INNOVATE. INSPIRE. IMAGINE.
“Paving the way to the stars requires new innovations to support space health, inspiring student projects, and imagining the future.” MJ Marggraff
I believe that success needs to push the bounds of what is possible. To do that we must innovate, inspire, and imagine together. Across disciplines and around the globe, I am delighted to be a part of new solutions that will make space safer for astronauts and excited to work with STEM students today who will be space leaders tomorrow.
INNOVATE
I’ve created the MOONDUST project to empower undergraduate innovators to design a novel device capturing levitating lunar dust at the Moon’s south pole, directly addressing NASA’s critical need to assess dust toxicity. By leveraging scientific knowledge of lunar environmental conditions and harnessing creativity, technology, and collaborative teamwork, students will engineer practical solutions that will help inform us on necessary astronaut health and sustainable lunar construction practices. Our mission is to cultivate the next generation of problem-solvers, advancing human space exploration through real-world innovation, and to contribute vital insights for safer, healthier, and more effective operations on the lunar surface.
INSPIRE
GravityGames provides the next generation of space innovators and leaders real project opportunities in space and for space. As creator and PI of the first GravityGames®, STEM students designed the first game (‘StarCatcher’) made on the 0G-3D printer in space; the game could only be played in space and was successfully demonstrated on the International Space Station during Expedition 50/51.
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Students for the Exploration and Discovery of Space (SEDS; SEDS.org) offers GravityGames to participants in over 110 US and international college campuses. Future Games themes support astronaut autonomy on long-duration space flights. As an advisor to SEDS, student leaders guide and inspire others to support collaboration, diversity, and peace in space. Their logo reflects these themes in future GravityGames 2.0, 2021-2022.
[Photo Credit: NASA]
The GravityGames1.0 concept is presented at AIAA. Then demonstrated on the ISS in 2018. Read more here.
IMAGINE
I am honored to be an instructor this Fall as an adjunct professor on Human Factors in Space Aviation. The course focuses on the risks inherent in space and air missions and the support astronauts and pilots need to maintain their health and performance when operating in dangerous conditions. My interest in teaching this course draws from my doctoral studies on astronaut isolation and connection solutions, and years as a pilot and instructor. The course is part of a new Aerospace Systems Management program in the College of Business at Athens State.
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College students in today’s classrooms will be tomorrow’s leaders in aerospace and aviation. The success of bold missions await, such as our return to the Moon, depend on us to help sustain our astronauts’ adaptation and resilience. But deep space expeditions present extraordinary risks. Managing those risks will require providing the crew new technologies and innovations that our students will one day imagine, create, and contribute. The goals of aviation make safety paramount; students will address these goals and how to achieve them. That is why they will understand and apply the principles of effective leaders and high performers, characteristics that will help them achieve goals in their careers and in their lives. Students completing the Aerospace Systems Management program then go on to seek positions in agencies and companies including NASA, SpaceX, DOD, and Blue Origin. I believe that preparing our students to be proactive, imaginative, and excellent team members will help them achieve our air and space missions.
May the upcoming school year be the best yet for students and for instructors everywhere.
About MJ Marggraff
While a doctoral student at USC, I dedicated my research to space health and found a way to mitigate the risks of astronaut isolation on long-duration space flights. In the process, a unique cognitive assistant was identified that can increase feelings of connectedness to close family and friends. To inspire STEM students about space, I founded and created GravityGames® conducted aboard the ISS (Expedition 50/51) and is currently advisor to college Students for the Exploration and Discovery of Space (SEDS) that adopted the project for their over 110 world-wide chapters.
Space interests sprung from long held passions of flying and space: I hold a commercial pilot rating and provided flight instruction. In 2018, I helped to co-found Kinoo, Inc., a Bay Area startup using a cognitive assistant that facilitates connections and created the first social agent for space that time-shifts exchanges; these innovations earned two patents. To learn more about crew needs in Mars-like analogs, I recently joined the Mars Desert Research Station as a CapCom officer. I am married to Jim Marggraff and have two children. I love fly fishing, hiking in the Sierra and Yosemite, and reading sci-fi.
Education: EdD, USC, multidisciplinary and integrated applied research program to develop an innovation concept as a potential countermeasure to minimize isolation on long-duration space expeditions; NASTAR (aerospace training); Pilot training (Commercial); MS, Indiana University; BA, UCSB.
Professions: Flight-ground instructor (SEL); training manager (HP and biotech).
Memberships: AIAA, AOPA, AAUW.
Enterprises: CapCom for Mars Desert Research Station; Virgin Galactic Mission Support Rep.; Author of Finding the Wow: How Dreams Take Flight at Midlife; space museum volunteer and science demonstrator.
Interests: Fly fishing, hiking, astronomy, gardening, swimming, playing string bass.
CAN MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENTS AND CONNECTEDNESS BETWEEN FAMILY MEMBERS BE CREATED WITH AI?
Emails, phone calls, texts, and instant snaps are contacts–not connections. Kinoo, a start-up company, understands what is missing such as feelings of belonging, empathy, compassion, and reciprocity between those who care about each other. That is why we’re pioneering SunSpot: the first Social Agent for space with intelligent video chat.
HOW CAN WE MINIMIZE RISKS OF ISOLATION & CONFINEMENT?
Space is characterized by hazardous conditions called ‘ICE’: isolated, confined, and extreme. The risk of long episodes of isolation on astronauts’ health and performance is far reaching, with negative impacts possible in psycho-social interactions with family and friends, cognition, crew relationships, sleep, and task performance. Reducing this risk is critical: An innovative Social Support AI Agent for Space was proposed in a recent research study; the AI called ‘SunSpot’ shows potential to provide better connectedness between astronauts and close social support members. SunSpot is in the early stages of development.
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