Lex Fridman Podcast #271 – Ariel Ekblaw: Space Colonization and Self-Assembling Space Megastructures
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Mar 23, 2022 
Ariel Ekblaw, director of the MIT Space Exploration Initiative, dives into the fascinating realm of self-assembling space architectures designed for future colonization. The conversation highlights how these structures can sustain human life in microgravity and the innovative Tesserae project using autonomous tiles. Ekblaw also discusses the impact of space travel on human culture and the challenges of parenting in space, all while contemplating the philosophical implications of humanity's quest among the stars.
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Space food
- Current space food is primarily freeze-dried, with occasional fresh food deliveries as special events.
- Ariel Ekblaw's lab is researching fermented foods for space due to their shelf life, flavor, and health benefits.
Space water sources
- Water in space is recycled from bodily fluids, as captured in the phrase "This morning's fresh water, yesterday's coffee."
- The Moon and Mars offer potential water sources, reducing reliance on Earth and enabling propellant creation.
Search for life
- Ariel Ekblaw worked on the SHERLOC instrument, currently on Mars, searching for signs of past habitability.
- She expresses excitement about the prospect of finding extraterrestrial life in our lifetime, possibly on Mars or Europa.
