Our Current Projects
Zero-G
Design and build microgravity experiments! The experiment will have a chance to fly on a ZeroG flight(possibly with you!), the ISS, and in a suborbital flight!
Cube-Sat
Testing and improving the readiness of MIT's electrospray thrusters! Working with Northeastern and Tuft students on real satellite parts and cheap prototypes!
Project Viriditas
Project Viriditas is the astrobiology division of SEDS. We investigate the properties and life cycles of terrestrial organisms in extraterrestrial environments. We have grown lupines and Datura innoxia in Lunar regolith simulant and are now attempting to grow mycelium in Martian regolith simulant. We are seeking participants from any and all disciplines. Come help us fill the cosmos with life! Email emmettmathison@gmail.com to get involved
Our Past Projects
Business Pitch Competition (2018)
2nd place in SEDS Business Pitch Competition 2018
The SEDS team pitched an artificial gravity space station at Space Vision 2018 to take home 2nd place in a competition judged by prominent industry members.
SEDS Space Seminar (2018)
Out seminar aimed at educating attendees about all things space. Speakers included a range of speakers from Pete Worden, chairman of the Breakthrough Initiative, to Justus Killian, a venture capitalist specializing in Space start-ups.
Designing a Robotic Space Tug (2018)
2nd Place in SEDS Satellite Design Competition
As advances in technology push us further into space, space craft must be designed to meet various mission needs. The space tug is a concept craft that has potential to revolutionize the commercial as well as the governmental space industries. We are designing a robotic space tug for the 2018 SEDS national satellite design competition. Our design was aimed at solving the space tug 'chicken and egg' problem where satellite manufacturers wouldn't create a universal docking port due to the non-existance of satellite servicers, and satellite servicers had a hard time finding a servicing mission due to the lack of a universal docking port on satellites. Additionally, our design targeted satellites in LEO as opposed to GEO, where current missions are headed.
Become an Astronaut (Neutral Buoyancy Competition)
Ever wanted to be an astronaut? MIT SEDS is preparing to recreate a neutral buoyancy system used to train NASA astronauts right here at MIT during the annual "Become an astronaut competition". Participants will test their mettle and compete with each other to perform astronaut related tasks at the MIT pool. Want to get involved with this event? Contact nmehrle'at'mit.edu!
Climate CubeSat Co-Building (C3)
Members of SEDS at MIT are volunteering to help high schoolers build a cubesat. Volunteers are teaching topics that will allow the high schoolers to build their own satellite. Contact manweic'at'mit.edu for more info.
Cubesat Build
We are building ADORE, a 1U cubesat designed to use electrospray thrusters to perform ADCS and orbit raising. Check out our website at https://adoresat.com/. Please contact itorres'at'mit.edu and manweic'at'mit.edu if interested in joining!