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Ariel Ekblaw

Visiting Scientist
Groups
Post Research

AstroAnt named 2024 Create the Future Design Contest finalist

AstroAnt was selected from the Robotics + Automation category.
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Castrol collaboration supports research on Lunar Landings

Castrol supports the AstroAnt Payload Program, a robotic swarm designed for tasks on spacecraft, rovers, and landers.
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Pioneering Space Exploration + Data: Women Lead MIT Media Lab's Future Worlds Research

At the MIT Media Lab, visionary women are at the forefront of groundbreaking research in space exploration and sustainable climate solution…
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To Lunar Gravity and Back: What reduced gravity flights can teach us about our future in space

The Space Exploration Initiative’s 2022 microgravity flight features lunar-specific payloads in advance of an upcoming moon mission
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TIME's 200 Best Inventions of 2023: SeedLabs MicroPET

The SeedLabs MicroPET, which began as a Media Lab collaboration, was selected to TIME's 200 Best Inventions of 2023.
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Castrol joins the Media Lab to support research on lunar landings

Castrol membership supports the AstroAnt Payload Program.
Article Research

Axiom’s second flight paves the way for a commercial space station

Dr. Ariel Ekblaw, founder of the Media Lab’s Space Exploration Initiative, talks to Wired about the Axiom-2 mission.
Article Research

Feet on Earth, head in the stars

These five women at the MIT Media Lab are advancing aerospace science and research, driven by a love of our home planet.
Post Research

On-orbit livestream events for two Media Lab research projects | Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2)

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.
Post Research

MIT Media Lab research on the Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2) launch

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
Article Research

MIT HUMANS project breaks down borders, empowering global voices to reach for the stars

The HUMANS nanowafer, an MIT Space Exploration Initiative student-led project, will travel to the ISS this month, and later to the moon.
Article Research

Ariel Ekblaw Wants To Go to Space So We Can Save Earth

Media Lab's Ariel Ekblaw talks to Inverse about the questions and the philosophies that drive her work with SEI and the Aurelia Institute.
Article Research

The Research Powering Humanity’s First Space Civilization with Ariel Ekblaw

On StarTalk, Dr. Ariel Ekblaw talks about her work with the Media Lab’s Space Exploration Initiative (SEI) and the Aurelia Institute.
Video Videos

Testing Research in the Arctic for Off-Planet Exploration

A team of scientists, engineers, and designers embark on an Arctic expedition to test space technology.
Post Research

Arctic Space Analog in Svalbard

Space engineers, a geologist, an architect, and a designer journeyed to Svalbard for an expedition with the Space Exploration Initiative
Article Research

Ariel Ekblaw explains the future of space stations

In an interview, Ariel Ekblaw discusses the democratization of access to space and what it means for the future of space stations.
Article Research

Amazon MARS 2022: Day 2 Keynote

Be inspired by Rohit Prasad, SVP and Head Scientist, Alexa AI, Amazon, Tye Brady, Chief Technologist, Amazon Robotics, Dilip Kumar, VP, Phy…
Article Research

The Real Story: NASA's plan to go back to the Moon

A panel of experts, including SEI director Ariel Ekblaw, discusses the history, culture, science, and future of NASA's Artemis program
Article Research

Summer 2022 recommended reading from MIT

Enjoy these recent titles from Institute faculty and staff.
Article Research

MIT Media Lab trials modular tiles that self-assemble into "entirely novel type of space architecture"

Ariel Ekblaw talks about the TESSERAE project, which was tested on the Space Station during the recent Axiom Space AX-1 mission.
Post Research

Zero Gravity Flight 2022

Read about the 2022 zero gravity flight and the projects that flew. This is an annual event hosted by the Space Exploration Initiative.
Article Research

3 Questions: Ariel Ekblaw on building beautiful architecture in space

The TESSERAE project, a design for self-assembling space structures and habitats, has sent prototypes to the International Space Station.
Article Research

Ariel Ekblaw: Space Colonization and Self-Assembling Space Megastructures

Ariel Ekblaw talks about leading the Space Exploration Initiative, self-assembling space architecture, science fiction, + long-term thinking
Post Research

MicroPET is the top finalist for ISS National Lab Sustainability Challenge

Last Friday, the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory gathered a variety of thought leaders at a virtual event to discuss …
Article Research

2021 was the year space tourism opened up. But for whom?

