Professors: Gaffey (Interim Chair), Hardersen (Graduate Program Director, distance), McLaughlin, Rygalov and Seelan (Graduate Program Director, campus)

Program Description

The Department of Space Studies offers graduate studies leading to the Master of Science degree. Non-thesis and thesis options are available. The all-encompassing nature of space exploration requires people who possess broad backgrounds that link policy, business, law, science and engineering. The Department of Space Studies seeks to train this vital segment of the community through the non-thesis option. The goal is to integrate, rather than separate, traditional disciplines related to space. Specialized training is also an essential part of the space community and this is achieved through the thesis option that gives students the opportunity to specialize in an area of faculty research.

Our programs are designed to prepare students for futures in the academic, commercial, and governmental sectors of the rapidly growing field of space exploration and development.

Facilities for Graduate Research

The department is located on the fifth floor of the 71,500 square-foot Clifford Hall constructed in 1992 as part of the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences complex on the west end of the UND campus. Our facilities include lab space for terrestrial and meteorite thin section petrographic analysis, reduction and analysis of terrestrial remote sensing and planetary reflectance spectral data, research into life support technologies and human factors in space, and an astronomical observatory.

The department manages an observatory complex ten miles west of Grand Forks. The site includes four 10-inch Meade telescopes, three permanent telescope piers, and a 16-inch Meade telescope that is part of an experimental remotely-operated observatory. Work is underway to design a large, professional observatory at the site.

A SuomiNet GPS station links UND to a global network focused on geodetic and atmospheric research.

Admission Requirements

The requirements for admission to the Space Studies degree program are as follows:

1. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better.
   
   
2. One semester of coursework in statistics or calculus with a grade of B or better.
   
   
3. Two semesters of coursework in the physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering with a grade of B or better.
   
   
4. Two semesters of coursework in the social sciences, history, business, or law with a grade of B or better.
   
   
5. One semester of coursework in English composition or technical writing with a grade of B or better.
   
   
6. Take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Exam if you plan on seeking funding (GRAs, tuition waivers) via the department or a faculty member. Otherwise, it is not required for admission to the MS program.
   
   
7. Submission of a writing assignment in the Space Studies Admission Packet. The writing assignment admission requirement stated above will require that:
   
   
   1. The student selects one topical area of space studies. Topical areas include: Global Change, Planetary Sci- ences, Earth System Science, Space History, Space Policy and Astronomy.
      
      
   2. Within each topical area two papers are provided to the student on the www.space.edu web site.
      
      
   3. Students are required to include a 500-word writing assignment with the UND Graduate School Admission packet. For each topical area, a short description of what the student is expected to discuss in the assignment is provided on the www.space.edu web site at http://www.space.edu/ admissions.asp.

Financial Assistance

Graduate assistantships (GTA/GRA) are available from a variety of internal and external sources. These are awarded on the basis of academic merit and students’ abilities to contribute to departmental research and teaching. Students desiring graduate assistantships must take the GRE. Students seeking assistantships should apply by February 1 as decisions on appointments are made in March. Funding is renewable if progress toward the degree, research goals and teaching are satisfactory. Support is typically for two years on a nine-month basis. Summer funding may also be available.

Degree Requirements

Master of Science

Non-Thesis Option

1. 1. SpSt 997 (2 credits)
   
   
2. Comprehensive Examination
   
   
3. At least 4 Elective courses (for distance students, the required Capstone course will count as one elective, so they only need 3)

Distance students must also complete SpSt 595, Capstone (3 credits) in the summer before they intend to graduate.

Thesis Option

1. SpSt 593 (3 credits)
   
   
2. SpSt 998 Thesis (6 credits)
   
   
3. At least 2 Elective courses

Approval of the thesis option will only be granted if a clear alignment of research interests between a faculty member and a student is demonstrated, and a faculty adviser has been identified and is available to supervise the research. Distance students who wish to complete the thesis option must satisfy the residence requirement. Interested students should consult the Graduate School or department.uirement. Interested students should consult the Graduate School or department.)

Cognate/Minor

The Department of Space Studies invites students from other programs who wish to expand their program of study to include a space-related focus. Our program includes a multidisciplinary set of course offerings that integrate well with other graduate programs. Students interested in space engineering, space business, space law, space policy, space science, space life sciences, space history, or military space can be accommodated. To complete a cognate or minor at the master’s level, students must take SpSt 501, along with two other courses for nine semester hours of credit. Our department will work with those doctoral students whose department requires additional credits for a minor degree.

Courses

Check http://www.space.edu for course updates.

500. Introduction to Orbital Mechanics. 3 credits. Prerequisites: SpSt 200 undergraduate, SpSt 501 graduate. This course introduces students without much background in either mathematics or physics to the problems faced everyday by orbital analysts as they track the 7000 satellites which orbit the earth. The course gives the students an ability to converse, as managers and co-workers, to those individuals who are calculating these difficult orbits. This appreciation is important in both the civilian and military sides of the space program.

