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J.E.D.I. Space

A Force for Good

An Arizona State University Interplanetary Initiative Project (2023).

What is a J.E.D.I. Space?

A just space promotes the view that all people deserve equal social and economic rights and opportunities. A just organization or industry seeks through the execution of its mission to contribute to greater social justice for all.

An equitable space has fair practices and policies that ensure everyone can thrive equally. Equity is different from equality in that it acknowledges and addresses historic and ongoing structural imbalances. Equality provides everyone the same thing, typically based on the needs of the most advantageous group members. Equality only results in equity if everyone started with the same access to opportunities.

A diverse space includes and welcomes people representing as many aspects of human difference as possible. This includes differences in our bodies, social identities, lived experiences, and personal perspectives.

An inclusive space is one where a diverse group of people feel equally respected, have a sense of belonging, and are meaningful participants in determining their environment. A space can be diverse and not inclusive if members are simply recruited, but not involved in shaping the space. Diversity is essential, but not enough, an inclusive space must be built together.

As a part of our project, our team had the opportunity to host a panel discussion facilitated by Dr. Sian Proctor, founder of the J.E.D.I. Space project, with guests Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides and Frank White. The focus of the conversation was centered on exploring the ways that space exploration can be leveraged for social good, despite it being a privilege afforded to only a select few. The thought-provoking discussion delved into the various ways that scientific research, space exploration, and technological advancements can be harnessed to uplift and aid people here on Earth. Their reflections on space exploration, humanity’s relationship with the universe, and the potential for using space as a tool to create positive social impact left us feeling empowered and motivated to continue exploring this crucial topic further. We invite you to join us in this journey and unlock the transformative power of space for the greater good!

Leaving the Earth is not abandoning it, its another form of love.

Frank White

THE BIG QUESTION

How do we build a truly Just, Equitable, Diverse, and Inclusive (J.E.D.I.) space for all of humanity?​

Our aim is to facilitate discussions and establish a shared vision to reshape the space industry according to the future we collectively envision. The J.E.D.I. Space Community is a platform to bring people together from both within and outside the space industry. Our objective is to inspire and connect people around the world, regardless of their professional backgrounds, to help define a clear and dynamic mission for the future of space exploration.

We believe that by bringing together diverse perspectives, we can revolutionize the space industry and actualize the space future that we truly wish to see. We look forward to collaborating with everyone who is ready to take action and be a part of a J.E.D.I. Space. Together, we will define and create a brighter and more inspiring vision of the future of space exploration.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Purpose of Space

How do we define our priorities for the utilization of space and work together to further these priorities?

As part of our efforts to better understand space utilization, we aimed to gather insights from individuals across the globe through our survey. In order to gain a deeper understanding of how space is perceived and utilized in different countries, we asked respondents to provide their perspectives on two key survey questions. The first question pertained to how they felt space is currently being used by their country, while the second question focused on their opinions on how space should ideally be used.

To make the survey more structured and insightful, we also provided respondents with 5 different categories that they could rank according to their preferences – scientific endeavors, technological advancements, social good, military & defense, publicity & self-promotion. This allowed us to better analyze and compare data, and uncover trends that could potentially shape future decisions on space usage. Through our research, we hope to contribute to a greater understanding of how we can optimize the use of space resources around the world.

Science

Engineering

Social Good

Military

Publicity

Space is a complex industry that requires a multitude of skills to succeed in. We sought to gain a deeper perspective on the various factors that play into an individual’s entrance and advancement within the industry. To achieve this, we asked participants to carefully consider their personal attributes and decide whether they believed these factors acted as an asset or a hindrance in their journey towards a career in the space industry. By exploring the nuances of biases and opportunities that are present in this rapidly evolving sector, we hope to gain a better understanding of the unique challenges that professionals face in this demanding and high-stakes environment. We believe that this approach will ultimately lead to a more comprehensive and insightful analysis of the space industry as a whole.

With a relatively limited sample size, the statistical significance of the findings cannot be definitively determined. Nevertheless, the study revealed patterns that shed light on factors that promote industry success. Notably, some factors that were found to be advantageous in industry advancement included citizenship, highest level of education, and education type. Conversely, respondents did not indicate that characteristics such as sexuality, economic status, accent, or government/politics were major influencers on career progression. The most significant obstacle for industry advancement appeared to be age. While additional research with larger sample sizes may be necessary to confirm the validity of these findings, these initial results offer valuable insights into potential avenues for success in the industry.

Bias and Opportunities

How do we work together to overcome the barriers and biases currently present in the space industry?

Future Promise

How do we define our priorities for the utilization of space and work together to further these priorities?

Our survey asked respondents to answer the question:

Do you think the space industry is fulfilling the promise of space as a uniting factor for humanity (as one giant step for humankind)? Why or why not?

Below are some selected responses from our community:

