Knights In Space

Click on each planetary object to learn how 麻豆映画传媒 researchers are involved.

Knights in Space

Since our beginnings in 1963 as one of America鈥檚 first 鈥渟pace universities,鈥� 麻豆映画传媒 researchers have focused their attention beyond our Central Florida skies to investigate cosmic mysteries about nearly every planet in the solar system, plus a few other celestial objects.

Tap on an item below to see how 麻豆映画传媒 researchers are involved

Mercury

Messenger

Researcher: Todd Bradley, principal investigator for Planetary Mission Data Analysis Program grant

Todd Bradley Associate scientist at Florida Space Institute (FSI)

Objective: To learn more about the thin exosphere of Mercury, the smallest and swiftest planet in our solar system

Status: In progress

Image of Mercury, acquired by the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS) aboard NASA's MESSENGER mission on April 23, 2013 — This image of Mercury, acquired by the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS) aboard NASA’s MESSENGER mission on April 23, 2013, provides a more detailed view of Mercury’s surface. (Image Courtesy of NASA)

Earth’s Moon

Resource Prospector

Researcher: Philip Metzger, cooperating scientist

Philip Metzger Associate in planetary science research at FSI

Objective: To examine the soil on the moon鈥檚 poles in order to excavate potential resources including hydrogen, oxygen and water.

Status: Planning

Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute

Researcher: Adrienne Dove, co-investigator

Adrienne Dove Assistant professor of planetary science

Objective: To understand the dynamics of dust on and near the lunar surface to prepare for future manned and unmanned missions to the moon and asteroids.

Status: In progress

Artist's concept of NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer spacecraft in orbit above the moon — Artist’s concept of NASA’s Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer spacecraft in orbit above the moon as dust scatters light during the lunar sunset.

Asteroid

OSIRIS-REx

Researchers: Humberto Campins, co-investigator, and Yan Fernandez, contributing scientist

Humberto Campins Pegasus Professor of planetary science

Yan Fernandez Associate professor of planetary science

Objective: To send a spacecraft to the asteroid Bennu, one of the oldest in the solar system, and bring back samples to analyze.

Status: In progress

Artist's rendering of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft as it approaches the asteroid Bennu. — Artist’s rendering of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft as it approaches the asteroid Bennu. (Image courtesy of NASA)

Mars

Curiosity

Researcher: Daniel Britt

Daniel Britt Professor of planetary science

Objective: To develop and build radiometric calibration targets that enable scientists to 鈥渟ee鈥� Mars colors as they are on Earth.

Status: In progress (have been used on every Mars rover)

Self-portrait of NASA's Curiosity rover. — This self-portrait of NASA’s Curiosity rover shows the vehicle at the “Mojave” site. (Image courtesy of NASA)

Jupiter

Galileo

Researcher: Ramon Lugo, NASA engineer

Ramon Lugo 鈥�79 Director of FSI

Objective: To measure the atmosphere of Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system, and observe the planet and its moons from orbit.

Status: Completed

Rendering of Galileo orbiter — As it arrived at Jupiter on December 7, 1995, NASA’s Galileo orbiter received a stream of data transmissions 鈥� represented by the blue dots in this artist’s depiction 鈥� from the atmospheric probe that was descending through Jupiter’s clouds. (Image courtesy of NASA)

Saturn

Cassini

Researcher: Joshua Colwell, co-investigator

Joshua Colwell Professor of planetary science and assistant director of FSI

Objective: To observe, analyze and interpret data from Saturn鈥檚 rings using an ultraviolet imaging spectrograph.

Status: To be completed September 2017

Image of Saturn's rings — Most planetary rings appear to be shaped, at least in part, by moons orbiting their planets, but nowhere is that more evident than in Saturn’s F ring. (Image courtesy of NASA)

Uranus

Voyager 2

Researcher: Joshua Colwell, science team member

Joshua Colwell Professor of planetary science and assistant director of FSI

Objective: To study the structure, origin and history of the rings of Uranus and Neptune.

Status: Completed

Image of Uranus rings — Backlit view shows continuous distribution of fine particles throughout ring system. (Image courtesy of NASA)

Neptune

Voyager 2

Researcher: , science team member

Joshua Colwell Professor of planetary science and assistant director of FSI

Objective: To study the structure, origin and history of the rings of Uranus and Neptune.

Status: Completed

Image of Neptune's rings. — Detail of Neptune’s rings. (Image courtesy of NASA)

Pluto

New Horizons

Researcher: Alan Stern, principal investigator

Alan Stern Chief scientist at FSI

Objective: To study the surface composition, atmosphere and temperature of the icy dwarf planet Pluto and its moon Charon.

Status: In progress

Kuiper Belt

New Horizons

Researchers: Alan Stern, principal investigator, and , science team member

Alan Stern Chief scientist at FSI

Daniel Britt Professor of planetary science

Objective: To study the solar system鈥檚 outskirts and discover how ice dwarf planets have evolved over time.

Status: In progress

Image of the dark side of Pluto — NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft capture this image of the dark side of Pluto. (Image courtesy of NASA)

Upsilon Andromedae B

Spitzer Exoplanet Targets of Opportunity Program

Researcher: Joseph Harrington, principal investigator

Joseph Harrington Professor of planetary science

Objective: To measure the chemistry and temperature of the atmosphere of exoplanets, which are planets that orbit stars other than the sun.

Status: In progress