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The International Space University’s 36th annual Space Studies Program (SSP) session will convene in Houston, Texas, USA from 8 June to 3 August 2024.
The program will be hosted by two partners:
“Rice hosted the ISU SSP with the support of NASA Johnson Space Center in 1997. This continuing collaboration resonates with NASA’s and JSC’s Strategic Objectives guiding the future of space exploration and the Artemis program and foster international cooperation” said ISU president, Dr. Pascale Ehrenfreund.
“Rice is privileged to be a partner in pursuits related to space exploration and to be part of a historic collaboration with NASA that supports some of the world’s most important research and educational outreach,” said Rice President Reginald DesRoches. “Hosting the International Space University on Rice’s campus will be a great opportunity to amplify the work that is being done worldwide in the space exploration field and to strengthen existing partnerships and build new ones.”
With Rice and JSC’s combined efforts, participants of the SSP24 can expect enriching tours and hands-on engagements that tap into the depths of space exploration and its future prospects.
The SSP Request for Proposals (RFP) can be downloaded using the link below:
Request for Proposals – International Space University Space Studies Program Host Site
Any questions regarding the RFP should be submitted to the SSP Director: ssp.director@isunet.edu
I enrolled for ISU’s Space Studies Program 2021 in Strasbourg while changing my career from being an academic researcher to become a space propulsion engineer. The extraordinary people that I met, from young professionals to executives, contributed to my personal and professional growth. This experience boosted my career further into the NewSpace business. After SSP21, I started working as space licensing and system engineer at HyImpulse GmbH - currently working on the development of the sounding rocket and in-orbit propulsion systems.
The interdisciplinary curriculum of the SSP, with its emphasis on international cooperation, exposes participants to broad new perspectives on the world’s space activities – perspectives otherwise reserved for those with many years of diverse professional experience. The program is packed with a wide variety of activities, including lectures by renowned experts, hands-on activities and projects, team work and professional visits.
The main elements of the SSP curriculum are the core lecture series, workshops, departments and team projects. All course work at ISU is conducted in English. Each year the program evolves to better meet the needs of the participants and their employers. Participants are strongly encouraged to contribute their own knowledge, experience, ideas, culture and opinions as well as their energy and enthusiasm.
Reflecting on ISU’s pedagogical approach and vision, interest in and respect for different cultures and backgrounds is expected from participants.
Phase I of the SSP curriculum ensures participants have a basic grounding in the fundamentals of all the disciplines that are relevant to space programs — and that they understand the relationships between these disciplines in any space-related activity. All participants attend the core lecture series, which creates a basic framework of knowledge to prepare participants for informed and balanced judgment.
A series of lectures in each field of study that is designed primarily for non-experts is presented. Thus, medical specialists can understand the lectures on propulsion and engineers and lawyers can understand the lectures on the effects of weightlessness on the human body.
Core lectures are often grouped in clusters. Questions from participants and group discussions with the lecturers are encouraged.
Knowledge gained from the core lectures allows participants to:
☞ understand the very large range of factors, both technical and non-technical, involved in space activity
☞ apply good decision-making and management skills to projects
☞ appreciate the relevance of all disciplines during the development and exploitation of space activities
SSP Workshops are activities designed to enhance and complement the knowledge acquired during core lectures through more active learning in smaller groups. Participants choose activities based on their interests. A number of activities are conducted in parallel and participants must sign up in advance. Topics may be offered more than once so as many people as possible are able to benefit.
Workshop activities offered in SSP19 included:
☞ Advanced communication skills
☞ Design thinking
☞ Space debris
☞ Spacecraft sensing and instrumentation
☞ Space, a new frontier for ethical interrogation
☞ Media training and crisis communication
☞ Robotics
☞ Artificial gravity
☞ Astronomy and Civilization : a look through time and space
☞ Visit to l’Observatoire de Strasbourg
☞ Business model canvas
☞ Space business coo-petition
☞ Stimulation and perturbation
☞ Radar image processing
☞ Startup pitching
Department activities encourage exchange of knowledge, ideas and opinions through debate and discussion, as well as hands-on activities. Departments have more time to go into greater depth with activities such as:
☞ A seminar and discussion that go into greater depth following a core lecture
☞ Visiting a space-related facility in the area
☞ Building and operating very low frequency radio receivers
☞ Remote sensing projects using local imagery and involving ground truthing
☞ Examining barriers to technology transfer
☞ Presentations by participants on their own work or interests
☞ Building and launching a small rocket and payload
☞ Hands-on experience with data systems or experimental hardware
☞ Debates on space exploration’s impact on society
Department activities provide an important opportunity for participants to interact with faculty members and lecturers and build their professional network. They also provide a means for participants to become sensitive to the cultural differences that govern personal interactions in a group setting and to adapt and develop presentation and negotiation skills in light of this cultural diversity.
