Space Club Envisions Life on Other Planets One Day
Part of a national network, SEDS brings together aspiring aerospace engineers, space policy enthusiasts, and even future space politicians to explore the cosmos from campus.
SEDS has 95 chapters with around 8,000 student members across 30 states, according to its website. Duke’s chapter has about 100 members, according to chapter president, Gavin Ockert.
Real-World Suggestions for the Future
Last year, the local chapter helped students dive into space governance, with members drafting a hypothetical government framework that addresses issues relating to how it would be structured, how people would become “naturalized,” and how its economy would be structured.
For example, the framework suggests: “The needs of a space colony are best met by a representative democracy whose leaders represent various essential departments as opposed to one individual executive.”
With regard to naturalization, the framework proposes “a sectioned international lottery system to select potential candidates for the naturalization process. Each participating nation must allocate a mandatory percentage of its GDP as a prerequisite for hosting a Lottery.”
“We did a lot of research on existing governments and how you could try to optimize the government in space to promote international collaboration,” said Ockert.
Making Connections
The club also connects students to real-world opportunities. The organization’s vice president landed a summer internship with a space lawyer in Chicago through SEDS.
While some members focus on policy, others, like Ockert, are drawn to the science. He hopes to earn a PhD in astrophysics.
“The goal of SEDS is to try to fill every other niche that might exist for students interested in space, whether it be volunteering to teach ... or try to meet people to get involved in space on a professional level,” Ockert said.
One of its biggest initiatives is hosting speaker events. Last year, SEDS hosted astronauts and space law experts for Q&A sessions, providing students access to professionals in niche space fields. This year, they’re planning to continue those events and expand their reach.
“I think human space travel is inevitable in the long term. In my lifetime, I definitely believe we’ll return to the Moon. It’s the logical next step, and there’s growing momentum both scientifically and politically to expand beyond Earth.”
- Gavin Ockert
Looking ahead, Ockert has been working with the Duke Career Center to organize a space-focused job fair next semester. The goal is to bring five or six space-related companies to campus, providing students with an opportunity to network, share their resumes, and learn about career paths in the space industry. Engaging with local area schools through outreach is also in the works.
And what about the future of space travel?
“That’s a great question because if it’s not going to happen, what’s the point, right?” asked Ockert. “I think human space travel is inevitable in the long term. In my lifetime, I definitely believe we’ll return to the Moon. It’s the logical next step, and there’s growing momentum both scientifically and politically to expand beyond Earth.”
Now, a fully self-sustaining city in space? That’s probably centuries away, said Ockert. But he says that space bases that operate year-round with Earth support are within reach.
“You never know — someone born in 1900 saw the world go from horse-drawn carriages to the internet. So, who’s to say what’s possible?”
From Stargazer to Space Guardian: A Duke Student’s Path to the Space Force
Duke Junior John Hinchey was captivated by aerospace at an early age.
“I remember watching the very first SpaceX launches,” Hinchey recalls. “Seeing the boosters come down and land — it was really cool.”
In high school, he interviewed Eugene Kranz, the legendary flight director of Apollo 11 and Apollo 13, whose famous quote — “Failure is not an option” — left a lasting impression.
“Talking to him made me realize this field has so much potential in the next 30 to 40 years.”
That early fascination with space, combined with a deep-rooted sense of service inherited from his father, a 20-year Army veteran, set him on a trajectory toward one of the newest branches of the U.S. military: the Space Force, which was established in December 2019 to protect U.S. interests in space and provide military space capabilities.
Currently studying mechanical engineering while abroad in Madrid, Hinchey is part of the Air Force ROTC program, with plans to commission into the Space Force after graduation.
“I’ve always been drawn to orbital mechanics, Kepler’s laws — space just made sense to me,” Hinchey said.
Though he considered joining the Duke AERO club, time constraints kept him from diving into space-related clubs on campus. Still, his passion never waned. Hinchey’s upcoming role in the Space Force will likely begin in space operations, one of three entry-level tracks alongside intel and cyber.
“Ops oversees space surveillance, launches, space warning systems and satellites,” he said. “You’re tracking assets from the U.S and foreign nations, making sure everything up there is functioning and not colliding. There are a million things in orbit — it’s hectic.”
Before settling into a specific role, he’ll attend a year-long training program where cadets rotate through different specialties.
“It’s like a one-year career fair,” he says. “You get to dip your feet into everything and figure out where you want to go.”
While he’s not ruling out becoming an astronaut if the opportunity presents itself one day, his current focus is on learning, exploring and contributing to a field he believes is on the cusp of transformation.
“What interests me are the engineering breakthroughs and the complex, endless set of problems that come with space. The future lies in the policies and technologies that have yet to be created,” he said.
And for this aspiring space operator, the sky is no longer the limit — it’s just the beginning.
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