501. Survey of Space Studies I. 3 credits. A broad, multidisciplinary survey of human and robotic exploration of space. The course will introduce the student to the key policy, history, military, economic, management, planetary science, life science, and engineering issues that characterize today’s space ventures. Emphasis is on building up the fundamental knowledge base that will form the basis for interdisciplinary analysis later in the program. While focus is on the U.S. space program, international space activities are prominently featured in terms of cooperation and competition for the United States. SpSt 501 is a prerequisite/co-requisite to all other 500 level courses and should be taken at the first available opportunity.

502. Survey of Space Studies II. 3 credits. Prerequisite: SpSt 501. Readings, discussion and integrative analysis of past and current issues in Space Studies. Emphasis is on a case study approach to develop an interdisciplinary understanding of space programs and initiatives. An individual project will build integrative and critical analysis skills and an appreciation for the interdisciplinary approach, while a team project will engender the interdisciplinary team work typical of the real world. Must be taken at the first available opportunity after taking SpSt 501.

506. Advanced Orbital Mechanics. 3 credits. Prerequisites: SpSt 500 and Math 266 or equivalent. This course provides a working knowledge of the field of orbital mechanics including the use of appropriate mathematical and computational techniques, the analysis of professional papers in orbital mechanics, and applying the appropriate techniques to solve orbital mechanics problems. Topics covered include orbital elements, perturbations, coordinate systems, orbit determination, and multi-body gravitational problems.

515. Human Factors in Space. 3 credits. A review of the major stresses experienced by humans on entering the new and alien environment of space. Examples will be taken from the psychological and physiological impacts experienced by U.S. and Soviet crews with emphasis on longer flights. How to avoid and/or overcome these stresses will be examined as an essential and growing need in the future development and settlement of the space frontier.

519. Closed Ecological Systems for Life Support. 3 credits. Prerequisites: SpSt 501 or permission of instructor. Closed ecological systems have been suggested during the early decades of space exploration for extended life support in space operations. In reality, this principle of long-term life support mimics global biogeochemical cycles supporting life on Earth. The course covers the multiple interactions of human/bio-regenerative life support based on physical/chemical regeneration (hybrid) life support environments. Extensive research in this area during more than five decades showed that material turnover in small closed environments becomes unstable compared to a planetary environment. Specific attention is paid to the limits of stability for closed material cycles functioning during long-term remote confined missions; and the importance of the human factor as a target link, main sensor, and main integrator and control element for the system providing significant self-sustainability under proper motivation. Advanced scenarios for space life support based on ecological and in situ resource utilization approaches are discussed.

520. Asteroids, Meteorites and Comets. 3 credits. Prerequisites: SpSt 501 or permission of instructor. The small bodies of the solar system are clues to its origin. All planets and larger moons have been chemically transferred, but many asteroids, meteorites and comets are apparently little modified from the time of their origin 4.5 billion years ago. Each of these classes of objects is investigated separately, and relationships between them are examined.

521. The Planet Mars. 3 credits. Prerequisites: SpSt 420 and GEOL 101 and 102 or permission of instructor. This course provides an in-depth review of the present state of our knowledge of Mars. Topics to be covered include: the origin and evolution of the planet, the surface geology and geological processes, the geophysical properties of the Martian interior, the origin and evolution of the Martian atmosphere, the present and past climates of Mars, the Martian moons, and the possibility of past or present life on Mars. The American and Soviet/Russian Mars exploration programs are reviewed and the course incorporates the most recent results from spacecraft missions such as Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Odyssey, and upcomig missions such as Mars Express/Beagle (ESA), Mars Exploration Rovers (NASA), and Nozomi/Planet B (Japan). Potential future manned missions are also discussed. F/2

522. Satellite Information Processing. 3 credits. Investigate the flow of data from satellite to Earth, what it represents, and how to interpret it. This will be accomplished through a series of lectures, group discussions, laboratory exercises, and individual presentations.

523. Advanced Image Processing. 3 credits. Prerequisite: SpSt 522. Investigate the mathematical details of image processing. This will be accomplished through a series of lectures, discussions, laboratory exercises, and individual presentations.

524. Current Topics in Astrobiology. 3 credits. Prerequisites: SpSt 460 and SpSt 501. This is a multi-disciplinary, literature-intensive examination of astrobiology, which is the study of life in the universe. Students will read scientific research and review papers from a variety of disciplines including astronomy, planetary science, chemistry, biology, and geology. Course goals include: developing proficiency at reading/analyzing diverse scientific papers, developing the ability to incorporate knowledge from multiple disciplines in the study of astrobiological research, and developing the ability to effectively write summary papers to show basic understanding of course material.

