Earth’s Moon
Osiris Rex
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
Upsilon Andromedae B
Kuiper Belt
Click on each planetary object to learn how 激情快播 researchers are involved.
Knights In Space
Since our beginnings in 1963 as one of America鈥檚 first 鈥渟pace universities,鈥 激情快播 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.
Since our beginnings in 1963 as one of America鈥檚 first 鈥渟pace universities,鈥 激情快播 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 激情快播 researchers are involved
Mercury
Messenger
Researcher: Todd Bradley, principal investigator for Planetary Mission Data Analysis Program grant
Objective: To learn more about the thin exosphere of Mercury, the smallest and swiftest planet in our solar system
Status: In progress
Earth’s Moon
Resource Prospector
Researcher: Philip Metzger, cooperating scientist
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
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
Asteroid
Researchers: Humberto Campins, co-investigator, and Yan Fernandez, contributing scientist
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
Mars
Curiosity
Researcher: Daniel Britt
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)
Jupiter
Galileo
Researcher: Ramon Lugo, NASA engineer
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
Saturn
Cassini
Researcher: Joshua Colwell, co-investigator
Objective: To observe, analyze and interpret data from Saturn鈥檚 rings using an ultraviolet imaging spectrograph.
Status: To be completed September 2017
Uranus
Voyager 2
Researcher: Joshua Colwell, science team member
Objective: To study the structure, origin and history of the rings of Uranus and Neptune.
Status: Completed
Neptune
Voyager 2
Researcher: , science team member
Objective: To study the structure, origin and history of the rings of Uranus and Neptune.
Status: Completed
Pluto
Researcher: Alan Stern, principal investigator
Objective: To study the surface composition, atmosphere and temperature of the icy dwarf planet Pluto and its moon Charon.
Status: In progress
Kuiper Belt
Researchers: Alan Stern, principal investigator, and , science team member
Objective: To study the solar system鈥檚 outskirts and discover how ice dwarf planets have evolved over time.
Status: In progress
Upsilon Andromedae B
Spitzer Exoplanet Targets of Opportunity Program
Researcher: Joseph Harrington, principal investigator
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