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Reach new heights with the MIT Satellite Team 🛰️🎈 Founded by Course 16 undergrads Aleksander Garbuz ‘28 and Emily Alemán ‘28, the new team has grown from a small group of friends into an organized student effort focused on hands-on spacecraft development, systems engineering, and flight testing. Follow their progress on upcoming missions (including details about Phase I of mission LEONIRD’s high-altitude balloon journey) through the 🔗 link in our bio.

📸:
1. LEONIRD launch team in New York. Selfie taken by Chris '29. From left to right: Ryan '29, Izaan '28, Armaan '29, Liam '29, Mirabelle '29, Akshay '28, Emily '28, Aleks '28, Sebastián '29, Pranav '27, Ajibola '29, and Asael ‘28.
2. Akshay and Aleks find the payload in New Hampshire. GoPro can be seen on the chassis.
3. LEONIRD's spectrometer, a crossed Czerny-Turner design, built to operate in the stratosphere and cover 200–500 nm wavelengths with ~0.5 nm resolution by team member Ryan Tang.
4. Reps Kareenah Shah '27, Emily Alemán '28, Izaan Rizvi, Sebastián Perdomo Hernández, and Divya Krishna '29 at the @mitedgertoncenter showcase.

Reach new heights with the MIT Satellite Team 🛰️🎈 Founded by Course 16 undergrads Aleksander Garbuz ‘28 and Emily Alemán ‘28, the new team has grown from a small group of friends into an organized student effort focused on hands-on spacecraft development, systems engineering, and flight testing. Follow their progress on upcoming missions (including details about Phase I of mission LEONIRD’s high-altitude balloon journey) through the 🔗 link in our bio.

📸:
1. LEONIRD launch team in New York. Selfie taken by Chris '29. From left to right: Ryan '29, Izaan '28, Armaan '29, Liam '29, Mirabelle '29, Akshay '28, Emily '28, Aleks '28, Sebastián '29, Pranav '27, Ajibola '29, and Asael ‘28.
2. Akshay and Aleks find the payload in New Hampshire. GoPro can be seen on the chassis.
3. LEONIRD's spectrometer, a crossed Czerny-Turner design, built to operate in the stratosphere and cover 200–500 nm wavelengths with ~0.5 nm resolution by team member Ryan Tang.
4. Reps Kareenah Shah '27, Emily Alemán '28, Izaan Rizvi, Sebastián Perdomo Hernández, and Divya Krishna '29 at the @mitedgertoncenter showcase.

Reach new heights with the MIT Satellite Team 🛰️🎈 Founded by Course 16 undergrads Aleksander Garbuz ‘28 and Emily Alemán ‘28, the new team has grown from a small group of friends into an organized student effort focused on hands-on spacecraft development, systems engineering, and flight testing. Follow their progress on upcoming missions (including details about Phase I of mission LEONIRD’s high-altitude balloon journey) through the 🔗 link in our bio.

📸:
1. LEONIRD launch team in New York. Selfie taken by Chris '29. From left to right: Ryan '29, Izaan '28, Armaan '29, Liam '29, Mirabelle '29, Akshay '28, Emily '28, Aleks '28, Sebastián '29, Pranav '27, Ajibola '29, and Asael ‘28.
2. Akshay and Aleks find the payload in New Hampshire. GoPro can be seen on the chassis.
3. LEONIRD's spectrometer, a crossed Czerny-Turner design, built to operate in the stratosphere and cover 200–500 nm wavelengths with ~0.5 nm resolution by team member Ryan Tang.
4. Reps Kareenah Shah '27, Emily Alemán '28, Izaan Rizvi, Sebastián Perdomo Hernández, and Divya Krishna '29 at the @mitedgertoncenter showcase.

