The University of Central Florida is better known as UCF. But it also has another moniker — Space U.
It has extremely close ties to NASA, and in turn, all things space.
UCF considers itself the “future of space exploration” and is located just 35 miles from Kennedy Space Center. The school is the top workforce supplier to the aerospace industry.
In addition to its classroom connection to outer space and NASA, the athletic department has a pretty incredible relationship as well. The way that the football stadium, known as ‘The Bounce House,’ is positioned makes it so launches at Cape Canaveral happen in the distance beyond the 50-yard-line.
Images from the launches are truly remarkable!
However, it was a different team that stole the show on Friday. No college baseball program in the world has ever experienced anything cooler than what went down in the top of the eighth inning against Oklahoma State.
Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX, placed its 6,000th Starlink internet satellite into Earth orbit. A Falcon 9 rocket launched from the Kennedy Space Center at 8:21 p.m. EDT.
Meanwhile, in that exact moment, redshirt freshman pitcher Kris Sosnowski recorded a three-pitch strikeout. As he threw down to the plate, Falcon 9 rose into the night sky directly behind him.
It really does not get any cooler than that. Striking someone out on three pitches while Musk(‘s company) launches a rocket during the at-bat is something that Sosnowski will never forget.
Though it must be said that the entire sequence was rather unfair for the Cowboys’ batter. How is he supposed to focus on a small white (?) ball hurling toward the dish when there is a literal blast off happening in his field of vision.
The Oklahoma State fans in attendance did not seem to care that their hitter was at a disadvantage. They were enamored by the the launch!
Well, at least the OSU fans got something to get excited about—the rocket 🚀 launch tonight #SpaceU pic.twitter.com/YVgRSxEMrz
— ZEN🖤💛 (@ucfgirl88) March 16, 2024
Plus, the Pokes were down by 10 runs at that point anyway…