Space Exploration Initiative director Ariel Ekblaw speaks with WIRED’s Ramin Skibba about the beginning and future of space tourism.
Article Research

Into the anthropocosmos with Ariel Ekblaw

A conversation recently aired on Planetary Radio, hosted by Mat Kaplan of the Planetary Society, featuring SEI director Ariel Ekblaw.
Post Research

ISS Mission 2022

This mission marks the Media Lab's fourth rocket launch.
Post Research

Muscle Activity in the MKVII Skinsuit in Simulated Partial Gravity

A blog post describing the main questions, hypotheses, and results of research on the Skinsuit conducted this summer.
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SXSW 2022 PanelPicker Proposals

Media Lab students, faculty, researchers, and affiliates pitching panels at SXSW 2022
Article Research

With the HUMANS project, a message that space is for everyone

Supported by the Space Exploration Initiative, the student-run HUMANS project aims to increase global representation in space.
Article Research

‘Living’ space as the newest frontier: MIT’s Ariel Ekblaw to focus on self-assembling space architecture and habitats in CLS

Ariel Ekblaw spoke at the Chautauqua Institution about her novel space architecture ideas and a call for more dialogue on space ethics.
Post Research

Operating in the Lunar Environment Course

First taught in Spring 2021 and with future versions planned, Operating in the Lunar Environment is a collaboration between MIT AeroAstro …
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Congratulations to everyone graduating in 2021!

This has been an extraordinarily challenging period for all of you, and we couldn't be prouder of your accomplishments.
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Zero Gravity Flight 2021

Founded in 2016 and now in our fifth year, we set our sights on space. The Space Exploration Initiative has since grown to 5…
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Zero Gravity Flight 2020

Founded in 2016 and now in our fifth year, we set our sights on space. The Space Exploration Initiative has since grown to 5…
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Media Lab @ MIT Space Week 2021

The Space Exploration Initiative and Space Enabled research group are participating in this year's Virtual MIT Space Week.
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Beyond the Cradle 2020 Speakers

2020 Speakers Houston we are GO for launch!
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MIT Space Policy Compendium

Read the new MIT Space Policy Compendium led by Dava Newman with co-authors including Ariel Ekblaw and Danielle Wood.
Post Research

Media Lab Research Takes Flight

Space research, led by a diverse team of women scientists, will be presented at this year's AIAA Ascend Conference.
Video Videos

ISS Mission 2020
Article Research

MIT’s robotic tail could aid crew operations in space

Developed by a team of Media Lab researchers, SpaceHuman is a seahorse-inspired additive prosthetic for use in microgravity environments.
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Five MIT payloads deployed on ISS

A cohort of transdisciplinary researchers will study effects of sustained microgravity
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TESSERAE: ISS 30 day mission

On an upcoming SpaceX launch (CRS-20), we are launching seven TESSERAE v3 hardware tiles to the International Space Station.
Article Research

Algae caviar, anyone? What we'll eat on the journey to Mars

Humans are headed for the cosmos, and we’re taking our appetites with us. What will fill the void when we leave Earth behind?
Article Research

How private companies are changing the future of space exploration

Ariel Ekblaw and Charles Bolden consider the future of human spaceflight.
Post Research

ISS Mission 2020

This mission marks the Media Lab's second ever rocket launch, and first launch to the ISS .
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Designing humanity’s future in space

The Space Exploration Initiative’s latest research flight explores work and play in zero gravity
Article Research

Collaboration is key for the future of space exploration, HubWeek scientists say

Ariel Ekblaw presented designs for self-assembling architecture to create habitats for people living and working in low-gravity environments
Article Research

HubWeek 2019 celebrates five years of connecting MIT, Boston, and the world

Greater Boston’s annual festival of ideas finds new avenues for celebrating and connecting innovators.
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SEI Exhibition at Ars Electronica 2019: 50 Years After the Moon

Ars Electronica FestivalSeptember 5-9, 2019 at POSTCITY, Linz, Austria 50 years after the Apollo 11 lunar landing, we are seeing …
Video Videos

To the Moon to Stay - From the Moon with Love

Thursday July 25, 2019 …
Post Research

Zero Gravity Flight 2019

This mission included participation from several departments at MIT and outside collaborators from across the globe.
Article Research

Space exploration and the age of the Anthropocosmos

Joi Ito calls for responsible stewardship of the commons beyond our planet.
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Democratizing Access to Space

When we say we’re “democratizing access to space exploration,” what do we mean?
Post Research

SEI-TRISH application for space health seed funding

Space Exploration Initiative open-call grant opportunitySupported by the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) at Baylo…
Article Research

Six suborbital research payloads from MIT fly to space and back

Space Exploration Initiative research aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard experiment capsule crossed the Karman line for three minutes
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TESSERAE: Suborbital launch test

On May 2nd, 2019 we launched three TESSERAE v2 hardware tiles into space and back! They rode to just over 100km (past the Karman line) on B…
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Six suborbital research payloads fly on Blue Origin New Shepard

The projects on board the Media Lab's first suborbital rocket flight
Article Research

Space is poised for explosive growth. Let’s get it right.

Before low-earth orbit is clogged with hotels, satellite traffic, and debris, we should plan for the extra-planetary community we want.
Article Research

The Future's Coming: Why we need to prepare for sci-fi tomorrows today

Teleportation may have to wait.
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Beyond the Cradle 2019: Gallery
Article Research

The architect designing self-assembling habitats for space

Tomorrow’s space explorers won’t be able to pack traditional, heavy building materials for their missions.