University of Florida Astraeus Space Institute

The University of Florida Astraeus Space Institute is a space research institute at the University of Florida. The site calls it a gateway for people who share a passion for exploration. It supports interdisciplinary seed projects, recruits leaders in space science and technology, and promotes its strengths in space mission innovation.

Rachael Seidler is the director. The institute is funded by the UF President's Strategic Funding Initiative and UF Research. Its work areas include understanding the universe, planetary exploration, protecting the Earth, workforce development and global partnerships.

The institute works with NASA, the Kennedy Space Center, Space Florida, the Space Life Sciences Laboratory and the International Space Station National Laboratory. It also uses UF's closeness to a major launch site to help grow Florida's commercial space sector with launch providers such as SpaceX, Blue Origin and United Launch Alliance.

The site lists a leadership team, an administrator council, a membership directory of UF faculty, student options and partners. It says more than 150 UF faculty members take part in NASA funded research. It also states more than 53 million dollars in space research spending.

The Space Training for Enhanced Performance Lab, called the STEP Lab, offers human performance and space health assessments, preflight training and human in the loop testing. Services include imaging assessments, galvanic vestibular stimulation, virtual reality and workshops. The lab is at the Space Life Sciences Laboratory, 505 Odyssey Way, Merritt Island, Florida, next to NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Much of the equipment is portable. Work is done by research contract with the university.

The site has an event calendar, research news, an annual report and a contact form. The phone number is 352-392-3261.