ASU Undergraduates Contribute to Cutting-Edge Space Research Through Interplanetary Initiative Program

During the fall 2024 semester, students in the ASU Interplanetary Initiative’s Undergraduate Research Scholars Program (IIURSP) gained hands-on space research experience exploring commercial space partnerships, lunar infrastructure, the psychology of space travel, and more.

Originally seed-funded by The College of Liberal Arts and Science’s award-winning Online Undergraduate Research Scholars (OURS) program, IIURSP has since grown into an opportunity for undergraduates from all majors and disciplines to engage in meaningful research. In Fall 2024, 16 students joined faculty and industry professionals—including scientists, engineers, artists, legal experts, and business leaders—to investigate key questions shaping the future of space exploration.

We spoke with three outstanding students about their experiences, the skills they gained, and how IIURSP shaped their career ambitions.

Aerospace engineering senior Meilyn Guas Perez explored sustainable construction on the Moon as part of the Interplanetary Initiative’s Lunar Minimum Viable Infrastructure (Lunar MVI) project. Collaborating with experts such as ASU assistant professor of sustainability Oswald Chong and space lawyer Charles Horikami, she investigated how lunar regolith—moondust—could be used to 3D print structures, reducing reliance on Earth-based materials. Her interdisciplinary research combined engineering, planetary geology, and sustainability to assess cost-effective, long-term solutions for space habitats.

"Approaching this project from an interdisciplinary perspective allowed us to integrate expertise from engineering, material science, planetary geology, and sustainability, leading to a more holistic and viable design," Perez explained. "The combination of aerospace engineering and material science was crucial for selecting durable construction materials, while knowledge of planetary geology helped determine the feasibility of extracting and processing lunar regolith. Incorporating sustainability principles, such as ISRU and closed-loop life support systems, ensured that our designs prioritized long-term self-sufficiency."

Perez noted that this research significantly impacted her academic and career goals. "Working on a large-scale infrastructure project expanded my ability to approach engineering problems with long-term planning in mind, considering factors such as adaptability, resource availability, and environmental constraints."

Marketing senior Drake Tasev explored commercial space partnerships as part of the Interplanetary Initiative's efforts to establish a business case for United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #17, which emphasizes global cooperation. Working with Interplanetary Initiative executive director Jessica Rousset, Tasev investigated how connecting commercial space companies, academia, and emerging spacefaring nations could strengthen global partnerships.

Tasev contributed to the development of the Partnership Motivation Index (PMI), a framework designed to help commercial entities and emerging nations identify shared goals and motivations for space collaboration. By speaking with industry leaders from companies such as Blue Origin and Northrop Grumman, he explored how matchmaking larger organizations with smaller partners could promote equitable growth in the space sector.

"With a sales background, I was able to focus more on the relationship-building aspect as well as the sales process," Tasev said. "It was helpful to incorporate perspectives from teammates who had quantitative backgrounds and bounce ideas off one another throughout the project."

Tasev’s experience highlights how diverse skill sets can advance space research. "It was great to learn about the space industry on a new level and apply a marketing perspective to the project," he said.

Aerospace engineering senior Sayantika Choudhury contributed to the Interplanetary Initiative's Space Travelers Archive project, investigating how spaceflight alters self-perception. Guided by experts including ASU professor in the School of Music, Dance and Theatre and Interplanetary Initiative associate director Lance Gharavi, soft roboticist and artist Kari Love, and sociologist Inga Popovaite, she developed a research rubric for analyzing astronaut experiences before, during, and after missions. Her research drew from more than a dozen scholarly articles on space psychology and medicine, as well as qualitative analyses of mission logs, astronaut interviews, and expert advice. Her work highlights the importance of psychological resilience in long-duration space travel and contributes to future astronaut well-being initiatives.

"I gained hands-on experience in qualitative research methods, including literature reviews, semi-structured interviews, and narrative analysis," Choudhury said. "Building a strong literature foundation across disciplines and maintaining clear communication with experts ensured our research was both methodologically sound and applicable to real-world space missions."

Reflecting on her experience, Choudhury shared how it has shaped her professional interests. "This project has significantly influenced my career trajectory. It solidified my passion for space exploration and human factors research. I now aspire to integrate my aerospace engineering background with space psychology, with the long-term goal of contributing to astronaut well-being and mission success."

IIURSP has engaged nearly 60 ASU undergraduates from 30 different majors since its inception, demonstrating the value of interdisciplinary collaboration in space research. As the space sector expands, the program equips students with skills for careers that will shape the future of exploration, industry, and governance.

Students interested in joining IIURSP can sign up to be notified when fall 2025 applications open. For general updates on ASU’s space-related opportunities and events, subscribe to the ASU Space student email list and Interplanetary Initiative newsletter.

Written by Adrianna Nine