NASA in LEO

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Background.

In the rapidly evolving realm of Lower Earth Orbit (LEO), where the International Space Station (ISS) marks 20 years of continuous human presence and private companies are entering the space race, a critical challenge emerges: What is the future of LEO and NASA? The collaboration with NASA prompts our studio class to explore the new LEO economy and NASA's role within it, as we strive to navigate the evolving space ecosystem while enabling microgravity research, technology demonstrations, and NASA's exploration of the Moon and Mars.

Challenge.

How might we establish new models and foster partnerships to shape this dynamic landscape and support NASA's goal of being one of many customers in a robust commercial marketplace in LEO?

Solution.

Designing a space expo held by NASA that amplifies business opportunities for startups and smaller enterprises while fostering diverse global partnerships to conceive innovative solutions that will lay the foundation for a sustainable and prosperous future in space exploration.

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What is a LEO economy?

To uncover valuable opportunities for NASA on an impactful scale, my design research approach begins by expanding the problem space through primary and secondary research to define the target audience and mission. In the initial exploration stage, I targeted on three main areas:

Developing speculative economy models that can seamlessly integrate into the LEO environment.
Examining the LEO economy at both micro and macro levels.
Evaluating NASA's ultimate goal of transitioning ISS and understanding its future demand and requirements within the LEO ecosystem.

How to become robust?

The cohort engaged in in-depth interviews with 3 NASA employees who served as key representatives of the subject matter stakeholders. Additionally, we conducted extensive literature reviews, meticulously analyzing official documents to gain valuable insights and a well-rounded understanding of the current landscape and future prospects in LEO and NASA's involvement within it.

Partnership for diversity.

During our extensive research no the current state of NASA and the International Space Station (ISS) in the Lower Earth Orbit (LEO), we identified four significant gaps and opportunities that present unique opportunities.

Gaps

Fragmented Approach

Partnerships, models, and the LEO economy are being considered separately, missing out on the potential synergy between them.

SpaceTech Focus

The LEO economy is primarily examined from the standpoint of the SpaceTech industry, overlooking the involvement of other industries.

Limited Scope of ISS

The future presence and role of the ISS in LEO are often limited to its physical presence on Commercial Lunar Destinations (CLDs).

Opportunities

Anchoring in Ideal Economy

The LEO economy can be rooted in various ideal economic models, providing a robust foundation for partnerships and collaboration.

Inclusion of Diverse Industries

To ensure long-term sustainability, LEO economies should encompass a wide range of industries to foster collaboration and innovation.

Harnessing Full Potential

Leveraging ISS' broader "soft" and "hard" powers to extend beyond its physical presence and collaborating with NASA in exploring new frontiers.

Reframing the Brief.

By recognizing the discrepancies between the current state and the envisioned future state of LEO economies, we redefined the project scope and establish new focus areas to address the challenge at hand and paving the way for impactful solutions.

The Original Brief.

What is the future of LEO and NASA?
What are new models and partnerships for the future? A new era of LEO is upon us, how do we shape it?

The Redefined Brief.‍

What is the new LEO Economy... and what is NASA's role within it?

NASA act as different roles.

In the ideation phase, we strategically defined NASA's values through its roles, opportunities and motivations, and aligned ISS transition goals with them.

Solution.

Space Expo.

The Space Expo catalyzes innovation, fosters partnerships, and expands the LEO ecosystem. It provides a unique platform for businesses to connect with investors, experts, and fellow entrepreneurs, unlocking growth opportunities in the dynamic space sector.

Concept.

To facilitate increased exposure for startups and smaller businesses while fostering diverse partnerships on a global scale.

Operation.

Each industry has its own dedicated organization committee. Invitations extended to companies from all industries, ensuring a comprehensive representation.

Features.

1:1 Matchmaking utilizes AI-driven pre-matching algorithms to facilitate relevant connections between participants.

Advertising & Incentives offer advertising opportunities for exhibitors to increase their visibility and reach.

Conference & Networking offer a combination of live and recorded conference sessions to accommodate diverse schedules.

Data Management tracks key metrics and measures exhibition success through comprehensive event analytics and reporting.

Purpose.

By incorporating these features and functionalities into the exhibition platform, I aim to enhance the overall experience for participants, maximize networking opportunities, and provide valuable insights and data for exhibitors to optimize their engagement and achieve their business goals.

Benefits to LEO Economies

Enhance awareness and excitement
Global opportunities for all businesses
Recognition of emerging companies
Overcome political barriers

Benefits to LEO Economies

Discover new commercial and technological partners
Access to valuable R&D players
Facilitate international cooperation

Visual Identity.

Reflection.

Solving desires for both CX team and users.

The design concept effectively addressed the user’s need: to complete their shopping experience quickly and efficiently. I was able to learn why and practice how to implement various types of design affordances, signifiers, and indicators within our design.The final output of the customer portal project achieved remarkable acceptance across departments. Through strong collaboration and diligent verification efforts, we ensured that the solution met the diverse requirements and expectations of all stakeholders.