2023-2024 Year in Review
As we reflect on the past fiscal year, we celebrate our growth and honor our collaborators. This year, we expanded our learning offerings to serve middle and high school students, teachers and aerospace professionals. Our dedication to interdisciplinary teaming resulted in 13 pilot projects. The launch of the ASU Space Collective marked a significant milestone, integrating nine commercial companies into both the ASU Space ecosystem and Arizona economy. Our second annual Arizona Space Summit, in collaboration with Northern Arizona University, the University of Arizona, the Arizona Commerce Authority, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council and the Arizona Technology Council, gathered 150 leaders to elevate Arizona as a premier hub for the commercial space sector. Additionally, the introduction of Space-Edge, a multi-university accelerator, is propelling businesses into the new space economy.
2021-2022 Year in Review
This year, we launched a partnership with Blue Origin and Sierra Space to build Orbital Reef, a low-Earth-orbit space station set to launch by the end of this decade. The student lifeguards in our Interplanetary Laboratory ran several projects, from developing a sensor for the NASA mission ExoCam to CubeSat testing a novel laser communications method for the DORA mission. Our technological leadership program graduated its first two students. We also announced funding for eight new and returning pilot projects.
2020-2021 Year in Review
Despite the challenges of this year, the Interplanetary Initiative team has forged forward. In the middle of COVID, we assembled a fantastic advisory board, and in the spring, Jessica Rousset joined us as deputy director and Katherine McConachie joined us as director of learning. Part of our work has been an in-depth strategy, vision and mission process. We announced the launch of OpenCitizen, our team-based problem-solving program for learners anywhere in the world, and we announced a new partnership with XPRIZE. We are ramping up our efforts to create networks of collaboration that drive a positive, inclusive, sustainable space exploration and habitation future. Onward, and so glad to be on this voyage together.
2019-2020 Year in Review
- Leveraged existing expertise in online teamwork and problem-solving education to quickly adapt to COVID-19 pandemic challenges.
- Successfully transitioned classes to virtual format within one week’s notice.
- Developed a new interdisciplinary team-building research process.
- Built and launched an innovative three-year Bachelor of Science program in technological leadership, focused on workforce needs.
- Seed-funded approximately 20 interdisciplinary projects.
- Opened a space hardware build-and-test laboratory dedicated to projects with external partners.
- Initiated experiments to build positive space futures, inviting broad participation.
2018-2019 Year in Review
- Initiated and funded 17 new research pilot projects.
- Successfully held the inaugural convening, bringing together leading thinkers to collaborate on shaping the future of space exploration.
- Invited broader participation in the Interplanetary Initiative, encouraging others to join in the journey of exploration and discovery.
2017-2018 Year in Review
- Funded the first 11 new pilot projects aimed at testing the concept of asking Big Questions to advance knowledge.
- Launched collaborations with seven organizations.
2016
- Conceived of, organized and began the Interplanetary Initiative to create broadly interdisciplinary projects that approach questions needed for our space future and position ASU as the thought leader of the future of humans in space.
- Hosted two Interplanetary “Big Questions” teaming workshops to re-imagine research and education around big questions rather than individual experts.
- Engaged ~170 faculty members from 50 schools and centers across ASU to create this initiative.
- Official launch of Interplanetary was Jan. 18, 2017, with our first “Big Questions” workshop.