Master Of Space Studies / Master Of Space Management

ISU offers two post-graduate Master of Science (M. Sc.) degrees:
- M.Sc. in Space Studies (MSS)
- M.Sc. in Space Management (MSM)
Both Masters programs share the same basic structure; this allows students to begin with the same core curriculum before entering one of two specialized streams. The MSS stream focuses on scientific and technical aspects while the MSM focuses on policy and management aspects. However, interdisciplinary interaction between the two classes is maintained through common team activities and assignments.
Both the MSS and the MSM are divided into five modules. All five modules can be completed on a full-time basis from September of one year to September of the following year, or alternatively on a modular basis by completing one or more modules per year within a maximum period of seven years.
In the modular option, Modules 1 and 2 must be taken first, after which, Modules 3, 4 and 5 can be taken in any sequence. Students having successfully completed an ISU Summer Session prior to acceptance into the Master’s Program can chose to continue their studies at the beginning of Module 2, provided the completion of their Summer Session program falls within the seven year maximum period permitted to complete the Master’s.
Programs at ISU are very demanding. Lectures generally take place daily (Monday to Friday), from 08:45 in the morning to 12:30; workshops, seminars, language classes or work on assignments or team projects take place in the afternoons from 14:00 to 18:00. Students are given round-the-clock access to the ISU building as evening or weekend work is often required, particularly for team assignments and projects. Professional visits and field trips are also part of the curriculum and may occasionally require overnight stays and evening or weekend travel.

For detailed information on the academic curriculum, rules and procedures new students should refer to the Master Program’s Handbook which is posted on the ISU web-site (electronic format) in June/July. Students will receive a hard-copy on Registration Day.


• Develop awareness of the space environment, space applications and the history and motivation behind space activities,
• Master fundamental principles and practices in engineering, science, economics, project management, marketing, policy and law,
• Facilitate intercultural awareness and develop teamwork skills.
Classes include:
• History and philosophy of space exploration
• Political and economic rationales for space exploration
• The space arena and space players
• Fundamentals of space science
• Access to space: engineering fundamentals
• System engineering
• Space mission design and management
• Principles of scientific and commercial space applications
• Humans and biology in space
• Principles of space business and economics
• Financing, costing and marketing of space activities
• Fundamentals of space and commercial law
• Basics of information technology and knowledge management
• Cross-cultural awareness
• Principles of report writing
MSS classes are tailored toward the technical aspects of space activities. Its Specialized Curriculum is divided over Modules 2 and 3 during which, students progressively acquire fundamental knowledge of major space-related subjects, focusing on space program development and space applications while continuing to develop teamwork. Though several classes in Module 2 run in conjunction with the MSM class, thus strengthening interdisciplinary learning, the majority of classes in Module 3 are unique to the MSS. This enables the MSS students to gain greater depth, knowledge and understanding in the technical fields.


Module 2 Classes (MSS)
Module 3 Classes (MSS)

• Design of global space telecommunications and navigation
• Advanced information systems and human-computer interactions
• Introduction to project financing and insurance
• Remote sensing techniques and applications
• Launch and ground facilities
• Deep space missions
• Space science
• Architecture of space habitats
• Space astronomy and astrophysics
• Space hazards and their mitigation
• Medico-biological problems of space flight
• National space policies*
• Dual-use of space technologies*
• Cost engineering and risk management*
• Contracts management and regulations*
• Technology Transfer*
• Introduction to Space Stations*
• Design of space transportation systems*
• Principles of concurrent engineering*
• Introduction to patent and intellectual property law*
• Job search and interview skills*
• Design of robotic and human spacecraft*


• Advanced topics and experiments in space medicine and biology
• Image processing and interpretation
• Information theory and signal processing
• Space debris
• Legal aspects of space applications
• Advanced space propulsion and transportation
• Advanced space telecommunications and navigation
• New developments in remote sensing
• Microgravity research in space
• Space emergency medicine and telemedicine
• Commercial space stations and space tourism
• Concurrent engineering applications
• Selected topics in astrophysics
• Astrobiology
• Space markets and venture capital


* Classes held in conjunction with the MSM class
MSM classes are tailored toward management aspects of space activities. Its Specialized Curriculum is divided over Modules 2 and 3 during which, students progressively acquire fundamental knowledge of major space-related subjects, focusing on space program development and space applications while continuing to develop teamwork. Though several classes in Module 2 run in conjunction with the MSS class, thus strengthening interdisciplinary learning, the majority of classes in Module 3 are unique to the MSM. This enables the MSM students to gain greater depth, knowledge and understanding in management related fields.