Reach new heights with the MIT Satellite Team 🛰️🎈 Founded by Course 16 undergrads Aleksander Garbuz ‘28 and Emily Alemán ‘28, the new team has grown from a small group of friends into an organized student effort focused on hands-on spacecraft development, systems engineering, and flight testing. Follow their progress on upcoming missions (including details about Phase I of mission LEONIRD’s high-altitude balloon journey) through the 🔗 link in our bio.

📸:
1. LEONIRD launch team in New York. Selfie taken by Chris '29. From left to right: Ryan '29, Izaan '28, Armaan '29, Liam '29, Mirabelle '29, Akshay '28, Emily '28, Aleks '28, Sebastián '29, Pranav '27, Ajibola '29, and Asael ‘28.
2. Akshay and Aleks find the payload in New Hampshire. GoPro can be seen on the chassis.
3. LEONIRD's spectrometer, a crossed Czerny-Turner design, built to operate in the stratosphere and cover 200–500 nm wavelengths with ~0.5 nm resolution by team member Ryan Tang.
4. Reps Kareenah Shah '27, Emily Alemán '28, Izaan Rizvi, Sebastián Perdomo Hernández, and Divya Krishna '29 at the @mitedgertoncenter showcase.

A 100-year-old technology is helping keep seniors safe at home — without a single camera.

@MITAeroAstro researcher @dominique_regli uses radar and machine learning to:

👀 Detect falls in real time
🌙 Flag unusual nighttime activity
🍳 Recognize daily routines like cooking, eating, sleeping

The secret? Combining machine learning with reasoning-based models that generalize across new spaces.

The result is private and adaptable care technology that helps seniors stay independent longer.

Wonder what else you can learn? Visit learn.mit.edu.

#AgeTech #SeniorSafety #HealthInnovation #MachineLearning

A new research proposal led by grad student Kyle Horn explores how we could one day study Venus for years using an aerobot that operates within its dense, toxic, and blisteringly hot atmosphere. The work combines aerial robotics with in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), meaning the vehicle could potentially use Venus’ atmosphere to help sustain long-duration missions instead of relying entirely on preloaded supplies.
Read more at the 🔗 link in our bio.

📸: A prototype aerobot getting ready for a sunrise test flight at Black Rock Desert, Nevada, by team members from NASA JPL and the Near Space Corporation. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Many congratulations to WeLEAP mentor, Palak Patel for winning the Torch Bearers in Aerospace 2026 award by @aiaaerospace New England Chapter.
Palak is a senior PhD student at @mitaeroastro NECST lab focusing on extreme environment space materials research for designing advance spacesuits, habitats, spacecraft thermal protection systems, etc. She is a @nasa NSTGRO fellow, and have interned at @isro.dos working on waveguides. Cheers to Palak and WeLEAP team!
Thanks to event hosting partners @draperlab !
#aerospace #nasa #isro #spaceresearch #award

Many congratulations to WeLEAP mentor, Palak Patel for winning the Torch Bearers in Aerospace 2026 award by @aiaaerospace New England Chapter.
Palak is a senior PhD student at @mitaeroastro NECST lab focusing on extreme environment space materials research for designing advance spacesuits, habitats, spacecraft thermal protection systems, etc. She is a @nasa NSTGRO fellow, and have interned at @isro.dos working on waveguides. Cheers to Palak and WeLEAP team!
Thanks to event hosting partners @draperlab !
#aerospace #nasa #isro #spaceresearch #award

Happy National Bike and Roll to School Day! Enjoy these three simple tips for fixing your bike from Neal Carlson SM ’65, EAA ’65, PhD ’69. 🚲 🔧 🚴

At the link in the bio, learn more about how Carlson volunteers his time to restore bikes.

Happy National Bike and Roll to School Day! Enjoy these three simple tips for fixing your bike from Neal Carlson SM ’65, EAA ’65, PhD ’69. 🚲 🔧 🚴

At the link in the bio, learn more about how Carlson volunteers his time to restore bikes.

