Sugganahalli Natesh Babu Named 2025 AIAA ASCENDANT
Stevens Ph.D. student gains national recognition for working to make space for sustainability in space
Rashika Sugganahalli Natesh Babu, a first-year Ph.D. student in Systems Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology, has been named among the elite cohort of 2025 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) ASCENDANTS. This prestigious recognition honors emerging global leaders who are advancing a vision for a sustainable, debris-free ecosystem in space.
For Babu, the honor is more than recognition — it’s a platform to advocate for a fundamentally better way to deal with satellites, sustainability and long-term responsibility in orbit. Rather than abandoning aging spacecraft to become not only cosmic litter but also eternal collision risks for future missions, she envisions a future where these defunct satellites are repurposed to extend their usefulness.
“Satellites do not last forever,” Babu noted. “But that doesn’t mean they stop being useful. We’ve launched thousands of satellites, but very little thought has gone into what happens when they outlive their primary missions and risk becoming debris and pollution. I want to change that.”
Currently in her first year of doctoral studies, Babu’s research focuses on assessing the residual capacity of aging satellites — subsystems that still function even after a satellite’s main mission ends. Whether it’s a working sensor, an operational power unit, or an intact structure, these dormant assets can represent lively, untapped potential. Her work combines systems thinking, data analysis and mathematical modeling to map out possible reuse pathways. Her approach is a powerful blend of engineering, economics and ethics.
“It’s like turning a retired city bus into a classroom instead of sending it to the scrapyard,” she said. “I use systems thinking to analyze how satellite subsystems interact and where there is still life left to tap into. When we change how we view these satellites, we can extend their mission life, reduce space pollution and avoid costly, unnecessary launches.”
But technical innovation isn’t enough. Babu believes that sustainability in space requires collaboration, clear policies and global accountability — an idea shaped by her own international journey, from India to Italy to the United States.
“Space is a shared domain, but governance remains fragmented,” she noted. “True sustainability means aligning across countries, agencies and companies. It’s not just an engineering issue. It’s a human one.”
Bringing zombie satellites back to life
At the 2025 ASCENDANT event, held July 22–24 in Las Vegas, she will present her talk, “Not Debris, But Dormant: Reimagining Zombie Satellites as Sustainable Assets.” In it, she challenges the outdated use-and-discard model of space operations and argues for a circular approach to mission design.
“Treating space like an infinite dumping ground is irresponsible misuse of this critical resource, endangering current and future spacecraft and astronauts,” she said. “Sustainability isn’t a side conversation — it is the conversation. Even small changes like delaying deorbiting or designing with repurposing in mind can make a difference. I want the audience to walk away seeing that the future of space is not just about going farther. It is about caring better for what is already up there.”
The ASCENDANT community — spanning nine countries and experts from artists and policy advocates to engineers — provides a powerful platform for such dialogue. For Babu, it's also a space where the human side of engineering shares the spotlight with technical excellence to shape a better future in space.
In addition to her research and academic work, Babu also co-leads the Achieved Academy, an initiative under the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) that provides free, accessible training and space education to students worldwide. Through this effort, she works to bridge the global education gap in space systems knowledge and empower the next generation of space professionals. In recognition of her impact, Babu was awarded the 2024 Northrop Grumman Scholarship, which supported her participation as a delegate at the Space Generation Fusion Forum and the 39th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs.
She credits her advisor, Roshanak Nilchiani, associate professor in the Department of Systems and Enterprises, as well as the Stevens community, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and her parents and brother, for mentorship and support through her aerospace engineering journey.
“Professor Nilchiani pushes me to think deeper and trust my voice,” Babu said. “She helped me find the confidence and clarity to pursue this path.”
Being named a 2025 ASCENDANT reinforces her conviction that every voice can shape a better future in space.
“We’re not just highlighting problems,” she explained. “We’re building solutions and offering real, tangible hope. Space exploration can only be sustainable when we rethink what we leave behind — and care better for what’s already up there.”