Module 2 Classes (MSM)
Module 3 Classes (MSM)

• Global space telecommunications, earth observation and navigation business models
• Information management and knowledge mining
• Advanced project financing and insurance techniques
• Principles of corporate and business law
• Principles of space contracts
• New project management technologies
• Legal aspects of space business
• Marketing research and planning
• Business Engineering
• Legal aspect of space debris
• Introduction to auditing
• National space policies*
• Dual-use of space technologies*
• Cost engineering and risk management*
• Contracts management and regulations*
• Technology Transfer*
• Introduction to Space Stations*
• Design of space transportation systems*
• Principles of concurrent engineering*
• Introduction to patent and intellectual property law*
• Job search and interview skills*
• Design of robotic and human spacecraft*


• Management of research, innovation and technology transfer
• Internet and Information law
• Business intelligence and forecasting techniques
• Debt/Equity markets and venture capital
• Export control regulations
• Legal aspects of advanced space applications
• Strategic alliances
• Costing methods
• Due Diligence
• Promotion and advertising
• Quality management
• Space station commercialization and space tourism
• Managing international projects
• Patent law
• Launch contracts and space insurance
• Human Resource Management


* Classes held in conjunction with the MSS class

In Module 3, each student has the opportunity for an indepth look into a particular topic of interest by developing a personal assignment under the supervision of a resident faculty member. After making their selection from a list of possible topics, students are required to conduct individual research and produce a report and/or a publishable article.

In Module 4, the students work together on Team Projects. Previously, during Module 2 students are divided into two teams to carry out a literature surveys and critical reviews of the subject matter as background preparation for the main Team Project work. Drawing on this background research in Module 4, students continue working in their respective teams to collectively identify a focused topic for their main study project. Using their imagination and initiative students develop their skills to participate effectively in an international team, while working towards an innovative, focused, conceptual study, to create a professional printed report and presentation of the results. Throughout this module, students are faced with the task of organizing their teams effectively to carry out project work while learning how to reach solutions in circumstances where conflicting requirements often emerge and compromises must be made.

In Module 5, each student must submit an individual project report based on work or research carried out during an internship at a host institution. During this module, students have the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills to contribute to an on-going activity in the space sector. Students establish their own internship opportunities in accordance with their particular interests and career goals, and with appropriate advice from ISU. During the internship, an on-site mentor is requested to supervise project work, and students maintain regular contact with their academic advisor at ISU. At the end of the internship students return to ISU for one week to submit their final written report and to present their project findings to an evaluation panel.

Professionnal visits:
Each academic year, students have the opportunity to visit some of the major space related facilities or events in Europe. Previous visits have been made to EADS Space Transportation, EADS Astrium, Snecma Moteurs, SES GLOBAL, Alcatel, DLR, the European Space Operations Centre, the European Astronaut Centre, CNES, EUMETSAT, the Nice Observatory, The Strasbourg Observatory, the Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique, the University of Stuttgart, the Paris Air Show and the IAC Congress. Outside the official Master’s curriculum, some students have had the opportunity to visit the European launch facilities in Kourou, French Guiana and space-related facilities in Russia.

The ISU Annual International Symposium also offers students the opportunity to participate in an international conference and to network with space experts and leaders from around the world.

Language classes:
Within the Master’s curriculum, students are given the possibility either to improve their English language skills or to gain a basic knowledge of the French language. These classes are provided by the Institute of Translation, Interpretation and International Relations of the University Marc Bloch in Strasbourg.

Cultural and social events:
During the academic year, students are encouraged to participate in various cultural events and have the opportunity to share aspects of their own culture with others. Events include an international food tasting evening, where students are asked to prepare a small specialty from their country. Other events include introductions to certain aspects of Alsatian culture and a Year-End ISU party for students and staff in December toward the end of Module 2. Students are therefore encouraged to bring any items that they consider could be of use for these events with them. National dress can also be worn on various occasions such as the opening ceremony and graduation.


Module 1 provides a common core curriculum for both the MSS and the MSM, and is ...