Happy National Bike and Roll to School Day! Enjoy these three simple tips for fixing your bike from Neal Carlson SM ’65, EAA ’65, PhD ’69. 🚲 🔧 🚴

At the link in the bio, learn more about how Carlson volunteers his time to restore bikes.

Happy National Bike and Roll to School Day! Enjoy these three simple tips for fixing your bike from Neal Carlson SM ’65, EAA ’65, PhD ’69. 🚲 🔧 🚴

At the link in the bio, learn more about how Carlson volunteers his time to restore bikes.

Happy National Bike and Roll to School Day! Enjoy these three simple tips for fixing your bike from Neal Carlson SM ’65, EAA ’65, PhD ’69. 🚲 🔧 🚴

At the link in the bio, learn more about how Carlson volunteers his time to restore bikes.

Happy National Bike and Roll to School Day! Enjoy these three simple tips for fixing your bike from Neal Carlson SM ’65, EAA ’65, PhD ’69. 🚲 🔧 🚴

At the link in the bio, learn more about how Carlson volunteers his time to restore bikes.

Happy National Bike and Roll to School Day! Enjoy these three simple tips for fixing your bike from Neal Carlson SM ’65, EAA ’65, PhD ’69. 🚲 🔧 🚴

At the link in the bio, learn more about how Carlson volunteers his time to restore bikes.

@mitrocketteam’s Project Zephyrus hit Mach 1.2, pulled ~34 Gs, and climbed to 14,800 ft on its latest launch. Roll stabilization kept it steady until an early cutoff, airbrakes successfully deployed during ascent, and tracking stayed locked the entire time. All came down clean on the drogue parachute before a hard landing when the main chute didn’t deploy, but Zephyrus is still on target to hit 100,000 ft in early June.

🔊 Sound on, can’t miss liftoff on #NationalSpaceDay 🚀

@mitrocketteam’s Project Zephyrus hit Mach 1.2, pulled ~34 Gs, and climbed to 14,800 ft on its latest launch. Roll stabilization kept it steady until an early cutoff, airbrakes successfully deployed during ascent, and tracking stayed locked the entire time. All came down clean on the drogue parachute before a hard landing when the main chute didn’t deploy, but Zephyrus is still on target to hit 100,000 ft in early June.

🔊 Sound on, can’t miss liftoff on #NationalSpaceDay 🚀

@mitrocketteam’s Project Zephyrus hit Mach 1.2, pulled ~34 Gs, and climbed to 14,800 ft on its latest launch. Roll stabilization kept it steady until an early cutoff, airbrakes successfully deployed during ascent, and tracking stayed locked the entire time. All came down clean on the drogue parachute before a hard landing when the main chute didn’t deploy, but Zephyrus is still on target to hit 100,000 ft in early June.

🔊 Sound on, can’t miss liftoff on #NationalSpaceDay 🚀

@mitrocketteam’s Project Zephyrus hit Mach 1.2, pulled ~34 Gs, and climbed to 14,800 ft on its latest launch. Roll stabilization kept it steady until an early cutoff, airbrakes successfully deployed during ascent, and tracking stayed locked the entire time. All came down clean on the drogue parachute before a hard landing when the main chute didn’t deploy, but Zephyrus is still on target to hit 100,000 ft in early June.

🔊 Sound on, can’t miss liftoff on #NationalSpaceDay 🚀

@mitrocketteam’s Project Zephyrus hit Mach 1.2, pulled ~34 Gs, and climbed to 14,800 ft on its latest launch. Roll stabilization kept it steady until an early cutoff, airbrakes successfully deployed during ascent, and tracking stayed locked the entire time. All came down clean on the drogue parachute before a hard landing when the main chute didn’t deploy, but Zephyrus is still on target to hit 100,000 ft in early June.

