LAKE NONA, Fla. — Representatives from four Florida universities, including Florida Institute of Technology, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, and the University of Florida as the lead institution, along with research institutions and federal agencies, gathered last week for a key meeting of the Center for Science, Technology, and Advanced Research in Space, known as C-STARS, to discuss its evolving role in shaping the low Earth orbit economy.
C-STARS, a multi-institutional initiative, is positioning itself at the forefront of a rapidly changing space landscape. The program aims to drive innovation in orbital infrastructure, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and space policy, making academic institutions critical players in the new commercial space ecosystem.
A Growing Low Earth Orbit Economy
The goal of C-STARS is to build the academic and technological foundation for a sustainable presence in orbit. As more activity shifts into space, the consortium’s research in areas such as microgravity experimentation, autonomous systems and translational science, is playing a pivotal role in defining the standards and capabilities of future missions.
The objectives of C-STARS align with federal priorities, including NASA’s push for commercial development in orbit and the increasing support of the National Science Foundation for space-based research.
Dr. Siobhan Malany, Center Director of C-STARS and associate professor at the University of Florida, highlighted the consortium’s mission to create a strong and diverse pipeline of space-based research projects of interest to multiple industry and government entities.
“The central core of C-STARS is built on the IUCRC (Industry-University Cooperative Research Center) model—we’re here because of our partner institutions and industry advisory board,” Malany said. “Within a year, we aim to evolve from concept to an established Phase 1 center with five years of funding and real traction.”
Support From NSF
At the meeting, participants discussed the NSF’s multi-stage funding program called an industry-university cooperative Research Center (IUCRC), which supports interdisciplinary teams working on applied science-related challenges. The staged approach will help C-STARS scale their efforts, from exploratory research to large-scale deployments in orbit.
This level of support lowers barriers for university teams seeking to transition their concepts into operational programs, fostering more inclusive access to the emerging space economy.
Meeting Highlights and Student Innovation
This week’s gathering included presentations from leading researchers, strategic planning sessions and a student-led poster session that highlighted early-stage research across member campuses.
Dr. Jeffrey Smith, Enterprise Strategic Manager for the Gateway Program’s Deep Space Logistics, representing NASA’s mission and engagement with academic and commercial partners, emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration in building a sustainable presence beyond Earth.
“As a representative of the NASA mission, I think C-STARS is a great example of how academia, industry and government can leverage each other’s resources to make space exploration happen in a sustainable and affordable way,” Smith said. “Low Earth orbit is the first stop in that supply chain. What we’re doing now will translate to deep space—and that’s where I come in, to help make that connection real.”
Smith pointed to two ways academia directly contributes to NASA’s future missions: through groundbreaking research that mitigates mission risks, and through the development of a skilled workforce.
“The research community plays an instrumental role in helping us understand mission challenges and opportunities,” he said. “But just as important is the training of the next generation. Students need to gain systems-level knowledge and understand how the aerospace industry works. Consortia like C-STARS give them that opportunity—and give them a glimpse into how NASA operates.”
Looking ahead, Smith expressed optimism about the long-term impact of the initiative.
“I know we’ll see the young professionals involved in C-STARS today working at NASA, in industry and at universities in the next 10 years,” he said. “But what I also hope to see is real technology—developed through C-STARS—that moves NASA toward a more sustainable future. Getting back to the Moon, getting to Mars—none of us can do that alone. I’d love to see C-STARS continue to bring all the players together and keep moving the needle.”
One of the most inspiring moments of the meeting came during the student poster session, where future space scientists presented research on biomedical tools, space-based manufacturing, and sustainable systems for long-duration missions.
Anya Volter, a PhD student at the University of Florida, shared her work on pharmaceutical production in space using microbial biomanufacturing.
“We do biomanufacturing in space using microbes,” Volter said. “I work on pharmaceutical production for astronauts to support space exploration. It bridges a critical need by supplying medicine to astronauts in a way that recycles waste and creates safe sources for pharmaceuticals.”
