Columbia Space Initiative Enables Students to Reach for the Sky

Extracurriculars is a new series within Columbia News dedicated to showcasing the many clubs and organizations that exist at Columbia University.

The Columbia Space Initiative (CSI) is a space science, engineering, and outreach club founded in 2015. The club is home to 13 different technical and non-technical projects exploring a wide range of disciplines, from designing satellites and astronaut tools to building rockets and conducting microgravity experiments.

The Club’s Purpose

Because Columbia does not offer an aerospace degree program, the club provides one of the only opportunities on campus for students to pursue an interest in space technology and outreach. The collaborative missions teach students applied engineering skills that aren’t taught in the classroom, foster new passions for science research and communication, and have grown CSI to be the largest STEM organization at Columbia. 

Why You Should Join

“I got involved with CSI to get more hands-on engineering experience,” said club co-president and Columbia College senior Sarine Mardirosian. “As an astrophysics major, I wanted to dabble in the engineering space and see if I enjoyed that more. I realized that I want to build things while still exploring my interest in space, and CSI combines both of those. I've successfully gotten more engineering experience, but most importantly, I’ve been exposed to so many people who lead in different ways, and exposed to the different ways people approach their work. I’ve learned so much from people both technically and interpersonally, and have found so many people to admire.”

CSI focuses on putting students at the forefront of projects and increasing their access to firsthand engineering opportunities both on and off campus. Each of the 13 missions is headed by two to three students, who work with their teams to brainstorm, and design ethical and practical solutions to the various design competitions the club participates in, as well as completely self-directed missions. This allows students to learn not only the engineering process, but also teamwork and science communication. Students gain technical skills like design, manufacturing, and testing, as well as soft skills like teamwork and communication.

Sample Missions

CSI missions include high-altitude balloons, which launches two variations of balloons—heavy scientific to 100,000 feet, and pico balloons to circumnavigate at 50,000 feet—and behavioral science, which is dedicated to researching human behavioral and mental processes and, more specifically, how they relate and apply to human space flight.

“My most memorable mission experience was visiting the rockets team at the FAR-OUT amateur rocketry competition in the Mojave Desert during summer 2025,” said Mardirosian. “Although I wasn't personally working on the rocket, I witnessed how the team worked together under such a high stress situation, where physical conditions were tough in the desert, and there was significant time pressure. I watched the rocket get fully integrated, and saw the whole team in such a flow: They didn't bump into each other, or get in each other’s way. Seeing that human connection manifest itself in such teamwork was magical.”

To learn more about CSI, visit: https://columbiaspace.org.