Flight Missions
The Space Exploration Initiative takes an iterative approach to testing and deployments—from parabolic flights, to suborbital launches, to the International Space Station, and soon the surface of the moon. The SEI facilitates microgravity research across MIT Media Lab, several departments at MIT and outside collaborators. Among these SEI-supported launch opportunities were the Media Lab’s first ever suborbital and ISS missions and MIT’s first-ever launch contract with Blue Origin.
Lunar Missions
The rise in commercial launch providers associated with the NASA Artemis Program offers MIT a promising new route to the Moon. Akin to the revolution in small satellite “rideshares” that enabled a wave of CubeSat launches and innovation, launch opportunities are now emerging on which we can manifest multiple MIT payloads on NASA-anchored missions to the lunar surface (via CLPS, the Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative). With payload concepts growing out of a novel graduate course co-taught by SEI and MIT AeroAstro in Spring 2021, MIT is poised to field several payloads in the next 6-18 months, with more to come as research matures.
Through a mission integration and launch program to be led by the SEI, for the benefit of all MIT community members, we are in the process of preparing for an Institute-wide “MIT Returns to the Moon to Stay” lunar surface mission.
International Space Station
In March 2020, the SEI launched five payloads to the ISS on SpaceX CRS- 20. The payloads were deployed over a 30 day internal mission, allowing the research teams to study the effects of microgravity, on-station radiation, and launch loads on their hardware. This mission marks the Media Lab’s first launch to the ISS and a major milestone for the Space Exploration Initiative. We have since chartered additional deployments, including 4 payloads to launch together on another 30 day mission in December 2021.
Suborbital Launches
The SEI launched six payloads on Blue Origin’s suborbital rocket, New Shepard, in May 2019. These payloads crossed the 100 km Karman line and tested research during three minutes of sustained microgravity inside the capsule before returning safely to earth. This mission marks MIT’s first research launch with Blue Origin, and MIT Media Lab’s first suborbital launch. The SEI launched with Blue Origin again in August 2021, has confirmed slots on an additional 2 launches, and intends to regularly offer suborbital launch opportunities as part of the milestone development for projects accepted into our continuation portfolio.
Zero-G Parabolic Flights
The SEI charters an annual ZERO-G parabolic flight for up to 14 projects and 25 researchers across MIT Media Lab, several departments at MIT, and outside collaborators. The ZERO-G aircraft flies multiple parabolas (or extended arcs in the sky) to generate repeated periods of 15-20 seconds of weightlessness for the flyers and their research. This experience offers new and old SEI members, alike, an unparalleled opportunity to personally accompany their research and experience the counter-intuitive nature of microgravity.