Volter explained that the next phase of her project involves scaling up and expanding the number of products the team can produce using loop-closure systems.
“We’re working toward using waste products to feed bioreactors that can generate useful materials for humans in space,” she said.
Volter’s work is one example of how C-STARS is not only advancing scientific goals in low Earth orbit, but also building a foundation for a more self-sustaining and resilient future in space. Their work demonstrated the impact C-STARS is already having on workforce development and student-led innovation in space science.
Dr. Malany emphasized the importance of connecting students directly with industry and mentoring them through internships and hands-on experience.
“Success for us means helping students understand the full life cycle—from the lab bench to real-world payload hardware,” she said. “They will be getting that training through C-STARS, with exposure to NSF-backed funding and working directly with companies to bridge that critical gap into industry. On the flip side, industry partners will have access to fresh talent and shared knowledge in microgravity research.”
Building the Pipeline for a Diverse Workforce
Student involvement is also a core priority, according to Dr. Jamie Foster, the University of Florida Site Director of C-STARS and professor.
“Every project we fund includes students,” she said. “We’re building pathways through internships, training, and new programs to help them enter a diverse space workforce.”
Industry Perspective: Bridging Academia and Application
Adam Merchant from LEAP, an aerospace company based in Denver, attended the meeting to share the industry perspective.
“C-STARS is helping connect all the key players—researchers, students, and industry—in one place,” Merchant said. “It’s a network hub, and we benefit from those connections. If the researchers succeed, we succeed.”
He stressed how crucial it is for students to gain practical experience alongside their academic knowledge.
“One thing I always see is students coming from academia understand the literature, but often lack hands-on experience,” Merchant said. “Once you’re in industry, you’re under pressure to deliver and make decisions fast. Getting students used to that environment early on is incredibly valuable.”
Merchant also noted that open-source collaboration in academia is laying the groundwork for scalable experimentation in space.
“We’re supporting the guidance side, but researchers need access to high-cadence experimentation,” he said. “C-STARS is creating the knowledge base for everyone to be successful.”
Looking to the future, he echoed the importance of educating the public about what’s possible.
“In 10 to 20 years, space manufacturing will be far more common. Public understanding of that potential is key to gaining momentum.”
What’s Next for C-Stars
Dr. Jamie Foster said that C-STARS is opening new opportunities for testing and iteration in space—something traditionally limited by high costs.
“We’re working to maximize science at the lowest cost possible,” she said. “Our goal is to create new mechanisms that get research to space more affordably and more often.”
She added that C-STARS also has the potential to bring entirely new players into the space sector.
“Companies that never considered space before could discover how microgravity benefits their manufacturing,” she said. “That’s how we enable new science and new industries.”
The structure of C-STARS encourages collaboration between institutions, each contributing unique strengths. Foster noted Florida’s frequent launch activity as a key advantage in building a strong space manufacturing hub.
Malany also pointed to the broader goal of C-STARS and supporting innovation in sustainable space manufacturing.
“We’re uniting researchers, visionaries, and industry partners to push for breakthroughs—especially in producing lifesaving biopharmaceuticals, high-quality materials in space that cannot be made on Earth as well as recycling capabilities and self-sustaining technologies for long-term missions,” she said.
As commercial activity in low-Earth orbit accelerates, C-STARS is helping to ensure academic institutions remain central to its development. By fostering collaboration, building infrastructure and aligning research with national goals, the consortium is shaping a more accessible and robust future in space.
This joint effort reflects the combined expertise and ambition of participating universities and underscores the growing importance of academic leadership in space innovation.
To learn more about C-STARS, please visit https://www.cstars.space/
To view photos from the meeting, please visit https://ufcollegeofpharmacy.smugmug.com/C-STARS-Strategic-Planning-Meeting
Media Contact:
Emily Hinds
emilyhinds@ufl.edu
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