Uniting people from all fields to pursue ideas and solutions that benefit life on Earth and beyond.
How projects work
We are working toward a future in space that prioritizes people and environments, on and off world. We do this by uniting experts from different fields to research and learn together. Our goal is to explore new ideas and solutions that benefit everyone, driven by our curiosity and desire to make a positive impact.
Our research projects promote equitable access to space, ethical standards, inclusive participation and sustainable solutions.
Pilots
Interdisciplinary and cross-sector teams that are seed funded to address big questions about our future in space.
Fellowship
An annual program for visiting scholars to pursue bold, interdisciplinary projects that advance research areas key to Interplanetary’s mission.
Laboratory
A student-driven facility that supports the full lifecycle of spaceflight hardware and provides services to industry and faculty partners.
Filter your results
Breakthrough Starshot
How can ultrafast light-driven nanocrafts lay the foundation for a launch to Alpha Centauri?
Century-Scale Space
Can we design space organizations to thrive for over a century?
Charlotte
How can we enhance our understanding of technical terrain environments?
Coconut
How can we enable low-cost data collection from remote, low-power Earth-based locations with innovative solutions?
Commons in Space
How will shared resources in space, from satellites and space debris to mining of celestial bodies, be managed?
Community in a Box
How do we start creative conversations around off-world community-building?
Customer Discovery-Led Study of the Space Economy
Who are the customers of the space economy and what are their needs?
DEIA Service Model Offering
Can we establish a model that turns insights into action and see results that create an inclusive, diverse, equitable and accessible environment for the space industry?
Deployable Optical Receiver Aperture
How can we Improve satellite communications with precision pointing accuracy?
Research project news
ASU’s Interplanetary Initiative adds three new pilot projects that will champion innovative concepts for societal impact
August 28, 2024
Arizona State University’s Interplanetary Initiative continues to drive innovation with its seed funding program by advancing…
Interplanetary Initiative’s pilot project program creates runway for real-world impact
November 27, 2023 | Shireen Dooling
The Interplanetary Initiative at Arizona State University unites academia, industry and government to launch space…
Interplanetary Initiative expands pilot project portfolio, addressing range of topics
June 27, 2022 | Sally Young
Throughout the year, the Interplanetary Initiative has brought together members of the Arizona State University community…
Project impact
The Interplanetary Initiative’s goal is to explore new ideas and solutions that benefit everyone, driven by our curiosity and desire to make a positive impact. Our research projects promote equitable access to space, ethical standards, inclusive participation and sustainable solutions. Explore some of our past projects to learn about their impact.
53
Research projects
111
Collaborating organizations
5.7x
Return on seed investments
Get in touch
Are you interested in getting involved with the Interplanetary Lab? Do you have questions about our work?