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Space Exploration Initiative
Advancing justice in Earth's complex systems using designs enabled by space
Extending expression, learning, and health through innovations in musical composition, performance, and participation
Traditional additive manufacturing processes, especially those that make use of liquid resin as the feedstock, are constrained by the gravi…
Somayajulu Dhulipala, Manwei Chan. Agrifuge: An exploration of controlled irrigation methods for a rotating plant habitat. IAC-22, Paris, France. IAC-22,A2,3,4,x69080.
S. Sharma, N. Klop-Packel, A. Ekblaw, “The Astronaut Ethnography Web Project: Insights from First-Person Accounts of Space.” AC-22,E1,9,19,x68611, 73rd International Astronautical Congress (IAC), Paris, France, 18-22 September 2022.
Structurally, zero gravity means that we do not have to contend with architecture's greatest arch-nemesis, gravity. This opens up a new wor…
It is known that prolonged exposure to micro and hyper-gravity induces various acute health risks, such as osteoporosis, skeletal muscle at…
Wax-based hybrid rocket propellants, including paraffin (common candlewax) and beeswax show promise as high-performing hybrid rocket propel…
Seamlessly coupling the worlds of bits and atoms by giving dynamic physical form to digital information and computation
New flavors may evolve as earth foods migrate to outer space. A collaboration between Maggie Coblentz at the MIT Media Lab and Joshua Evans…
Augmenting and mediating human experience, interaction, and perception with sensor networks
Overview: The outermost skin of a space-based structure is designed using materials known to protect against the harsh elements of space. S…
The Scratch Team invited young people from around the world to create Scratch projects designed specifically to be played in zero grav…
The Space Sustainability RatingThe Space Sustainability Rating design team—comprised of the World Economic Forum, the European Space Agency…
The Space Exploration Initiative charters an annual ZERO-G parabolic flight for 14-15 projects and 25 researchers across MIT Media Lab, sev…
By Rachel Bellisle
Overview: How will we build the coming generations of Space Architecture—the modules, space ships, and space stations that will enscon…
When imagining human life in space, how will we express our humanity and creativity in an alien environment? Can the art we make both refle…
The environmental conditions of prolonged spaceflight pose significant psychological risks for astronauts. In particular, crews of future …
This project seeks to examine the effects of altered gravity on an individual’s physiology during parabolic flight. Specifically, we will c…
On Earth, morning, noon, and night have their own specific meanings. The feeling of a second or a minute passing by, the shortening of the …
SpaceHuman is a soft robotics device designed to facilitate the exploration of environments with reduced gravity in a view of democratizati…
Rapid prototyping platforms such as 3D printers used for digital fabrication are today able to manufacture custom objects for specific task…
Self-reconfiguring ElectroVoxels use embedded electromagnets to test applications for space exploration.
In recent years, there has been an increase in low-cost and open-source electronic and chemical sensors that hobbyists, concerned citizens,…
Gravity Proof is a performance and mission to prepare and cook bread in space. Inspired by ancient recipes and archaeological bread re…
This research highlights opportunities to bring the rich culture of Earth-based fermentation practices to space to design beneficial applic…
The Interplanetary Gastronomy research aims to address the unique challenges and opportunities associated with eating in s…
Our journeys off-world have taught us just as much about humanity as the harsh environment of space. For the past 20 years, we have had a c…
Living in space could have significant physical and mental impacts on astronauts. Wearables have the potential to play a critical role in m…
The Space Exploration Initiative supports research across and beyond MIT in two microgravity flights this spring.
Ever wish you could toss your folded up tent and have it self-assemble mid-air? Well...you can. In a zero gravity environment.Self As…
By Larissa Zhou and Adam ZacharFood is crucial to maintaining the physical and psychological health of humans in space. Eating food pr…
By Nancy Valladares and Rae Yuping HsuThis project is an art performance that seeks to rethink imaginaries of multispecies surviv…
The Miniature Optical Steered Antenna for Intersatellite Communications (MOSAIC)By Shreeyam KackerThe Miniature Optical Steered Antenn…
Solid-state microfrabricated devices are in development to replace contemporary heavy mechanical components for use in spacecraft propellan…
How did life originate? Nobody knows. Life might not even be native to our Earth - it might have come from asteroids or the interstellar me…
By Somayajulu Dhulipala and Manwei ChanAs humanity explores deeper into space, long-duration missions will require horticulture activities …
By Po-Hao ChiHow could microgravity/hypergravity shape our perceptual experience of listening with weightlessness? How can we seek to explo…
The projects on board the Media Lab's first suborbital rocket flight
How might zero gravity space affect silk spinning, and what benefits might such material properties provide for digital fabrication and add…
Life on Mars, if it exists, could have been transferred between Earth and Mars due to meteorite impacts. The Search for Extra-Terrestrial G…
The Interplanetary Cookbook, developed by Maggie Coblentz, presents thought-provoking recipes and zero-g kitchenware for the future of life…
Taking a taste of the sensory research of Space Exploration Initiative’s Maggie Coblentz
A multi-course tasting menu was flown on a zero gravity flight in August 2019. Five specially crafted dishes were consumed…
Space research, led by a diverse team of women scientists, will be presented at this year's AIAA Ascend Conference.
Building an open, shared, and collaborative future of lunar exploration.Explore the Lunar Open Architecture (LOA) at loa.mit.edu. …
When contemplating the future of life in space, we dream not only of rockets and off-world societies, but also of art, of leisure, and freq…
We study textiles and nets as a base form for growing infrastructure and allowing reconfigurable sensing on low gravity bodies (for instanc…
The future of human life outside of Earth will heavily depend on the ability to fabricate and manufacture things. Yet fabrication in space …
Developed by a team of Media Lab researchers, SpaceHuman is a seahorse-inspired additive prosthetic for use in microgravity environments.
A cohort of transdisciplinary researchers will study effects of sustained microgravity
The Space Exploration Initiative’s latest research flight explores work and play in zero gravity
A major concern for manned missions is space radiation. Ionizing radiation is known to pose both acute and chronic risks to many organisms,…
A molecular gastronomy experiment was flown on a zero gravity flight in August 2019, using spherification techniques to create recipes in z…
Space/Craft explores sculpting in zero gravity. Making artistic works by hand is a fundamentally human act, but how will it transform …
Mechanical actuators for deployable systems on satellites are often complex, expensive, only designed for a single use, and too large or he…
In microgravity, the removal of constant loading on the skeleton leads to loss of bone density and muscle mass. In order to counteract this…
The Orbit Weaver Suit for zero gravity was designed by Media Lab Director's Fellow Andrea Lauer in collaboration with Xi…
Hairstyles, musical instruments and gardening all change in zero gravity, scientist Sands Fish says.
Ariel Ekblaw presented designs for self-assembling architecture to create habitats for people living and working in low-gravity environments
Today, the environments that humans occupy in space are designed for survival. Humans are carefully shuttled to and from space, and during …
For decades, the International Space Station (ISS) has operated as a bastion of international cooperation and a unique testbed for microgra…
Researchers at the MIT Media Lab are developing technology for a day when amateur astronauts travel into orbit.
Imagine a physical object that floats through the air, unconstrained by gravity, which can move freely to display the motion of a planet in…
Gravity anchors all existence on Earth.It pulls a chaotic world to one single point in every moment of life. Even though gravity is everywh…
The Telemetron was created in response to a call from the MIT Media Lab’s Space Exploration Initiative.
BBC Click's Nick Kwek looks at some of the best technology stories of the week.
Xin Liu discusses the Space Exploration Initiative's upcoming arts exhibition at Ars Electronica