Undergraduate Spotlight: James Wall

James Wall is a mechanical engineering major from Seattle, WA. They are involved in the Stanford Student Space Initiative (SSI), having co-led the space policy team, DEI, the rockets team, the liquid propulsion team, and a research project sent to the International Space Station. James has also assisted with research in the Stanford Propulsion and Space Exploration (SPaSE) group on the laser ignition of hybrid motors and conducted independent research on rocket injector geometry. They are a Pathways Intern at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center focused on rocket engine turbopumps. They enjoy teaching and providing free bike repair as president of the Stanford Bicycle Project.

Why did you choose to participate in the Honors Program in Ethics in Society?

I’ve noticed a divide in opinion between engineers and environmentalists on how to value the space environment. I realized that those involved in space engineering and policy may have little awareness of space environmental ethics. Meanwhile, environmental ethicists sometimes lack a complete understanding of the trajectory of the space industry and its technological capabilities and limitations. As an aerospace engineer who cares about environmental justice, I wanted to bridge that divide. The Honors Program in Ethics in Society provided mentorship and support to tackle this interdisciplinary issue.

What was the most rewarding aspect of your experience in the Honors Program?

The most rewarding aspect of my experience in the honors program has been its interdisciplinary nature, which has expanded my education beyond engineering. Learning about environmental justice has better equipped me to characterize and address injustices I witness in my life and career. Each time I identified how an environmental justice principle or action might apply to space, it was satisfying to imagine getting closer to an actionable plan for governing ethical engagement with the space environment. I’ve also greatly enjoyed learning from my peers on their respective thesis topics.

In a few sentences, describe your honors thesis research.

My honors thesis research extends environmental justice principles and actions from Earth to space to propose how space activities should occur in an ethical manner. In the Introduction, I identify current and potential injustices in space, including unsustainable resource extraction, violation of religious beliefs, increased wealth inequality, power imbalances in space governance, and orbital debris. In Chapter One, I identify how these injustices are rooted in colonialist power structures, and I argue that proposed existing solutions are flawed due to reinscribing these systems of power. Next, in chapter two, I argue for environmental justice as the tool to both characterize these injustices and guide ethical actions related to the space environment. Then, in chapter three, I propose a consent-based method of decision-making, informed by environmental justice principles, to empower both government and non-government stakeholders internationally. Lastly, in chapter four, I provide an example of how this framework may be applied specifically to ethical space research.

What opportunities would you like to pursue within the next five years?

I begin my doctorate in Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT this fall. I will research rocket engine turbopumps, a topic I have become passionate about through my previous internships. I hope to continue pursuing space environmental ethics through future publications.