Space Technology, & Engineering

Students enrolled in this Graduate Certificate program will establish a foundation in space systems, integrated design methodologies, and interdisciplinary engineering sciences.

This program guides students through identifying trends, requirements, develop strategies, and implement innovative solutions driven by technological advancements to enable future space settlements. Students will learn to think critically and gain valuable experiences in applying research and problem-solving skills to evaluate, analyze, and improve processes.

Space Technology and Engineering

Choose any three of the courses listed below and one three-credit elective from any certificate program.

SCI 500: Properties of Settlement Environments (3 credits)

This course focuses on the physics and chemistry of potential space settlement locations. Topics shall include origin and fate of the universe, solar system formation and evolution, the space radiation environment, absorption and emission by the sun and stars, plasma physics applied to the interplanetary medium and planetary magnetospheres, stellar structures and winds, interstellar medium, dynamics of stars, galactic nuclei and quasars, gas and dark matter, black holes and physical cosmology.

SCI 501: Space Systems and Design Requirements (3 credits)

This course examines the physiological, environmental design, and organizational criteria requirements for space settlements. Students will explore architectural design including, but not limited to, the following considerations: population size, agriculture, lighting industry, transportation terminals for arrivals and departures access, differentiated gravity areas, weather conditions, radiation shielding, energy generation, life support systems, waste processing, research and development facilities, textiles, and recreational areas.

SCI 502: Settlement Construction and Configurations (3 credits)

This course examines how space settlements can be constructed and considers various arrangements of space habitats. Students shall evaluate and analyze design methodologies, process of in-situ resource utilization for extracting, harvesting, and processing materials for components of space infrastructure, including propellants, tankage, thermal management, radiation shielding, and additive manufacturing facilities in space. Students will explore the fundamental configurations of spheres, cylinders, tori, dumbbells, rings, and shapes that enable optimal build and assembly to withstand the space environment.