MIT Media Lab · Space Enabled Summer 2026
Astrobees, Algorithms, and a Summer at MIT
Zero Robotics · MIT Media Lab
A summer with the Space Enabled group working on Zero Robotics — writing and testing autonomous strategies for Astrobee free-flying robots in simulation, then helping student teams get their own code to behave.
Astrobees
Astrobees are free-flying robots that operate inside the International Space Station. Zero Robotics puts student teams against each other writing autonomy for them — first in a simulator, then, for the finalists, on the real hardware.
The summer
At MIT’s Space Enabled Lab, I worked with the Zero Robotics program using Astrobee simulations to test autonomous strategies, compare performance, and refine navigation and resource use.
A second part of the experience was mentorship: helping younger student teams understand their code, test ideas, and prepare for competition. The emphasis was on guiding their reasoning rather than simply handing them a finished solution.
Recognition
The current formal recognition from the program is a Certificate of Achievement. There is no direct scholarship from MIT yet.
Documentation
Add MIT photographs, simulator screenshots, and project documentationImages, posters & documents
↳Milestones
- Summer 2026
Simulator strategy development
Developed and tested autonomous Astrobee strategies in the Zero Robotics simulator.
Chapter - Summer 2026
Performance analysis and refinement
Analysed run performance and refined navigation and resource use.
Chapter - Summer 2026
Mentoring competition teams
Supported student teams as they developed and tested competition code — helping them interpret simulator behaviour, troubleshoot strategy choices, and prepare for competition.
Chapter - Summer 2026
Certificate of Achievement
Received a Certificate of Achievement for the program; no direct scholarship from MIT has been awarded yet.
Recognition