I’ve been studying astronaut psychology since Apollo − a long voyage to Mars in a confined space could raise stress levels and make the journey more challenging

Can astronauts spend prolonged time in close quarters millions of miles from Earth without killing each other?

Nick Kanas, Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco • conversation
Feb. 21, 2024 • ~8 min

Spending time in space can harm the human body − but scientists are working to mitigate these risks before sending people to Mars

Space can damage everything from your cardiovascular and nervous systems to your mental health – long voyages can feel isolating for many.

Rachael Seidler, Professor of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology, University of Florida • conversation
Sept. 19, 2023 • ~8 min

Space experiments could shed light on osteoporosis

Researchers sent experiments to the International Space Station in order to learn more about bone density loss in space and back on Earth.

Jim Lynch-Michigan • futurity
Nov. 14, 2022 • ~7 min

Lessons on diplomacy, sustainability of International Space Station

Soyeon Yi, the first Korean astronaut, details her experiences with Americans and Russians while on a mission on the International Space Station.

Nikki Rojas • harvard
May 10, 2022 • ~5 min

Life in space: Preparing for an increasingly tangible reality

The Space Exploration Initiative supports research across and beyond MIT in two microgravity flights this spring.

Sarah Beckmann | MIT Media Lab • mit
July 28, 2021 • ~10 min

Team ignites ‘cool flames’ in microgravity of space

Experiments in microgravity aboard the International Space Station have allowed researchers to observe "cool flames" that can't be created on Earth.

Brandie Jefferson-WUSTL • futurity
July 26, 2021 • ~4 min

‘Gecko gripper’ could clean up space junk

The "gecko gripper," equipped with grippy but not sticky adhesives, could prove well-suited for space tasks such as collecting debris and fixing satellites.

Taylor Kubota-Stanford • futurity
May 21, 2021 • ~6 min

Solar power stations in space could be the answer to our energy needs

How solar power stations in orbit could become a reality in the coming decades.

Stefania Soldini, Lecturer in Aerospace Engineering, University of Liverpool • conversation
Nov. 19, 2020 • ~6 min

The International Space Station at 20 offers hope and a template for future cooperation

Humans have been living on the International Space Station for two full decades. So what comes next for this ailing technology, and what does it mean for future International ventures in space?

Wendy Whitman Cobb, Professor of Strategy and Security Studies, US Air Force School of Advanced Air and Space Studies • conversation
Nov. 4, 2020 • ~7 min

SpaceX: Crew Dragon is returning to Earth – here’s when to hold your breath

Extreme velocities and temperatures makes the return flight to Earth the most perilous part of a space mission.

Heather Muir, PhD in Computational Physics, University of Cambridge • conversation
July 30, 2020 • ~6 min

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