🔊 Sound on, can’t miss liftoff on #NationalSpaceDay 🚀

@mitrocketteam’s Project Zephyrus hit Mach 1.2, pulled ~34 Gs, and climbed to 14,800 ft on its latest launch. Roll stabilization kept it steady until an early cutoff, airbrakes successfully deployed during ascent, and tracking stayed locked the entire time. All came down clean on the drogue parachute before a hard landing when the main chute didn’t deploy, but Zephyrus is still on target to hit 100,000 ft in early June.

🔊 Sound on, can’t miss liftoff on #NationalSpaceDay 🚀

@mitrocketteam’s Project Zephyrus hit Mach 1.2, pulled ~34 Gs, and climbed to 14,800 ft on its latest launch. Roll stabilization kept it steady until an early cutoff, airbrakes successfully deployed during ascent, and tracking stayed locked the entire time. All came down clean on the drogue parachute before a hard landing when the main chute didn’t deploy, but Zephyrus is still on target to hit 100,000 ft in early June.

🔊 Sound on, can’t miss liftoff on #NationalSpaceDay 🚀

@mitrocketteam’s Project Zephyrus hit Mach 1.2, pulled ~34 Gs, and climbed to 14,800 ft on its latest launch. Roll stabilization kept it steady until an early cutoff, airbrakes successfully deployed during ascent, and tracking stayed locked the entire time. All came down clean on the drogue parachute before a hard landing when the main chute didn’t deploy, but Zephyrus is still on target to hit 100,000 ft in early June.

🔊 Sound on, can’t miss liftoff on #NationalSpaceDay 🚀

@mitrocketteam’s Project Zephyrus hit Mach 1.2, pulled ~34 Gs, and climbed to 14,800 ft on its latest launch. Roll stabilization kept it steady until an early cutoff, airbrakes successfully deployed during ascent, and tracking stayed locked the entire time. All came down clean on the drogue parachute before a hard landing when the main chute didn’t deploy, but Zephyrus is still on target to hit 100,000 ft in early June.

🔊 Sound on, can’t miss liftoff on #NationalSpaceDay 🚀

@mitrocketteam’s Project Zephyrus hit Mach 1.2, pulled ~34 Gs, and climbed to 14,800 ft on its latest launch. Roll stabilization kept it steady until an early cutoff, airbrakes successfully deployed during ascent, and tracking stayed locked the entire time. All came down clean on the drogue parachute before a hard landing when the main chute didn’t deploy, but Zephyrus is still on target to hit 100,000 ft in early June.

🔊 Sound on, can’t miss liftoff on #NationalSpaceDay 🚀

How was it to be weightless? ⚖️

From the video you can see Sebastian completing one of the zero-G flights in Bordeaux as part of the research project with Lonnie Petersen and the Aerospace Physiology Lab of MIT.

During the flight, the team tested lower body negative pressure suits and collected performance data in microgravity conditions. What an incredible way to learn more about the human body in space.

This was one of the most mind-blowing experiences to date, and hopefully not the last time being in zero G!
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.

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#SAGASpaceArchitects #Research #Space #MIT #ZeroG

We are proud to announce that WeLEAP mentor, Dr. Rong Ma has been awarded Young Professional award 2026 by @aiaaerospace New England Chapter. Thanks to our event host and partner @draperlab !
Dr. Ma is a postdoc at @mitaeroastro and her research focuses on using advanced AI methods for turbulence closure modeling. She received her PhD from @umntwincities in Aerospace Engineering.

#umnproud #mit #award #aiaa #womenintech

“I want to bring an expert level in science in the rooms where policy decisions are made.”
While earning her dual master’s degrees in aeronautics and astronautics and public policy, Carissma McGee SM ‘25 learned to navigate between two seemingly distinct worlds, bridging rigorous technical analysis and policy decisions.

Read her story in MIT News at the 🔗 link in our bio.

“I want to bring an expert level in science in the rooms where policy decisions are made.”
While earning her dual master’s degrees in aeronautics and astronautics and public policy, Carissma McGee SM ‘25 learned to navigate between two seemingly distinct worlds, bridging rigorous technical analysis and policy decisions.

