Welcome to the University of Central Florida College of Medicine’s Aerospace Medicine Program, designed to pioneer research, education, and clinical services in the rapidly evolving domains of aviation, space, and extreme environments medicine. With a multidisciplinary approach, this program is committed to advancing human health and performance in both space and terrestrial environments.
Advancing Space Medicine
Understanding Radiation Exposure Effects
Traveling to the moon — which humans haven’t returned to since 1972 — means astronauts will go beyond Earth’s Van Allen belts, which protect humans from cosmic radiation and solar storms. Space travelers to the International Space Station stay within Earth’s magnetic field. During their 10-day mission, Artemis II is anticipated to break Apollo 13’s record (248,655 miles) for the farthest distance humans have traveled from Earth.
Artemis crew members will carry dosimeters in their pockets that measure radiation exposure in real time. Monitors inside the Orion spacecraft will also gather radiation information throughout the flight for future analysis.
More Mission Advancements
America’s Space University
From cutting-edge research platforms responsive to our nation’s space program needs to the development of novel and multidisciplinary education programs, we stand at the forefront of this dynamic field.
Strategically located near the nation’s major launch and landing facilities, our program collaborates closely with commercial spaceflight partners, government, and academia to address the most critical medical challenges of current and future space missions while shaping the next generation of aerospace medicine professionals.
As a university, UCF was born to support the space program and the College of Medicine is continuing that mission with its focus on aerospace medicine. Through research and education, UCF faculty and students are looking at how spaceflight affects humans – and bring those health discoveries to those of us on Earth.
Learn More About UCF Aerospace & DefenseAerospace medicine News
When NASA launches its latest voyage to the International Space Station on May 12, it…
Hours before Artemis II splashed down safely into the Pacific Ocean on April 10, UCF researchers, university…
NASA’s upcoming Artemis II launch will witness astronauts orbiting the moon for the first time…
UCF’s leading space medicine experts, valued strategic partners and an astronaut who holds NASA’s record…
After 20 years of leading UCF’s College of Medicine and advancing the university’s clinical efforts, Dr. Deborah…
The University of Central Florida College of Medicine is charting a new frontier in healthcare…
Medicine In Space
Dr. Emmanuel Urquieta is an internationally recognized space medicine expert who leads our research on the health impacts of space travel with an emphasis on addressing these issues as more people go into space.