The department chair will work with each participant to define a short exercise or project as part of the departmental activities. These projects may be done individually or in small teams and include an oral presentation of professional research or a professional paper and presentation on current issues for a conference.
During the SSP, departments make professional visits to space agencies, companies, and space-related research institutes/universities. The activity varies based on the available local resources.
Some example of SSP19 professional visits and activities are:
☞ CERN, Switzerland
☞ European Astronaut Center (EAC), Germany
☞ Institute of Space Systems of the University of Stuttgart, Germany
☞ SES (Luxembourg)
☞ European Space Operations Center (ESOC), Germany
☞ iSpace, Luxembourg
☞ Spire, Luxembourg
☞ SEMIA incubator, France
In Phase III of the SSP, participants work in international, interdisciplinary and intercultural teams to produce a comprehensive analysis and proposals for an international space project or on a topic of relevance to the professional space sector. Participants choose one from multiple team project topics and work on that topic for the duration of the SSP. This element of the program has three main objectives:
☞ To encourage participants to put into practice what they have brought from their own educational and/or professional background, plus knowledge and skills they learn from lectures, workshops and other presentations during the SSP.
☞ To experience decision-making and organizing work in sub teams. Also, to learn how to converge on solutions and recommendations while working in multidisciplinary and intercultural teams- where conflicting requirements emerge and compromises must be made.
☞ To produce a comprehensive report of professional level and present it in a public session at the end product of the team project. The report covers all aspects – technical, financial, organizational, political, schedule and risk
Many ISU reports have served as resources for the world space community (see the ISU Library Website for Team Project reports). The structure of team projects depends to some extent on their subject matter, but certain aspects are common to all team projects:
☞ An early phase of exploratory or brainstorming discussion of the project
☞ A series of factual lectures specific to the team project topics Research and an intensive fact finding period
☞ A challenging period of wrestling with different ways of organizing the study effort
☞ Extensive opportunities to engage departmental faculty members and lecturers in discussion of team project issues
☞ An interim presentation and review where expert advice and comments will be given
☞ A period of very intense work to complete the final report.
In a typical SSP about 250 lecturers and experts academia from space agencies, industry and from all over the world provide instruction to the student body.
The SSP curriculum is coordinated by the Core, Department, and Team Project chairs and supported by members of the ISU Faculty.
Click here to view a list of invited lecturers and experts for SSP21.
Each participant’s academic performance is evaluated on the basis of:
☞ Performance on the examination of the fundamental concepts of the core lecture series
☞ Participation in departmental activities and the individual or team assignment
☞ Contribution to the team project
Participants are required to obtain a satisfactory evaluation in each of these three elements in order to obtain a Certificate of Completion for the program.
Growing up, being involved in space was just a childhood dream of mine. Attending the ISU was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had the pleasure of being a part of. Learning about such a broad range of topics alongside such talented individuals was an experience second to none. I would not be exaggerating to say that almost all of the fantastic opportunities I have received since attending are in some way due to the program, and for that I will always be grateful. To anyone looking to turn their childhood ambitions into a reality, the ISU is a must.
Applications for the Space Studies Program (SSP) are processed through a rolling deadline system. Only full applications are considered, and candidates who miss a deadline will be evaluated after the following deadline.
Early applications are recommended, and partial scholarships for candidates in need of financial aid will be granted on a first come first served basis until they run out.
Application deadlines:
31 January 2024 (for applicants requesting scholarships and applicants in need of a visa for the USA), 30 April 2024 (final application deadline)
If you are interested in the online version of the SSP, please check our Digital Education page
The full fees for SSP24 are EUR 20,000.
Payment may also be made in US dollars at the inter-bank exchange rate on the date of payment.
This fee is inclusive of tuition, accommodation, and meals. Travel to and from the SSP host site and medical insurance are not included.
