Sean Auffinger

MIT Space Exploration Initiative Mission Integrator
Contact Information:
Groups
Post Research

Castrol collaboration supports research on Lunar Landings

Castrol supports the AstroAnt Payload Program, a robotic swarm designed for tasks on spacecraft, rovers, and landers.
Post Research

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.
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.
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.
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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
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BioX2: Biological Exploration Payload 2

BioX2 (Biological Exploration Payload 2) is targeted for launch to the International Space Station (ISS) in October 2022 to be a technolog…
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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.
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MIT Flies on Blue Origin New Shepard NS-17

On August 26, 2021, the MIT  Space Exploration Initiative launched to space and back with Blue Origin a second time. The payload, a pr…
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SEI Space Analog Mission Application 2022

SEI Space Analog Mission Application 2022 
Post Research

ISS Mission 2022

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

Zero Gravity Flight 2024

Founded in 2016 and now in our eighth year, we set our sights on space. The Space Exploration Initiative has since grown to …