UNF alum Luke Delaney will pilot NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station

Luke Delaney remembers as a child watching the sky light up as a rocket took off from Cape Canaveral near his home in DeBary, Florida.

Those early days sparked a lifelong dream of spaceflight.

The University of North Florida alum will fulfill that childhood dream this September as pilot on NASA's SpaceX Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station.

Delaney will be in space for about six months, conducting scientific investigations and technology demonstrations to help benefit people on Earth and prepare for future exploration missions to the Moon and Mars.

Paving a path to space

Delaney enlisted in the Marine Corps as a flight navigator after graduating from Deltona High School in 1997. He was later admitted to the Marine Corps enlisted commissioning education program and stationed in Jacksonville to help run the ROTC program at Jacksonville University while earning a degree in mechanical engineering at UNF in 2006.

He remembers gaining knowledge and experiences at UNF that were applicable to a variety of engineering disciplines, engaging in an innovative thermodynamics class and the talented professors who were always willing to help. He credits his UNF internship at Predator as an important foundational experience, working hands-on with momentum equations and optimizing energy transfer in the design of high-performance pool cues.

While Delaney was working on his engineering degree, his wife Tracy was also earning her bachelor's degree in education at UNF. She went on to teach where they were stationed including in Japan, Florida, Virginia and Maryland.

"Our two daughters were young while we attended UNF, and we had a lot of fun family adventures on campus," said Delaney "It was one of the busier times in our lives with work and school obligations, so we really enjoyed the peaceful moments on campus. We love the outdoors and have many fond memories of walking the trails and enjoying the natural oasis that is UNF."

Embarking on the final frontier

During his time in the military, Delaney served for 22 years as a distinguished naval aviator. He flew missions across the Asia Pacific region, supported Operation Enduring Freedom and served as a test pilot and instructor evaluating advanced weapon systems. In 2016, he earned a master's degree in aerospace engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. After retiring from the Marine Corps in 2020, he transitioned to NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, as a research pilot and aerospace engineer.

His expertise and flight record, more than 3,900 hours across 48 aircraft models including over 400 combat sorties, led to his selection as a NASA astronaut candidate in 2021. He completed two years of intensive training in Houston, Texas, preparing for this mission and future missions that push the boundaries of human curiosity and exploration.

For students dreaming of following in his footsteps, Delaney emphasizes that there is no single "correct" path.

"You really should follow what you're most interested in," he shared. "Whether science, engineering, physics, geology or the arts - it doesn't matter. We have folks here at NASA that have all kinds of different backgrounds."

He encourages students to stay focused and committed to what they're passionate about.

"Take advantage of opportunities as they manifest and always keep the rudder steering yourself towards your end goal," encouraged Delaney. "Anyone can attain their dream career. Stay engaged and leverage each opportunity and you too can reach the stars."