Space science education—An interdisciplinary and international programme

Abstract

The ISU's Master of Space Studies (MSS) programme is a new, unique and interdisciplinary postgraduate course of eleven months duration. It is designed for those who will lead and work in the international space programmes of the next century. It considers not only many aspects of the space sciences and their applications, but also most engineering, business, management, policy and law issues relevant to the activities of both space agencies and space industries. In the first term, fundamental issues are covered, and MSS participants from many countries around the world select some topics of their choice; within the sciences, attention is focused on basic physics, the space environment and life sciences. In the second and third terms, advanced subjects ranging from astronomy to planetary sciences, microgravity sciences, telecommunications and remote sensing of the Earth's surface and atmosphere are available. For two months in the second term, each participant carries out a project at an affiliate campus or an associated institution, and prepares a written report on this. Throughout the year, all participants play an active part in a team design project on a chosen theme; a substantial written report is prepared, and the results are also presented orally. Thus the aim of the MSS programme is to educate space generalists, yet generalists who are knowledgeable in all the relevant disciplines, including science.