We are just at the beginning of the great space movement. The promise of uniting humanity is doable, but will require us to double our efforts to make it happen. We need as many space positive people to join the effort to maximize our effect.
No. I think most of what is going on related to space remains focused on the technical problems of getting there and establishing a permanent presence. And most of humanity--meaning developing countries--is left out of the process.
Yes and no. Space is key to extraordinary advances in communication that bring all of closer together (while also presenting many dangers, like all forms of communication). That said, a lot of what goes on in space provides mechanisms for conflict and harm. Some of this is inevitable and necessary, but we need a new language for addressing the potential risks of space and we need new codes, norms, and rules to manage the possible threats of state and non-state actions in space; none of which will be easy to create, monitor, or enforce.
Yes and no. Space is key to extraordinary advances in communication that bring all of closer together (while also presenting many dangers, like all forms of communication). That said, a lot of what goes on in space provides mechanisms for conflict and harm. Some of this is inevitable and necessary, but we need a new language for addressing the potential risks of space and we need new codes, norms, and rules to manage the possible threats of state and non-state actions in space; none of which will be easy to create, monitor, or enforce.
I think many space companies try to act like the future of space will be used to unite humanity, however, I do not think this is actually the case. Many of the biggest companies are very performative, and I have not seen many projects in the space industry that can actually accomplish this feat. While the space industry has taken giant steps in advancing scientific and technological knowledge (and this makes people excited), I think many of us do not feel that the space industry has done anything that has given us a collective sense of unity.
I think many space companies try to act like the future of space will be used to unite humanity, however, I do not think this is actually the case. Many of the biggest companies are very performative, and I have not seen many projects in the space industry that can actually accomplish this feat. While the space industry has taken giant steps in advancing scientific and technological knowledge (and this makes people excited), I think many of us do not feel that the space industry has done anything that has given us a collective sense of unity.
Yes, it is a one mankind endeavor, pushing the human race to the next level, and this can only be achieved by cooperating and with the effort of everyone. Since this domain is massively populated by passionate people, I believe that the industry is well aligned with the goals that will bring mankind to there.
I think it is partially fulfilling the promise, using scientific instruments to research some problems experienced on earth that affect the whole world. However, it seems the benefits of the research in space are typically felt by those with advantages--wealthy countries-- and are typically designed/engineered by those with advantages (male, scientists, etc.)
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As a follow-on question we asked:

What do you think this future looks like if we do fulfill this promise? Do you believe we have to change the current trajectory?

Below are some selected responses from our community:

Yes, we need to change. We need to bring in more diverse voices. The current atmosphere is dominated by the developed world and largely the North Atlantic countries. It's changing, but this problem remains. There is also a need to focus much (!) more attention on the social, political, and human dimensions of moving beyond LEO involving a public discourse that includes a much wider representation of expertise than scientists and engineers, who continue to dominate the discussion. Space expansion is really a social and political problem, ultimately, rather than just a technological one.
A future where will fulfill the current promise looks very bright. A JEDI future will bring out the best of all humankind and propel us into a future were we have the tools to explore, learn and benefit all. I want to live in that future along with my kids and grandkids. I believe our current trajectory is sound, bur best laid plans an all, we will have to be flexible and nibble enough to respond to any challenge.
It is not easy to predict the future. We will likely see wonderful, socially engaging ways to use space for all sorts of extraordinary benefits. But, it will be difficult to define space in a way that avoids the dangers of conflict, war, harm, and oppression. I'm not sure that there is a single "current trajectory." Rather, there are many trajectories. Perhaps what we need are new international agreements that help define what we want space to be, coupled with some general mechanisms of evaluating these efforts and potentially enforcing them. With so much happening so fast, we need to develop clear and new norms.
I feel like in order to fulfill this promise, we have to see space as something that must be protected. The current trajectory is trying to make commercial spaceflight more and more of a reality, which has advantages, but can also be dangerous. If we want to serve the social good, we have to protect space and not treat it the way we have treated Earth. I think if the space industry can fulfill this promise then we can all have something to be proud of.
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Demographics

Our survey collected responses from 95 people from a global audience. Our target for this survey was people already involved in the space industry in some capacity. A majority of our survey responses were collected while in attendance at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) held in Paris, France from 18-22 September, 2022. (https://iac2022.org/)

Below are key demographics on the data collected and used in producing the summary results highlighted above.

Resources

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine [NASEM]. (2022). Advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the leadership of competed space missions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA]. (2022). NASA strategic plan for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility

Dr. Sian Proctor

Dr. Proctor is a geoscientist, explorer, space artist, and astronaut. She is the mission pilot for the Inspiration4 all-civilian orbital mission to space. Her motto is called Space2inspire where she encourages people to use their unique, one-of-a-kind strengths, and passion to inspire those within their reach and beyond. 

Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides

Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides is founder of SpaceKind, Yuri’s Night, and author of The New Right Stuff: Using Space to Bring Out the Best in You. Half Cuban and half El Salvadorian, Loretta currently teaches leadership and personal development for the space community through her SpaceKind Training Program.

Shawn Linam

Shawn Linam is the President and CEO and a founder of Qwaltec, an organization providing systems engineering and mission readiness for government and commercial space programs. In addition to her professional responsibilities, she is active in promoting engineering and science for young women and minorities.

Alby McInnis

Alby is an undergraduate student who will be beginning her Master’s in Family and Human Development at Arizona State University this Fall. Alby has continued research interest in DEIA, multigenerational household dynamics, and universal accessibility.

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Diana Ayton-Shenker

CEO of Leonardo/ISAST (International Society of Arts, Science, Technology), Diana Ayton-Shenker, is an award-winning social entrepreneur who connects and convenes key partnerships, resources and capital for positive global impact.

Ann Kapusta

Ann Kapusta is managing director of Mission Operations, supporting cutting edge missions in space and organizations with a mission to do good here on Earth. Ann is focused on DEI efforts in the industry, disability inclusion in space exploration, and using space as a vital resource to fight climate change – starting with the wildfire crisis.

Amir Banifatemi

Amir Banifatemi is an Entrepreneur, Investor and General Manager of XPRIZE. Amir has extensive experience in managing private and public technology investments and venture capital funds. Amir also sits on the board of non-profit organizations that focus on disseminating knowledge and bringing real world change.

Kylie Wetknight

Kylie is currently a third-year honors student at Arizona State University studying Global Politics with certificates in Cross-Sector Leadership and Data Analytics. She is also a part of the founding cohort of Space@ASU Ambassadors, a student bringing together students of all majors and campuses at Arizona State University who are interested in learning more about space.

QUESTIONS?

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