Today’s episode features a conversation on topics like geodesic dome habitats, microgravity concert halls, space cathedrals, and creating a real-life Starfleet Academy. Our guest, Ariel Ekblaw, has been thinking about these topics for a long time. Ultimately, she leads a number of initiatives focused on preparing us to become a thriving space-faring species.
Bio in brief: Ariel is director of the MIT Space Exploration Initiative (SEI), as well as the cofounder and CEO of the Aurelia Institute. Situated within the MIT Media Lab, SEI supports 40+ research projects and includes a team of 50+ students, staff, and faculty.
As for the Aurelia Institute, which is Ariel’s quote-unquote “new thing”...well, it’s a nonprofit space architecture R&D lab, education & outreach center, and policy hub. Ariel tells Ryan a bit more about what the institute has cooking for 2023.
Chapters:
00:00 Pathfinder’s new music
02:13 Welcome, Ariel
04:58 The MIT Media Lab
05:59 The MIT Space Exploration Initiative
08:37 Engineers, artists, and scientists working elbow-to-elbow
10:39 Parabolic, suborbital, and orbital flights
11:44 What sci-fi works does Ariel draw inspiration from?
14:18 Taking an idea from conception to launch
17:26 The Aurelia Institute’s three main pillars
20:40 TESSERAE + self-assembling space architecture
24:27 New technology that pairs nicely with TESSERAE
27:30 Swarm technology
28:57 Biomimicry
31:00 How would she use Starship or another next-generation launcher?
32:24 Anthropomorphic technology for space
35:56 The AI Age + space
41:34 Democratization…“Let’s take back the [redacted] word”...and expanding accessibility in space
44:37 The gateway drug to space exploration
49:21 Advice for young listeners looking to make a dent in the universe
