Captain Nicholas Florio: Space United Denver Team Captain

Hey Nicholas, tell us a bit about your soccer story?

I do not remember exactly at what age I started playing soccer, but let's say as soon as I knew how to run and kick! I played with a few clubs including Northport, Elwood, and Massapequa in Long Island, NY. I have played just about every position, including goalie - but let's not discuss my save percentage. The role I really settled into was a winger; getting a jump on the ball and trying to create as many scoring opportunities as possible! For those of you who know what the crossbar challenge is, I unintentionally took part during a game once. At least two of my corners and two of my crosses hit the crossbar- inches to centimeters away from ending up in the back of the net. However, whenever I do intentionally partake in the crossbar challenge, I can never replicate that game's success (or misfortune depending on how you look at it)!

Who and What are some influential pieces in life that led you to a career in space?

There have been quite a few influential pieces in my life that have led me to a dream career in space. My family has always been supportive of my endeavors and encouraged me to always raise the bar for myself. I have always had a curiosity about space, however, it wasn't until seeing Blue Origin's New Shepard and SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rockets launch and land that I knew space was the place for me. I was truly inspired by the advances being made in space exploration technology and wanted to help pave the way for future exploration. I was a part of the avionics team of Operation Space, a nationwide collegiate team that worked remotely to design, build, and launch a rocket hoping to reach space. It was the first space project I was involved in, and even though we did not reach the Karman Line, it was great to see our rocket launch from New Mexico and have both our stages ignite (and second stage separation). Being selected to participate in the NASA L'Space Mission Concept Academy during the Summer of 2020 helped me dive deeper into my space engineering interests where I learned from NASA systems engineering and science experts about the space mission design and review process. I was the lead engineer for the BUILD-12 team and helped to submit a 173-page PDR that is now used as an example for current programs. I also led a tri-university NASA RASC-AL Design Challenge team that was named a national finalist for its Minimum Mars Ascent Vehicle design. We were able to present our design and field questions from the panel of industry judges a month after I graduated with my Master's Degree. While this was probably the best way to end my academic career, I am thankful for all of the opportunities I was given to learn about space engineering, effective collaboration, and open communication. I also appreciate the many mentors that have helped me shape the career I have today.

Tell us a bit about the work you do in space exploration.

I am currently an Aerospace Systems Engineer at Blue Origin, specifically working on Lunar Fault Management and System Autonomy (FMSA). This entails working with all vehicle subsystems to identify potential faults and design ways to prevent or mitigate such faults. FMSA also involves finding effective ways to inject autonomy into a vehicle, making on-board operations a little smoother. FMSA is not something necessarily taught in engineering classes, however, I am learning as I analyze and design! Before working at Blue Origin, I was a Systems Engineer at Lockheed Martin Space working on Military, Lunar, and Martian architectures and analysis.  

How can we open up space for everyone?

We can open up space for everyone by continuing to innovate to lower industry launch and operational costs, taking a global perspective to include both space-faring and developing space nations in exploration programs, and expanding STEAM education through experiential learning across all levels of education, no matter a school's location or budget. These are just a few of the ways in which we can create multiple avenues for people of all backgrounds to be inspired and get involved in space!

What does Space United mean for you?

Space United is a unique and inspiring initiative that intertwines space with sports in an unparalleled way. Just as I work with a team at Blue Origin, I can work with a team outside of work to not only score goals, but also bring space and STEM to our local community and beyond. Who knows? Maybe the World Cup will transform into the "Lunar Cup" or "Martian Cup" in the future!

What is an interesting thing about you that not everyone may know?

While space is certainly my life's passion and soccer has always kept me running, I also enjoy spending time with family and friends, reading, cooking, playing softball, rowing, and listening to music. Along with my soccer allegiances, I am also a fan of the Villanova Wildcats, New York Yankees, Colorado Avalanche, and Minnesota Vikings.