Stanford Student Space Initiative
Saad Khan is a mechanical engineer currently contributing to the Stanford Solar Car Project, focusing on environmentally sustainable technology for the World Solar Challenge competition. Additionally, Saad is part of the Stanford Student Space Initiative, where responsibilities include designing and testing the rover suspension system and tires for Mars exploration, with planned testing in Lake Tahoe and Antarctica. Prior experience includes a role as a mechatronics engineer at QuestBotics Inc., where Saad developed a robotic arm for surgical training simulations involving a 3D-printed liver. Saad Khan is pursuing education at Stanford University.
Stanford Student Space Initiative
The Stanford Student Space Initiative (Stanford SSI) is Stanford's largest project-based student group, with more than 100 dues-paying members, split into six project teams: Balloons, Rockets, Satellites, Biology, Operations, and Policy. We are a completely student-run organization founded in 2013 with the mission of giving future leaders of the space industry the hands-on experience and broader insight they need to realize the next era of space development. We’re the gathering place for people who want to act on their interests in space. Since 2013, we’ve flown a zero gravity experiment with NASA, built multiple CubeSats, inspired 60 teams in 20 countries to launch high altitude balloons, certified dozens of students for high-powered rocketry, hosted more than 100 speakers at talks and conferences, been featured in media like Popular Science and USA Today, led a student-initiated class (AA47SI, Why Go to Space), demonstrated bidirectional laser communication, and developed ultra long duration latex balloon technology that has set a world record. SSI is dedicated to achieving both short- and long-term goals. In the next year, we launch a new biology team, fly a high-altitude balloon to Europe, and build a small optical communications satellite. In the future we will send the first university-built rocket to space, continue development of novel satellite technologies, demonstrate DNA synthesis in microgravity, and continue to organize speaker events and workshops for the student body with top industry leaders.