At Dell Technologies World on May 19, 2025, a panel discussed a collaboration between Dell Technologies, the MIT Media Lab, and NASA Ames focused on the future of space exploration. 

Centered on supporting a sustainable and enduring human presence on the Moon, the effort brought together advanced computing, immersive technologies, and interdisciplinary research to reimagine lunar missions as long-term, human-centered efforts.

Speakers

• Courtney Hughes – Host and Moderator, Dell Technologies
• Kim Slater – Chief of Staff, MIT Media Lab; former Draper executive and veteran aerospace engineer with 15+ years supporting NASA missions
• Dr. Don D. Haddad – Research Scientist, NASA Ames Research Center and MIT Media Lab Space Exploration Initiative; expert in lunar imaging, 3D terrain modeling, and spectral sensing
• Martin Sawtell – XR Lead, Office of the CTO, Dell Technologies; focuses on physical AI, visual representation, and extended reality platforms

The MIT Media Lab + space exploration

Kim Slater explains that the Media Lab's mission is rooted in designing technologies for humanity, emphasizing exploration and discovery. Space serves as both an inspiration and a proving ground for advancing technologies that also benefit life on Earth.

MIT recently launched its first lunar mission since the Apollo era, deploying three payloads to the Moon’s south polar region. This mission included an interactive installation called Luna—a mission control space equipped with Dell infrastructure and developed by students and faculty in MIT’s Department of Architecture and the Space Exploration Initiative.

Payloads + technological innovation

Don Haddad details the three payloads:

1. AstroAnt: a micro-rover, inspired by Star Wars-style robotic swarms, deployed on the first U.S.-made commercial lunar rover from Lunar Outpost.
2. HUMANS: a nano wafer etched with poetry in every spoken language on Earth—a cultural and symbolic artifact inspired by the Voyager Golden Record.
3. Depth Camera: A time-of-flight imaging system used for 3D terrain reconstruction and spectral imaging. This device, co-developed with NASA Ames, captures near-infrared data to help identify permafrost and water ice—crucial resources for sustaining a lunar base.

These payloads were part of the Intuitive Machines IM-2 mission and represent a step toward establishing a sustainable human and robotic presence on the Moon.

Technical collaboration with Dell

Martin Sawtell describes how Dell contributed infrastructure, including AI workstations and visualization tools, which enabled real-time 3D rendering and data processing. Dell's support was instrumental in mission control operations, including sending commands to the Moon.

They also used simulation platforms like NVIDIA Omniverse for testing and visualizing lunar terrain, enabling the creation of digital twins and immersive environments.

The importance of AI + compression

The team addressed data bandwidth limitations by developing a new 3D compression algorithm. This allowed high-resolution terrain models to be reconstructed from minimal data—less than a megabyte in some cases, expanding to gigabytes in rendered environments.

AI played a critical role in:

• Upscaling point clouds and enhancing visuals.
• Enabling safe pre-mission testing in simulated environments.
• Supporting astronaut training, though not yet used for scientific analysis due to data fidelity concerns.

Reflections + outcomes

Although the mission faced an off-nominal outcome—achieving only 10 hours of operation rather than two weeks—it was still a success. It demonstrated MIT’s capability to remotely operate a payload on the Moon, collect meaningful data, and test new imaging and communication technologies under extreme conditions.

A panoramic image taken from the Athena lander near Mons Mouton captured Earth from the Moon’s surface, evoking the same awe as the original Apollo "Earthrise" image and reinforcing themes of unity and global perspective.

Future directions

• Continued exploration of the Moon’s south pole to access water ice for life support and rocket fuel.
• Increasing involvement of student-led projects and interdisciplinary research.
• Greater integration of AI and XR technologies for simulation, planning, and remote presence.
• Expanded public and private collaborations to accelerate space innovation.

Kim Slater concludes that the next generation will likely see commercial lunar travel, and the tools being developed now are essential stepping stones toward that future.

Key takeaways

• The MIT Media Lab is helping shape a sustainable human presence on the Moon through an interdisciplinary blend of science, engineering, culture, and design.
• Collaboration with Dell and NASA highlights the importance of public-private partnerships in space exploration.
• AI, XR, and immersive computing are redefining how we interact with space data and train for missions.
• Space missions are not just about technology, but about inspiring humanity and bringing new perspectives on Earth and beyond.

This discussion reflects the Media Lab’s commitment to human-centered innovation at the edge of exploration and its dedication to inspiring member companies to advance bold ideas and technologies that shape real-world impact.