Natural Capital

SPACE EXPLORATION, TECHNOLOGY AND OUR LIVES

From Deep Space to the Ocean's Depths

Now, 50 years after the first lunar landing, we reflect on this incredible endeavor and tell the story of what was achieved and how the moon landing would lay the groundwork for other scientific developments.

Take a journey from deep space, through the near orbit of earth, past the ground we walk upon and down underwater to hear from our IEEE members and Impact Creators as they celebrate all that we’ve accomplished as a scientific community.

START

The Future of Living Beyond Earth

Ella Atkins

IEEE Senior Member, IEEE Robotics and Automation Society

If commercial space travel and inhabiting extraterrestrial environments are in our future, AI will be a critical component to ensure our success, says IEEE Senior Member Ella Atkins.

Click here to listen to Ella discuss the future of living beyond earth

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Nanosatellite Systems, Connectivity and Communications

Renato Borges

IEEE Member, IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society

Watch IEEE Member Renato Borges describe the importance of device-to-device communication and its impact on traveling to space in a whole new way.

Click here to watch Renato discuss nanosatellite systems

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Deep Learning on Earth and Its Usefulness on Mars

Ella Atkins

IEEE Senior Member, IEEE Robotics and Automation Society

We’re using deep learning here on earth, but what if we could use it to understand the surface of Mars or any extraterrestrial environment? Hear IEEE Senior Member Ella Atkins discuss the future of space exploration and data collection.

Click here to listen to Ella discuss space travel

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Apollo Simulations and Innovation: Pencil and Paper, Building Hardware

George Schmidt

IEEE Life Fellow and IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society

What was it like to send humans to the moon before the proliferation of computers? IEEE Life Fellow and Apollo engineer George Schmidt describes innovation with just a pencil, slide rule and graph paper.

Click here to listen to George discuss Apollo simulations and innovation

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The Space Station: Human Astronauts Supported by Their Robot Companions

Ella Atkins

IEEE Senior Member, IEEE Robotics and Automation Society

IEEE Senior Member Ella Atkins describes what it would be like to pair humans and robots on the International Space Station to improve efficiency, safety and data collection.

Click here to listen to Ella discuss astronauts supported by their robot companions

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Historical Computing and Improving Space Travel

Ella Atkins

IEEE Senior Member, IEEE Robotics and Automation Society

IEEE Senior Member Ella Atkins shares the evolution of computers and their processing capabilities over the last 50 years. Hear her discuss radiation-hardened processing and the future of edge computing.

Click here to listen to Ella discuss computing and space travel

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Getting Humans to Space Hasn't Changed ... Much

Ella Atkins

IEEE Senior Member, IEEE Robotics and Automation Society

Chemical rockets with multiple stages were the original way humans traveled from the surface of the earth into orbit and onto the lunar surface. IEEE Senior Member Ella Atkins describes how much has changed, and how much has remained the same.

Click here to listen to Ella discuss human travel to space

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Early Robotic Systems on the Moon

Ella Atkins

IEEE Senior Member, IEEE Robotics and Automation Society

Did you know that the lander and the moon buggy were both considered early robots? IEEE Senior Member Ella Atkins discusses the transformation of robotic systems and their impact on exploring the moon and space.

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The Need for Autonomous Robots in Space

Panagiotis Tsiotras

IEEE Fellow, IEEE Control Systems Society, IEEE Robotics and Automation Society

Robots need to be resilient in space and require the ability to make high-level decisions. Listen to IEEE Fellow Panagiotis Tsiotras describe the importance of autonomous systems to reduce risk in space travel.

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50 Years After the Lunar Landing: From Analog to Digital Communications

Feng Xu

IEEE Senior Member, IEEE Geoscience & Remote Sensing Society, IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society

Feng Xu, IEEE Senior Member shares the scientific achievements in communications, sensing and other life-changing technologies in the last 50 years.

Click here to watch Feng Xu discuss achievements in technologies in the last 50 years

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Testing Autonomous Robots for Use in Space

Panagiotis Tsiotras

IEEE Fellow, IEEE Control Systems Society, IEEE Robotics and Automation Society

Testing is essential to ensuring a system is calibrated before sending it into space. IEEE Fellow Panagiotis Tsiotras describes the importance of realistic testing of algorithms for spacecraft safety.

Click here to listen to Panagiotis discuss calibrating spacecraft systems

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Exploring Space to Protect Our Planets

Feng Xu

IEEE Senior Member, IEEE Geoscience & Remote Sensing Society, IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society

It is important for mankind to understand the universe says IEEE Senior Member Feng Xu. It helps us mitigate risk in the future.

Click here to watch Feng Xu discuss exploring space to protect our planets

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The Influence of Early Space Technologies

Renato Borges

IEEE Member, IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society

Watch IEEE Member Renato Borges reflect on technological accomplishments since the first lunar landing.

Click here to watch Renato discuss early space technology

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A 50-year Perspective: From Apollo to Falcon 9/SpaceX

George Schmidt

IEEE Life Fellow and IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society

Early landing gear was a parachute and limited communication with earth. Now, we’ve moved on to reusable boosters. Listen to IEEE Life Fellow George Schmidt describe the major developments in space launch and landing capabilities over the last 50 years.

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Paper Routes, Sputnik, Astronautics and an Apollo Engineer

George Schmidt

IEEE Life Fellow and IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society

What sparked IEEE Life Fellow George Schmidt’s interest in becoming an engineer? The Sputnik launch, of course. He saw it on his newspaper route and knew he had to become an aeronautical engineer.

Click here to listen to George discuss paper routes, sputnik, astronautics and early Apollo engineer Influences

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Technology as an Extension of the Human Senses

Renato Borges

IEEE Member, IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society

Watch IEEE Member Renato Borges share his thoughts on space as a unique laboratory for us to deepen our understanding of the human senses.

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Using AI to Understand Our Forests, Oceans and Atmosphere

Feng Xu

IEEE Senior Member, IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society, IEEE Antennas and Propogation Society

Monitoring the earth at a global scale takes the right balance of technology and data. IEEE Senior Member Feng Xu discusses the ways he uses information to protect our natural resources.

Click here to watch Feng Xu discuss using AI to understand forests, oceans and atmosphere

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Lessons from an Apollo Engineer: How to Ask "What If?"

George Schmidt

IEEE Life Fellow and IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society

Failure is essential to learning, says IEEE Life Fellow and Apollo engineer George Schmidt. Hear him share his advice for engineering students and future engineers.

Click here to listen to George discuss his experience as an Apollo engineer

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Space Exploration and Its Influence on Technology

Panagiotis Tsiotras

IEEE Fellow, IEEE Control Systems Society, IEEE Robotics and Automation Society

Fifty years have passed and technology has evolved in so many ways. IEEE Fellow Panagiotis Tsiotras believes there are three major technological advancements that resulted from the lunar landing in 1969.

Click here to listen to Panagiotis discuss space exploration and its influence on technology

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Space Exploration and Careers in STEM

Panagiotis Tsiotras

IEEE Fellow, IEEE Control Systems Society, IEEE Robotics and Automation Society

Space exploration is inspiring – there’s beauty in the cosmos, says IEEE Fellow Panagiotis Tsiotras. Hear him share his thoughts on the future of careers in STEM.

Click here to listen to Panagiotis discuss careers in STEM

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