Growing up in the suburban area of Spring, Texas, just outside Houston, Erik Ballesteros was naturally captivated by the prospects of human endeavors in space.

During the early 2000s, NASA’s space shuttle program served as the primary means of transportation for astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). Ballesteros’ hometown was situated less than an hour from Johnson Space Center (JSC), home to NASA’s mission control and astronaut training facility. Whenever possible, he and his family would travel to JSC to explore the center’s public displays and talks on human space exploration.

For Ballesteros, the pinnacle of these excursions was invariably the tram tour, which transports visitors to JSC’s Astronaut Training Facility. Here, the public can observe astronauts testing spaceflight prototypes and honing various skills in preparation for living and working aboard the International Space Station.

“It was such an uplifting place to be, and on occasion, we would meet astronauts during their autograph sessions,” he reminisces. “I’d often gaze at the gates leading back into the training facility and think: One day I’ll be on the other side of that gate.”

Currently, Ballesteros is a PhD candidate in mechanical engineering at MIT and has already fulfilled his childhood aspiration. Before arriving at MIT, he interned on several projects at JSC, contributing to the training facility by testing new spacesuit materials, portable life support systems, and a propulsion system for a prototype Mars rocket. He also assisted in training astronauts to handle the ISS’s emergency response systems.

These formative experiences directed him toward MIT, where he aims to have a more immediate influence on human spaceflight. He and his advisor, Harry Asada, are developing a system that will literally provide support to future astronauts. The project, named SuperLimbs, features a pair of wearable robotic arms that extend from a backpack, reminiscent of the fictional Inspector Gadget or Doctor Octopus (“Doc Ock,” for comic enthusiasts). Ballesteros and Asada are engineering the robotic arms to be robust enough to lift an astronaut if they fall. The arms could also scuttle around a spacecraft’s exterior while an astronaut inspects or performs repairs.

Ballesteros is collaborating with engineers at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory to enhance the design, which he aims to present to astronauts at JSC within the next year or two for practical assessment and user feedback. He mentions that his time at MIT has allowed him to forge connections throughout academia and industry that have enriched his professional journey.

“Success doesn’t come from the efforts of one individual but rather from the contributions of many,” Ballesteros states. “Connections — those you not only form but also maintain — are crucial for opening new doors and keeping established ones ajar.”

Getting a head start

Ballesteros didn’t always pursue those relationships. As a child, he eagerly awaited the end of school so that he could return home to engage in video games and movies, with “Star Wars” being a favorite. He enjoyed creating and had a knack for cosplay, crafting intricate, lifelike costumes inspired by animated and cinematic characters.

In high school, he enrolled in an introductory class in engineering that challenged students to construct robots from kits to compete against each other, BattleBots-style. Ballesteros built a robotic sphere powered by an internal shifting weight, akin to the fictional BB-8 from Star Wars.

“It was a great introduction, and I remember thinking, this engineering thing could be enjoyable,” he reflects.

After completing high school, Ballesteros attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he pursued a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering. What is typically a four-year degree extended into an eight-year journey during which Ballesteros combined his studies with numerous work experiences, interning at NASA and other organizations.

In 2013, he interned at Lockheed Martin, where he worked on various aspects of jet engine development. That opportunity opened the door to several other aerospace positions. Following a period at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, he transitioned to Johnson Space Center, participating in a co-op program called Pathways, returning each spring or summer over the next five years to intern in different departments throughout the center.

Although his time at JSC provided substantial practical engineering knowledge, Ballesteros still questioned if it was the right fit for him. Along with his childhood fascination for astronauts and space, he had always cherished cinema and the special effects behind it. In 2018, he took a year off from the NASA Pathways program to intern at Disney, working as a safety engineer, conducting safety inspections on Disney rides and attractions.

During this period, he connected with several individuals in Imagineering — the research and development group responsible for creating, designing, and constructing rides, theme parks, and attractions. That summer, he was brought on as an intern, working on animatronics for forthcoming attractions, translating specific movie scenes into practical, safe, and functional experiences in a ride.

“In animation, much of what they create is fantastical, and our role was to find a way to make them tangible,” explains Ballesteros, who relished every moment of the experience and hoped to secure a position as an Imagineer after the internship’s conclusion. However, he had one year left in his undergraduate studies and needed to move on.

After graduating from UT Austin in December 2019, Ballesteros accepted a position at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. He began at JPL in February 2020, making final modifications to the Mars Perseverance rover. Following a few months during which JPL transitioned to remote work amid the Covid pandemic, Ballesteros was tasked with developing a self-diagnosing spacecraft monitoring system. While collaborating with that team, he encountered an engineer who had previously taught at MIT. Practical advice led her to suggest that Ballesteros consider pursuing a master’s degree to enhance his CV.

“She opened my eyes to the possibility of going to grad school, which I had never contemplated,” he says.

Full circle

In 2021, Ballesteros commenced a master’s program in mechanical engineering at MIT. During interviews with potential advisors, he immediately connected with Harry Asada, the Ford Professor of Engineering and director of the d’Arbeloff Laboratory for Information Systems and Technology. Years earlier, Asada had proposed to JPL the concept of wearable robotic arms to assist astronauts, which they hastily rejected. However, Asada retained the idea and proposed that Ballesteros undertake it as a feasibility study for his master’s thesis.

This endeavor would involve transforming a seemingly sci-fi concept into a practical, functional design suitable for astronaut use in upcoming space missions. For Ballesteros, it was the perfect challenge. SuperLimbs became the centerpiece of his master’s degree, culminating in his graduation in 2023. While his initial intention was to return to industry with his degree, he opted to remain at MIT to pursue a PhD to continue his work with SuperLimbs in an environment where he felt encouraged to innovate and explore new ideas.

“MIT is like a wizarding school for nerds,” he admits. “One of the dreams I harbored as a child involved my first day of school, being able to create and build, and it turned out to be the happiest moment of my life. At MIT, I felt that dream transitioned into reality.”

Ballesteros and Asada are now advancing SuperLimbs further. Recently, the team re-pitched the concept to engineers at JPL, who reconsidered the proposal and have since established a partnership to assist in testing and refining the robot. Within the next year or two, Ballesteros intends to present a fully functional, wearable model to Johnson Space Center, enabling astronauts to test it in space-simulated environments.

Alongside his academic endeavors, Ballesteros has discovered a way to infuse some Imagineer-like enjoyment into his work. He is a member of the MIT Robotics Team, which designs, builds, and operates robots in various competitions and challenges. Within this group, Ballesteros has created a sub-group of sorts, known as the Droid Builders, focusing on constructing animatronic droids inspired by popular movies and franchises.

“I thought I could leverage what I learned from Imagineering and teach undergraduates how to construct robots from the ground up,” he states. “Now we’re in the process of building a full-scale WALL-E that could operate autonomously. It’s exciting to see everything come full circle.”