Danielle Wood, Director of the Space Enabled Research Group and Assistant Professor at the MIT Media Lab,  joins host Romaine Bostick on Bloomberg’s The Close to discuss the future of space exploration, NASA’s evolving role, public-private collaboration, and how the next generation of scientists is advancing a more equitable and sustainable vision for space.

In this wide-ranging conversation, MIT Media Lab professor Danielle Wood reflects on the evolving role of NASA, the importance of scientific expertise, and the growing synergy between government and private space efforts. Wood underscores the decades-long investment it takes to build NASA’s scientific leadership—and why retaining experienced talent and nurturing future innovators is crucial to maintaining U.S. competitiveness in space and Earth science.

She highlights the complementary relationship between public research infrastructure and private-sector innovation, noting that today's most creative advancements often emerge from this intersection. Technology, she explains, “always matures from the lab into use,” and today’s collaborations between NASA and private industry are accelerating that process.

Speaking from her experience at MIT, Wood shares the sense of hope she gains from her students:

"They give me hope every day. They have high standards about what the future looks like. They believe in a more equitable society. They want to protect the planet. They want to make sure that things we invest our time in are good for today and good for the long term. They see a need to collaborate across different boundaries."

Looking ahead, Wood sees a new, globally inclusive era of space exploration. With rising space agencies on every continent—including a newly launched African Space Agency—she believes the world is entering an exciting new chapter where space technology can advance science, sustainability, and shared prosperity for all.