the Director of the Florida Space Institute. From 2006 to 2014, he also served as the Chair of the Southeast Regional Space Grant, which is comprised of 10 southeast states, and was a member of the Board of Directors of the National Space Grant Foundation from 2006 to 2008 and again from 2012 to 2013. In 2011 the National Education Society of India presented him with the 2011 National Eminence Award.

Currently, Dr. Mukherjee is serving on the Board of Directors of the National Space Grant Alliance and is a member of the Commercial Space Operation Advisory Panel at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He has one book publication, titled Close Binary Stars: A Pictorial Atlas, co-authored by Dr. Robert Wilson and Dr. Dirk Terrell.

Add sub-section: Ronald L. Phillips (1996-2006):

Dr. Ronald L. Phillips was the first director of the Florida Space Institute. His specialization and research areas are propagation through random media, optical communications, laser radar, and imaging through atmospheric turbulence. To pursue these studies, he holds a BS in Electrical Engineering, an MS in Electrical Engineering, an MA in Mathematics, and a Ph.D. in engineering from Arizona State University.  He served as director from 1996 to 2006.

Dr. Phillips worked with the British Ministry of Defense via a Senior NATO Postdoctoral Fellowship awarded to him by the National Science Foundation in 1977. In 1983, the American Society for Engineering Education awarded him the Medal for Outstanding Contributions in Research out of all academic disciplines in all engineering schools in the southeast United States. In 1983 and 1985 Dr. Phillips was honored with the College of Engineering Outstanding Researcher of the Year award as well as having the distinction of being the University Researcher of the Year in 1985. In 1996, Lawton Chiles bestowed Dr. Phillips the Explorer Award by the Governor of Florida for outstanding contributions to education in the space industry. In 1997, he was awarded the UCF Professional Excellence Award and the University Leadership Award for sustained leadership. Dr. Phillips leaves a decorated legacy which includes his tenure at the Florida Space Institute.

Capitalize section "Partner Institutions"

Capitalize sub-section "Educational Partners"

Capitalize sub-section "Government Partners"

Change "Corporate Partner" subsection to "Corporate and Non-Profit Partners"

Under "Corporate and Non-Profit Partners" sub-section, change "Yang Enterprises" to "Yang Enterprises, inc. (YEI)"

Under "Corporate and Non-Profit Partners" sub-section, add:

·      Jet Propulsion Lab

·      SpaceX

·      Blue Origin

·      Masten Space Systems

·      Shackleton Energy Company

·      Deep Space Industries

·      Planetary Resources

·      Made In Space

·      Astrobotic Technologies

·      Cislune Company

·      CFD Research Corporation

·      Truventic LLC

·      United Launch Alliance

Under section Science, add sub-section Dust, Rings, and Origin:

Research on the collision behavior of dust that enables particle collisional behavior and planet formation in an environment similar to the environment of rings (microgravity, with a regolith coating on larger particles).

Researchers: Dr. Julie Brisset, Dr. Josh Colwell, Dr. Addie Dove, Dr. Todd Bradley

Add sub-section Extraterrestrial Soil Mechanics:

The use of computer modeling, experiments, and interpreting observational data of planetary bodies to study regolith mechanics. With computer simulations, the characteristics of regolith can be studied during the compaction of soil as it vibrates, the flow of heat and vapor through regolith, asteroid impacts, and thermal cycles, to name a few.

Researchers:  Dr. Julie Brisset, Dr. Josh Colwell, Mike Conroy, Dr. Addie Dove, Dr. Zoe Landsman, Dr. Phil Metzger, Dr. Dhaka Sapkota

Add sub-section Space Resources:

Spaces resources such as water and oxygen can be found in all the minerals on Mars, the Moon, and asteroids. Before we can use these resources, we need to develop tools and missions to explore and prospect in order to gain an excellent understanding of their physics and geology. We must also create technologies that will effectively and efficiently mine, beneficiate, and process these resources.

