Inside the Future of Space Technology: UCF Engineers Leading Innovation in Propulsion & Aerospace

Susan Wise: Hi, and welcome to Stars Launch Pod: Space Technology and Research Sciences, brought to you by StarSciences.org, where we connect, collaborate, and accelerate. I’m your host, Susan Wise, and I’m very excited to have two wonderful gentlemen joining me today: Walter Hammond and Rhett Jeffries, professors at UCF in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department. Hello and welcome!

Rhett and Walter: Hi, Susan. Hello.

Susan Wise: I’d like to learn a little bit more about both of you—if you could share a bit about yourselves and what you’re currently working on to help further the space industry.

Rhett and Walter: Okay. We are both members of the adjunct faculty at UCF. We teach and mentor future engineers through senior design courses, which are the final courses before graduation for seniors at UCF across several disciplines. We primarily work with students in aerospace engineering, as that’s where most of our expertise lies.

I also mentor students with Tau Beta Phi, which is an engineering honorary society, giving them guidance on career planning, resumes, interviews, and similar skills.

Presently, I work on two committees for the AIAA—the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Specifically, I’m on the Systems Engineering Technical Committee and the Nuclear Future Flight Propulsion Technical Committee.

Through the Nuclear Future Flight Propulsion Committee, I’m working with a company called Gravitec Incorporated. Their website is gravitecinc.com. They are developing propulsion using what’s called a Serrano Field Effect, named after the innovator Hector Lee Serrano, who is based in Kissimmee, just south of Orlando.

On their website, they explain that unlike traditional propulsion, SFE drives do not need to eject mass in the opposite direction to produce motion. This is revolutionary because it interacts with the space-time continuum to generate thrust without obeying Newton’s second law of motion. SFE devices are known as exotic field propulsion devices.

Hector Serrano notes that every revolutionary idea seems to evoke three stages of reaction: “It’s impossible,” “It’s possible but not worth doing,” and finally, “It was a good idea all along.” Right now, his technology is between the first two stages.

Rhett: I’ll just add one thing that Walter didn’t mention: As part of the AIAA, we are both on the Central Florida Section leadership. Walter is currently the president of the section, and we work together to promote STEM initiatives across the region, from elementary and middle schools to broader community events. Walter’s doing a great job leading these efforts.

I’m relatively new to the scene, having joined the section just over a year ago. Alongside senior design at UCF, we help undergraduate seniors finishing their engineering degrees to understand project management, the challenges of technical projects, and the design process they can apply in their future careers.

Walter: I’d like to add that I’ve been very impressed with the projects at UCF. They involve state-of-the-art technologies across aerospace and astronautics, including NASA projects like Luna Robotics and rocket design. My work is more aeronautics-focused, dealing with gas turbine engines and exploring ammonia as a potential fuel. Our students gain practical experience in the latest industry technologies, preparing them for real-world challenges.

Susan Wise: You never know where the next invention is going to come from—probably one of your students!

Rhett and Walter: We hope! We talk about intellectual property and potential innovations all the time.

Rhett: I also want to mention that I’m working on a book related to the space industry called Systems Thinking Engineering and Analysis (STEA). This is a follow-up to the work of the late Wolter Fabrycky, a well-known systems engineering expert. I’m gathering experts nationwide to contribute to this significant project, which has been a major focus for me.

Susan Wise: That’s very exciting. You both are incredibly busy. Looking back, do you have an “aha” moment you’d like to share—one of those moments where you went, “Wow, this is it!”?

Rhett: Sure. One of my aha moments occurred while I was working with the Office of Naval Research Global as a science director in Santiago, Chile. My role was to explore research at universities across Latin America. I was amazed by the quality of ideas coming from even the smallest, most remote universities. It made me realize that innovation isn’t limited to the U.S., and connecting researchers globally can produce significant advancements.

Walter: My aha moment was more of a “breakdown” moment. On December 26, 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed. At the time, I was working at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, analyzing Soviet capabilities and directed energy weapons. With the Soviet Union gone, our primary focus disappeared, forcing us to redirect our research efforts. It was a pivotal moment that shaped my perspective on adaptability and resilience.

Susan Wise: That’s so true. It also aligns with how Stars Launch Pod works—as a hub for global collaboration in the space industry.

Susan Wise: There have been challenges throughout your careers. Could you each share one of your biggest challenges and how you overcame it?

Walter: My biggest challenge was securing and maintaining a good job in the aerospace industry. Contracts and funding would often expire, so I had to stay proactive with my resume, interviews, and networking. That persistence eventually led me to a permanent position at UCF.

Rhett: Mine was similar. Working in government, academia, and running my own company, I often faced funding challenges. Maintaining a “can-do” attitude and persevering through obstacles allowed me to continue pursuing innovative research projects.

Susan Wise: Any advice you’d like to leave our listeners?

Rhett and Walter: Stay full of wonder. Keep an open mind, learn from the past, work hard in the present, and believe in a bright future.

Walter: I’d add: work in teams. Multidisciplinary collaboration is where many innovations happen. Listen to different perspectives and integrate diverse ideas—it’s essential for success in any field.

Susan Wise: Absolutely. People with experience in different industries often find their skills are surprisingly relevant to the space industry.

Susan Wise: Do you have a past or present passion project?

Walter: My passion project is humanity’s journey to the stars. Traveling even to the nearest star poses enormous technical challenges, including the speed-of-light barrier. I’m working with Gravitec and the Nuclear Future Flight Propulsion Committee to explore superluminal (faster-than-light) travel. This involves assembling teams of credible scientists to develop technologies that could make interstellar travel possible for future generations.

Rhett: I applaud Walter’s vision. My focus is more grounded—I aim to encourage revolutionary technologies and innovation. At the Office of Naval Research Global, we launched initiatives like the Global X Challenge, connecting international researchers to solve complex, cross-disciplinary problems. Some of these projects have progressed to DARPA or Army-funded programs, such as biofilm hull coatings and muon-based GPS navigation in polar regions. Facilitating collaboration and innovation is my passion.

Walter: One more note on superluminal travel: While humans can’t exceed the speed of light, space itself can expand faster than light. The goal is to develop a “space drive” to move craft by manipulating space itself, essentially creating a warp-like propulsion system.

Susan Wise: Walter, you’re on the verge of some incredible breakthroughs.

Rhett and Walter: Susan, this has been a great discussion. We look forward to future opportunities to collaborate and inspire others.

Susan Wise: Walter Hammond and Rhett Jeffries, thank you so much for joining us on Stars Launch Pod. Your stories are inspiring and motivating.Rhett and Walter: Thank you very much.