Dreaming Beyond Earth

A Childhood Spark

For Aashman Gupta (’28), the sky was never the limit — it was just the beginning. Growing up in Delhi, India, he spent countless afternoons flying kites with his father, mesmerized by the way they moved in the wind. One question always lingered in his mind: Why could kites and airplanes soar through the air while he couldn’t?

That childhood curiosity eventually ignited a passion that led him to Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University, where he is now pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering with a concentration in astronautics.

A Passion for Exploration

Gupta’s fascination for space robotics and rovers took root when he witnessed the historic arrival of India’s first Mars orbiter mission. Later, the landing of NASA’s Perseverance Rover introduced him to astronautics — and little did he know it would shape his future. Instantly captivated, he dove into the history of every rover mission, captivated by their ability to explore uncharted parts of the universe.

Now, at Embry‑Riddle's Daytona Beach Campus, Gupta is turning this dream into a reality. With access to expert faculty, cutting-edge research and a network of like-minded peers, he is honing the skills necessary to make his dream of advancing space exploration come true.

Exploring Asteroid Mining

His first semester at Embry‑Riddle presented an opportunity to direct his passion into research. In his COM-122 class, Gupta chose asteroid mining as the focus of his research paper. Inspired by a YouTube video from The Space Race, he was eager to explore just how space robotics could help humanity harness resources from asteroids.

“The main focus of my paper was to rationally compare the limits of current space robotics technology to unbounded human ambitions,” he said. “I mostly made my research paper in pieces, as per my professor’s guidance, followed by connecting them together so that it behaves and feels like one continuous paper.”

As he delved into NASA reports and academic sources, he discovered unexpected insights.

“I thought that with ever-increasing automation capabilities, proving asteroid mining as the future would be pretty easy. I was honestly surprised by the number of articles that were just focused on the problems of asteroid mining.”

This realization pushed him to evaluate the balance between technological aspirations and real-world limitations. Through his research, Gupta found himself more intrigued than ever by the intersection of space robotics and resource utilization.

Recognition at NCUR

Gupta's hard work and dedication paid off when his research was accepted for presentation at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR). Submitting his paper and findings to NCUR was more than just an academic achievement — it was validation of his efforts and an invaluable opportunity to network with researchers in the industry.

“My professor, Dr. DeCarlo, briefed me about the NCUR,” he said. “It’s a national-level Conference on Undergraduate Research that is dedicated to promoting undergraduate student research. Student presenters present their research from all institutions of higher learning and from all disciplines.”

The moment he received the acceptance email, he knew he was taking another step toward his goal of shaping the future of space robotics and exploration.

“The NCUR process has been a great experience,” he shared. “It means a lot to me! It’s a great opportunity to network, and it will give a huge boost to my motivation and my professional portfolio.”

Building a Space Robotics Club

Gupta’s journey doesn’t stop there. He is actively working to establish a new space robotics club at Embry‑Riddle, bringing together students who share his passion for designing and building robots capable of withstanding the harsh conditions of outer space.

“Space robotics is an exciting field, and I want to create a community where students can collaborate, build and test new ideas together,” he shared. “There’s so much potential for innovation.”

With plans to compete in various robotics challenges, he envisions the club as a launchpad for groundbreaking ideas.

Finding Community at Embry‑Riddle

Reflecting on his time so far at Embry‑Riddle, Gupta appreciates the university's unique environment, where professors go beyond the classroom to offer personalized mentorship and learning. He credits their guidance with helping him refine his aspirations and navigate the path toward achieving them.

“Embry‑Riddle has great professors who go above and beyond. They don’t just teach —they try to get to know you as a person to guide you better,” he explained. “This adds another dimension to your personality development, and you get specific recommendations from them!”

As he continues his journey, Gupta is currently on the lookout for internship opportunities that will provide him with hands-on experience in the field of space robotics. Additionally, he shared a piece of advice for his fellow Eagles:

“Research about the things you love. You’ll enjoy the process and learn better at the same time. Dare mighty things."

With his boundless ambition and unwavering dedication, Aashman Gupta is well on his way to achieving his goals.