Researchers: Dr. Phil Metzger, Dr. Dhaka Sapkota,  Anna Metke, Dr. Dan Britt, Dr. Chris Bennett, Dr. Julie Brisset, Dr. Zoe Landsman, Dr. Addie Dove

Add sub-section Human Space Exploration:

The dynamic integration of essential information—experimental validation of radiation protection methods, predicting real-time radiation dose and observing crew exposure, characterizing space environment—in a systemic way that will enable and enhance the success of space missions and crew operations.

Researcher: Dr. Esther Beltrán

Add sub-section Observation of Small Bodies in the Solar System:

To best understand how planetary systems are formed in other stars, the physical nature of small bodies must be more deeply studied. Insight into the distribution, formation, and evolution of small bodies will relay larger pieces of critical information in the understanding of our own solar system's formation and evolution.

Space missions and observational pursuits are a requirement to continue understanding and improving research on small celestial bodies. Efforts from ground- and space-based telescopes play a critical role in this endeavor. These telescopes are able to provide information on the physical and chemical characteristics of the interior of these bodies e.g., thermal properties, surface composition, particle size, and albedo, among other properties. Continued and improved observations also provide context and support to the theoretical models and numerical simulations that better explain the beginnings of our Solar System.  

Researchers: Dr. Noemi Pinilla-Alonso, Dr. Mario De Pra, Dr. Estela Fernandez-Valenzuela, Dr. Charles Schambeau, Dr. Ana Carolina De Souza Feliciano, Dr. Flaviane Venditti, Dr. Maxime Devogele, Dr. Sean Marshall, Dr. Anna McGilvray, Dr. Flaviane Venditti, Dr. Luisa Fernanda Zambrano-Marin

Add sub-section Energy and Propulsion:

The production of biorenewable fuels is currently a topic of intense investigation. However, fuels are commodity chemicals that must be made as cheaply as possible and in large quantities to realize profit from them. Petroleum remains a relatively inexpensive commodity and biofuels face a significant pricing disadvantage. In order to lower the costs associated with biofuels, the components of woody biomass (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) and algae (polysaccharides and protein) must be examined with an eye toward converting them into simple molecules that can be used in exogenic reactions more easily thus serving as efficient fuels

Researchers: Dr. Richard Blair

Remove sub-section Arecibo Observatory and its content.

After section Publications, add section Education and Public Outreach:

Add sub-section NASA Florida Space Grant Consortium (FSGC):

The NASA Florida Space Grant Consortium (FSGC) serves over 19 million people, including 1.1. million college and university students. FSGC provides opportunities for students to participate in inter-disciplinary hands-on activities that begin the initial preparation for becoming future leaders in the space industry and innovative space organizations. By providing space-related internships, fellowships, and scholarships; creating more STEM awareness, education, literacy, and excellence in Florida’s public and private educational systems, workforce, and public; supporting research opportunities and academic-NASA-industry partnerships, FSGC is fulfilling its mission to bolster Florida’s space economy and supplement NASA Educational Outcomes.

Add sub-section FSI Student Design:

The FSI Student Design program combines elements of NASA, industry, and the Florida Space Institute’s (FSI) technical needs with UCF program requirements. Through this program, students and FSI employees work together to create Senior Design and Capstone projects suitable for Single and Multi-Discipline Engineering Teams. Although projects can vary, the ideal project is suitable for student execution while still meeting university academic requirements (for Senior Design). The project will provide mentorship needs and is aligned with larger FSI and NASA visions and needs. This unique program provides students with dynamic and relevant developmental experience to better launch their careers.

• Why it should be changed:

Update information about the Florida Space Institute and include more details.

• References supporting the possible change (format using the "cite" button):

AlexMBrown (talk) 01:25, 14 July 2022 (UTC)

 Not done for now: A few issues:

• Proposed lead should not be written in first person.
• Information on directors should be relevant to the Institute, not general biographical information.
• Proposed sub-sections on specific areas of research should give details about the Institute's contributions to the field, not a description of the field and a personnel list.
• Proposed section on NASA grant should detail the Institute's participation in the Grant, not a general description of the grant.
• Some sources, such as the about/#partners link, do not provide information to support the statement the reference is attached to. WelpThatWorked (talk) 19:42, 14 July 2022 (UTC)

References