Relive the Excitement of UCF Space Week 2026

Born from the challenge of the Space Race, UCF was created to transform imagination into innovation and prepare people to launch humanity beyond its limits.

UCF Space Week celebrates this mission annually by welcoming global space leaders, researchers, students, partners, and fans to campus for collaboration, discovery, and the development of Florida's growing space economy.

Take a look back at some of the standout sights and celebrations from UCF Space Week 2026.

(Photo by Antoine Hart)

Knightro brought SpaceU spirit to the Celeste Hotel, welcoming industry partners gathered for UCF Space Week 2026.

Students take in the UCF John C. Hitt Library's From Orbit to Archives exhibition. (Photo by Brooke Morris '22)

UCF Libraries hosted several events, special programs and multiple exhibitions built from University Archives and Special Collections in celebration of UCF Space Week 2026.

One exhibit in the Digital Exploration Center's Immersion Studio, curated by graduate research assistant Eric Thompson '19, brought six decades of UCF, United States and international space history and culture beyond the archives and into visitors' hands.

(Photo by Antoine Hart)

The inaugural UCF Innovate Day showcased how UCF transforms research into impact through entrepreneurship, technology commercialization and strategic partnerships. During the event, representatives from the City of Orlando and Orange County government presented UCF with a special proclamation honoring UCF Space Week.

(Photo by Antoine Hart)

A featured panel during UCF Innovate Day brought together (from left) moderator Ben Patz '85MS, co-founder and general managing partner of DeepWork Capital; Joe Sleppy '18, CEO of Capacitech Energy; Guifang Li, UCF professor of optics and photonics; Jason Eichenholz '95MS '98PhD; Melanie Coathup, a professor in UCF's College of Medicine; and Jonathan Reyes '15 '17MS '19PhD, CEO of Halo Engines.

(Photo by Antoine Hart)

UCF's Florida Space Institute and its Exolith Lab hosted NASA's Lunabotics Challenge. The Exolith Lab is home to the world's largest simulated lunar surface, where NASA tests rovers and equipment for upcoming moon missions. Get an inside look at a facility tour from Exolith Lab Chief Engineer Max Kuehn '22.

Salma Tujjar (left) talks with Rosen College of Hospitality Management students at the fall career fair. (Photo by Nick Leyva '15)

UCF's Rosen College of Hospitality Management hosted its fall career fair, which welcomed some of the world's top companies, including Pegasus Partner Universal Orlando Resort, Marriott International, Walt Disney World Resort's Swan and Dolphin Resort, and SpaceX.

(Photo by Dana Weisman)

Drone shows on UCF's main campus and at Acrisure Bounce House commemorated UCF's identity as America's Space University, including a special show presented by BNY that brought the community together on Memory Mall.

UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright and First Lady Melinda Cartwright join in celebrating UCF Space Week. UCF's newly renovated Roth Tower shines during the Mission X Space Game's drone show. (Photo courtesy of UCF Athletics) A drone show lit up the sky above Acrisure Bounce House during the UCF Football Mission X Space Game. (Photo by Brooke Morris '22)

Space Week's grand finale was marked by the 10th anniversary of the UCF Space Game. This year's unique uniform theme paid tribute to UCF's origin story as America's Space University.

Students from the College of Engineering and Computer Science revamped their custom Citronaut saucer robot for pregame events ahead of the UCF football team's Mission X Space Game. (Photo by Brooke Morris '22)

A Citronaut robot is one of several inventions built by UCF students in the College of Engineering and Computer Science that make the game day atmosphere uniquely UCF.

UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright and UCF donor, consultant and space visitor Marc Hagle take in the atmosphere at Acrisure Bounce House.

Orlando Health sports medicine physician Tracy Nogle (left) and UCF Clinical Associate Professor of Physical Therapy Jennifer Tucker '23PhD (right) were recognized with a custom-built Go Baby Go! car that was recently donated to a child with mobility challenges.

In recognition of the 10th anniversary of the Space Game, UCF's Go Baby Go program, Orlando Health and UCF Athletics partnered to build 10 space-themed vehicles (like the one pictured above) customized for children with mobility challenges.

Acrisure Bounce House hosted homecoming and the Space Game over six days. (Photo courtesy of UCF Athletics)

UCF took on Baylor at Acrisure Bounce House for the Mission X Space Game.

UCF students decked out in space-themed gear for the Mission X Space Game. (Photo by Brooke Morris '22)

The UCF football team's Space Game has become a fan favorite.

(Photo courtesy of UCF Athletics)

The dance team helped lead the "Lights Up, Lights Down" tradition during the Mission X Space Game.

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