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
TimeShifting may help NASA mitigate one of 5 key dangers to astronauts: Isolation, a risk because it’s so really tough on health, affecting body, mind, and teams.
My team and I have created a Time-Sharing application with a demonstration, a creative breakthrough that can reduce effects of isolation risks and communication latency challenges for astronauts on long-duration space expeditions.
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TimeShifting’s “cognitive assistant” facilitates meaningful connections that help relationships grow over time. More than information exchange, TimeShifting creates the feeling of “real-time” in an asynchronous condition, like space, where distance and time differences challenge communication and social closeness to family and friends and supports adaptation and resilience for astronauts facing space expeditions that are isolated, confined, and extreme (ICE).
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.; AIAA K-12 Education presenter; space museum volunteer and science demonstrator.
Interests: Fly fishing, hiking, astronomy, gardening, swimming, playing string bass.
IS CONNECTEDNESS NEEDED ONLY FOR SPACE?
The Kinoo team of developmental and technical specialists knows that the need for connectedness is increasing to critical levels and one of today’s most important health concerns. Early tests show that Kinoo’s new AI Social Agent will offer a breakthrough to the ways we connect with–not just contact–each other.
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.
TimeShifting, invited to present at the following international space conferences:
Mars Society Convention; October 14, 2021
ASCEND Conference (AIAA); November 9, 2021
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GravityGames is a new STEM innovation for students (9th-12th grade) to promote the understanding of zero-gravity, space manufacturing and astronaut life on the International Space Station.