ASU honors grad uses space to solve challenges on Earth
Barrett, The Honors College student Christopher Langenderfer is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in technological leadership from the Interplanetary Initiative. He will return to ASU for a master’s degree in supply chain management at the W. P. Carey School of Business, preparing to one day launch a space-focused startup. Courtesy photo
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2025 graduates.
When Christopher Langenderfer came to Arizona State University, he was interested in space. By the time he graduated, he was using satellite data to address real-world environmental problems on Earth.
Now, Langenderfer is set to graduate from Barrett, The Honors College with a Bachelor of Science in technological leadership from the ASU Interplanetary Initiative, where he took full advantage of the program’s academic, research and public engagement opportunities.
He served as a teaching assistant, participated in the ASU Space Student Ambassadors program and led a winning team at the 2024 SpaceHACK for Sustainability, a research-focused hackathon hosted by the Interplanetary Initiative. His team’s concept — using satellite data to detect harmful algal blooms — became the foundation of his Barrett honors thesis, developed in collaboration with researchers in Ecuador.
“The honors thesis brings me the most pride of all my projects,” Langenderfer said. “It addresses an issue in a country I knew nothing about, in an unfamiliar field, and with entirely new technology.”
He credits the technological leadership program’s Inquiry courses, which guide students through addressing interdisciplinary “big questions” about the future of space and society, with teaching him how to approach complex, unsolved challenges.
“These courses have connected many fields to human interplanetary development and helped me learn how and why we need to develop space,” he said.
Langenderfer also highlighted mentorship from Interplanetary Initiative faculty member Eric Stribling as a major influence.
“The most important lesson I learned at ASU was to trust myself and not be afraid of trying something new,” Langenderfer said. “Dr. Stribling has helped me undergo numerous projects and activities that were outside of my comfort zone. He taught me that everyone starts somewhere, and seeking perfection at the expense of taking risks is not worth it.”
After graduation, Langenderfer will return to ASU for a master’s degree in supply chain management at the W. P. Carey School of Business, preparing to one day launch a space-focused startup.
“I want to build another skill set that will prove invaluable in my career,” he said. “I hope to run a space startup one day, so I am preparing to understand all facets of space development.”
Asked what problem he would solve with $40 million, Langenderfer pointed back to the issue at the heart of his thesis.
“Harmful algal blooms plague many coastal countries, causing rippling effects through their populations and economies,” he said. “Satellite data is currently being used to address this issue, and a $40 million investment could prove invaluable to building out this infrastructure.”
Through research, mentorship and hands-on learning, Langenderfer has built a foundation to shape the future of the space industry and the planet it serves.
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