Psyche Inspired: Carrie Geisler

Carrie Geisler Headshot

Institution: Princeton University

Major: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Psyche Inspired Class: 2024-2025

The front of the card shows a Falcon-9 rocket launch with layers of exhaust clouds colored to match the Psyche logo. The word “PSYCHE” is written down the side. The card is opened and the Psyche spacecraft unfolds and pops out of the middle. Behind the spacecraft layered paper recreates the rough and cratered surface of the asteroid.

Expect the Unexpected

Carrie Geisler

November 1st, 2024

Major: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Genre/Medium: Papercraft – Pop-up Card

About the work:

One of the things I love the most about space exploration is that every mission makes new discoveries which are completely unexpected. This project, entitled “Expect the Unexpected,” is a twist and pop card intended to encapsulate the amazing and unexpected discoveries we will make at the Psyche asteroid. From the front of the card, representing the launch, you don’t know what awaits, but once you open it, representing the arrival at the asteroid, stunning surprises jump out. I deliberately chose papers of different colors, textures and weights to give each part of the card an accurate and eye-catching appearance. I also cut detailed shapes out of each paper using my school’s laser cutter and drawing files which I created myself. Read more…

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The doll is seated. She has pale skin and wears a variegated purple dress. The skirt of the dress has the shape of flower petals. She has long, curly brown hair that cascades down to the floor, and large white wings peak out from behind it. The asteroid is an oblong shape and an overall gray color with spots of white and brown. It has embroidered craters which protrude from the surface.

Imagining Psyche Through Crochet

Carrie Geisler

January 17th, 2025

Major: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Genre/Medium: Crochet/Amigurumi

About the work:

This project, entitled “Imagining Psyche through Crochet,” is a crochet interpretation of the Psyche asteroid and Psyche goddess. It’s my hope that this project will catch the eye of children, especially young girls, and help them learn about the Psyche mission, perhaps inspiring them to pursue a career in STEM.

For my abstract model of the 16 Psyche asteroid, I followed the Full Moon Crochet Pattern by Etsy shop catsscrochet and put my own spin on it by choosing a gray and brown variegated yarn to reflect the metallic elements that make up Psyche. I also embroidered the craters using a mixture of red-brown and dark grey yarn to represent the unknown surface of the asteroid.

For my crochet doll of the Psyche goddess, I primarily followed the Twinkle Faries Crochet Doll Pattern by Etsy shop PocketFullOPoseys, but I also incorporated parts of the Rapunzel and Pascal Crochet doll pattern by Etsy shop FennecToysUA to create her long, flowing curls. I used a purple variegated yarn for her dress and sparkling magenta safety eyes to reflect the colors of the Psyche mission patch. Special thanks to the pattern creators mentioned above and my grandma, who taught me to crochet.

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The Psyche badge with no words on it.

Psyche Inspired

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Psyche Inspired