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NASA, ESA, H. Teplitz and M. Rafelski (IPAC/Caltech), A. Koekemoer (STScI), R. Windhorst (Arizona State University), and Z. Levay (STScI)
Meet HexSense, a sensor node designed to be deployed ballistically—in other words, shot out of a cannon—and automatically right itself.
Lava tubes—massive underground tunnels formed by ancient lava flows—offer a glimpse into potential human habitats under the lunar surface.
Before researchers send a project like AstroAnt to the lunar surface, they have to test it somewhere like the moon.
Terrestrial tests help to ensure that the AstroAnt's teeny-tiny wheels keep turning when it reaches the moon.
This miniaturized swarm robot can ride atop a lunar rover and collect data related to its health.
Castrol supports the AstroAnt Payload Program, a robotic swarm designed for tasks on spacecraft, rovers, and landers.
The IM-2 Moon Mission will carry three projects from the Media Lab’s Space Exploration Initiative and collaborators.
Media Lab SEI’s 2024 microgravity flight features 37 parabolas and projects focused on health in space, walking in zero gravity, and more!
At the MIT Media Lab, visionary women are at the forefront of groundbreaking research in space exploration and sustainable climate solution…
With NASA planning permanent bases in space and on the moon, MIT students develop prototypes for habitats far from planet Earth.
The Space Exploration Initiative’s 2022 microgravity flight features lunar-specific payloads in advance of an upcoming moon mission
Convergence: Artistic Exploration from Nature to SocietyNARLabs, Taipei, Taiwan May 10 - August 10, 2024 Guided by the Taiwa…
View a selection of images from the Aerospace Gondola project at Venice Biennale Arte 2024.
Founded in 2016 and now in our eighth year, we set our sights on space. The Space Exploration Initiative has since grown to …
Liu was selected from eight shortlisted artists for her work bridging art and science.
On day 6 we got a chance to come back to Jameo de la Puerta Falsa to recover more data and scans of the lava tube, as well as to do some sc…
After a very full week of intense research and field work, we were all ready for some downtime to go through the data we'd collected, asses…
Our fifth day in Lanzarote was our biggest data collection day.
This morning we entered and explored our first lava tube at Cueva de la Paloma.
Today we got to know the most recent geologic history of the island while visiting Timanfaya National Park.
Our second day, though not the most exciting in imagery and data, was critical for the success of the expedition.
The team packed up the truck and departed the Media Lab for the airport on Saturday afternoon. Flying through Madrid, we arrived in L…
Leading up to our departure the team tested all our hardware to make sure that it all works in the lab before exposing it to the more rugge…
The SeedLabs MicroPET, which began as a Media Lab collaboration, was selected to TIME's 200 Best Inventions of 2023.
The Signal Kinetics group invented the world's first battery-free wireless underwater camera.
Democratizing access to space.
Xin Liu, an alum of the Fluid Interfaces group and collaborator with the Space Exploration Initiative, talks to Artnet about her practice.
Castrol membership supports the AstroAnt Payload Program.
Dr. Ariel Ekblaw, founder of the Media Lab’s Space Exploration Initiative, talks to Wired about the Axiom-2 mission.
These five women at the MIT Media Lab are advancing aerospace science and research, driven by a love of our home planet.
Talented and fearless explorers from a far off land have brought bright orange gadgets to this isolated and wild world to better understand
Researchers from the Media Lab and collaborators begin their second trip to Svalbard, a remote land of wind, ice, and beauty.
A number of Media Lab and MIT projects and spinoffs were recognized.
Q+A sessions on two research projects with contributors from MIT and the Media Lab will be livestreamed from the ISS on May 26 and May 28.
The Axiom Mission 2 launch will carry a variety of research from the MIT Media Lab to the International Space Station (ISS) on May 21, 2023
The HUMANS nanowafer, an MIT Space Exploration Initiative student-led project, will travel to the ISS this month, and later to the moon.
Media Lab's Ariel Ekblaw talks to Inverse about the questions and the philosophies that drive her work with SEI and the Aurelia Institute.
On StarTalk, Dr. Ariel Ekblaw talks about her work with the Media Lab’s Space Exploration Initiative (SEI) and the Aurelia Institute.
A team of scientists, engineers, and designers embark on an Arctic expedition to test space technology.
A collaboration with researchers from the Space Exploration Initiative is investigating biological processes to upcycle plastics.
In an interview, Ariel Ekblaw discusses the democratization of access to space and what it means for the future of space stations.
Dent the Future organizes annual 2022 science and tech panels featuring Sana Sharma.
Be inspired by Rohit Prasad, SVP and Head Scientist, Alexa AI, Amazon, Tye Brady, Chief Technologist, Amazon Robotics, Dilip Kumar, VP, Phy…
BioX2 (Biological Exploration Payload 2) is targeted for launch to the International Space Station (ISS) in October 2022 to be a technolog…
Space engineers, a geologist, an architect, and a designer journeyed to Svalbard for an expedition with the Space Exploration Initiative
In October 2022, the MIT Space Exploration Initiative went on a field expedition in Svalbard. Based out of the Czech Arctic Research Statio…
A panel of experts, including SEI director Ariel Ekblaw, discusses the history, culture, science, and future of NASA's Artemis program
Enjoy these recent titles from Institute faculty and staff.
The artist and MIT Media Lab Space Exploration Initiative Arts curator makes work that explores why the seemingly impossible is possible.
Ariel Ekblaw talks about the TESSERAE project, which was tested on the Space Station during the recent Axiom Space AX-1 mission.
Read about the 2022 zero gravity flight and the projects that flew. This is an annual event hosted by the Space Exploration Initiative.
On August 26, 2021, the MIT Space Exploration Initiative launched to space and back with Blue Origin a second time. The payload, a pr…
The TESSERAE project, a design for self-assembling space structures and habitats, has sent prototypes to the International Space Station.
Ariel Ekblaw talks about leading the Space Exploration Initiative, self-assembling space architecture, science fiction, + long-term thinking
Last Friday, the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory gathered a variety of thought leaders at a virtual event to discuss …
Self-reconfiguring ElectroVoxels use embedded electromagnets to test applications for space exploration.
A New Zero Gravity Cuisine is a culinary collaboration that imagines the transformation of ingredients in zero gravity. I’m a researcher an…
Space Exploration Initiative director Ariel Ekblaw speaks with WIRED’s Ramin Skibba about the beginning and future of space tourism.
Webinar Series " Design Exploration: towards a Moon Architecture" | Invited talks and students' projects.
SEI Space Analog Mission Application 2022
A conversation recently aired on Planetary Radio, hosted by Mat Kaplan of the Planetary Society, featuring SEI director Ariel Ekblaw.
Spacecraft wrapped in sensor-rich electronic textiles could double as scientific instruments
This mission marks the Media Lab's fourth rocket launch.
The LA Times talks to Fluid Interfaces alum Xin Liu about her art project Living Distance.