Read her story in MIT News at the 🔗 link in our bio.

Before he was modeling the future of space traffic, Prof. Richard Linares’ interest in science “came from the universe and trying to understand our place within it.” That curiosity has shaped a career at the intersection of aerospace engineering, data, and autonomy, where he now helps satellites find their “place” and trajectory in increasingly crowded orbits. 🛰️

Read his story at the 🔗link in our bio.

Three – that’s right, three – MIT student teams from the Space Resources Workshop have been named finalists in the 2026 @nasa RASC-AL Competition! This year’s finalist teams were selected for their proposals in three out of four theme categories:

🟠 Theme 1: MELIORA: Mars Exploration Layered Infrastructure for Operations, Research, and Advancement proposes a robust, high-data-rate connection between Earth and Mars to support future human missions.
🌘 Theme 2: ECLIPSE: Exploration-Class Lunar Integrated Power SystEm proposes a lunar surface power system for future Moon bases.
🍔 Theme 4: CHEESEBURGER: CLPS-enabled Highly-autonomous End-to-End isru-System Evaluations to Build Understanding and Resilient Growth by Experimenting with Regolith is not, in fact, about lunar snacking, but a proposal for lunar surface manufacturing technology experiments using lunar regolith.

We’ll be following along as these teams head to the RASC-AL Forum in June to present their work. Check out their projects at the 🔗 link in our bio!

Three – that’s right, three – MIT student teams from the Space Resources Workshop have been named finalists in the 2026 @nasa RASC-AL Competition! This year’s finalist teams were selected for their proposals in three out of four theme categories:

🟠 Theme 1: MELIORA: Mars Exploration Layered Infrastructure for Operations, Research, and Advancement proposes a robust, high-data-rate connection between Earth and Mars to support future human missions.
🌘 Theme 2: ECLIPSE: Exploration-Class Lunar Integrated Power SystEm proposes a lunar surface power system for future Moon bases.
🍔 Theme 4: CHEESEBURGER: CLPS-enabled Highly-autonomous End-to-End isru-System Evaluations to Build Understanding and Resilient Growth by Experimenting with Regolith is not, in fact, about lunar snacking, but a proposal for lunar surface manufacturing technology experiments using lunar regolith.

We’ll be following along as these teams head to the RASC-AL Forum in June to present their work. Check out their projects at the 🔗 link in our bio!

Three – that’s right, three – MIT student teams from the Space Resources Workshop have been named finalists in the 2026 @nasa RASC-AL Competition! This year’s finalist teams were selected for their proposals in three out of four theme categories:

🟠 Theme 1: MELIORA: Mars Exploration Layered Infrastructure for Operations, Research, and Advancement proposes a robust, high-data-rate connection between Earth and Mars to support future human missions.
🌘 Theme 2: ECLIPSE: Exploration-Class Lunar Integrated Power SystEm proposes a lunar surface power system for future Moon bases.
🍔 Theme 4: CHEESEBURGER: CLPS-enabled Highly-autonomous End-to-End isru-System Evaluations to Build Understanding and Resilient Growth by Experimenting with Regolith is not, in fact, about lunar snacking, but a proposal for lunar surface manufacturing technology experiments using lunar regolith.

We’ll be following along as these teams head to the RASC-AL Forum in June to present their work. Check out their projects at the 🔗 link in our bio!

We are proud to announce that Afreen Siddiqi, Research Scientist in the Engineering Systems Laboratory, has been named to the 101st class of Guggenheim Fellows (@guggfellows) for her work in geography and environmental studies!

“Our new class of Guggenheim Fellows is representative of the world’s best thinkers, innovators, and creators in art, science, and scholarship,” said Edward Hirsch, award-winning poet and President of the Guggenheim Foundation. “We are honored to support their visionary contributions.” 🏅