525. Technical Issues in Space. 3 credits. An examination of the highly developed technological base required for the exploration and development of space. An understanding of this technology and of its impact upon humans is essential to an appreciation of many of the issues and problem areas that are and will be associated with our continuing efforts to explore and settle this new frontier. May be repeated if the topic is different.

526. Advanced Observational Astronomy. 3 credits. Prerequisites: SpSt 425, Math 165 and Physics 251 or equivalent. This is an advanced course that delves into a variety of professional astronomical sub-disciplines with the goal of learning the most appropriate ways to gather useful information from a variety of celestial objects. The course has four main topics: 1) visible-wavelength stellar spectroscopy; 2) near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy; 3) solar astronomy; and 4) radio astronomy. Students will learn background information on a variety of celestial objects, observing techniques appropriate for each sub-discipline, data reduction and analysis strategies, and interpretations. Students will develop and implement a scientifically-sound observing program with achievable goals using UND Observatory facilities.

527. Extraterrestrial Resources. 3 credits. Prerequisite or corequisite: SpSt 420 and SpSt 501 or SpSt 520 or permission of instructor. This course focuses on the inventory, accessibility, acquisition, processing and utilization of extraterrestrial resources (space resources) from celestial bodies such as the Moon, Mars, asteroids and comets. Consideration will be given to extraterrestrial resources for in situ utilization (such as a Lunar or Martian base), for space operations (such as supporting large scale near-Earth activities or a human Mars mission), and for terrestrial markets. The course will focus on the interplay between the scientific, technical, and economic aspects of acquiring and utilizing such resources. The course will also explore some of the legal and political ramifications and limitations of claiming and recovering space resources.

538. Volcanism: A Planetary Process II. 3 credits. Prerequisites: SpSt 501 or consent of instructor. Volcanism is a fundamental process in the evolution of planetary bodies. In this course graduate students will explore volcanism and its role in planetary evolution through readings from the primary research literature. In particular, observational evidence and physical models for various volcanic processes will be developed and analyzed. The whole gamut of volcanic process in the solar system will be discussed. The course will be conducted in a seminar format and participation in discussion will be the primary form of interaction. Students will develop a research paper on an area of their choosing. A field trip to a planetary analogue site will be arranged if sufficient interest is expressed by students.

540. Space Economics and Commerce. 3 credits. Pre- or corequisite: SpSt 501. A study of the economic aspects of space activities, with analysis of the possibilities and the barriers. Key areas include launch services, satellite communications, remote sensing, microgravity materials processing, and interaction with the government. Global competition against subsidies or government-sponsored entities is examined.

541. Management of Space Enterprises. 3 credits. Pre- or corequisite: SpSt 501. This course investigates the management of space organizations. These include organizations that are public and private, R&D and operations, profit and non-profit. You will learn the basics of management theory, the history of systems management, and the technical issues that must be considered in the management of space R&D and operations.

545. Space and the Environment. 3 credits. Prerequisites: SpSt 501 and SpSt 430 or 565. This course is an advanced graduate-level review of international relations theories as applied to the international implications of global commons. The course introduces the concept of global commons, examines the theories and practices concerning management of global commons, and analyzes the global commons dealing with the problems of collective action as applied to global environmental change and the uses of outer space.

551. History of the Space Age. 3 credits. This course introduces students to the history of human endeavors in space. These include the development of rocketry, the influence of amateur societies and science fiction, the military development of ballistic missiles, and human and robotic spaceflight.

552. History of Astronomy and Cosmology. 3 credits. Prerequisite: SpSt 501 or consent of instructor. This course investigates the history of human endeavors to understand the stars, planets, and cosmos as a whole from a scientific perspective. It covers the early observations and theories of the Babylonians and Greeks through the European Scientific Revolution, and finally to the development of astrophysics and modern cosmology using space vehicles.

555. Military Space Programs. 3 credits. Pre- or corequisite: SpSt 501. An introduction to military uses of space by the United States, Russia, and other nations. The course introduces ballistic missiles, anti-ballistic missile and anti-satellite systems, space-based reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering, communications, navigation, acquisition, and military space treaties.

560. Space Politics and Policy. 3 credits. Pre- or corequisite: SpSt 501 or consent of instructor. This course serves as a graduate-level introduction to the field of Public Policy as applied to Space Policy. The course surveys the evolution of Space Policy at several levels of analysis including context, political actors and institutions, political processes, and policy outcomes, and assesses the symbiotic relationship between policy, technology, and science.

561. Public Administration of Space Technology. 3 credits. Prerequisites: SpSt 501, and SpSt 560 or 541. This course is an advanced graduate-level review of Public Administration theories as applied to the implementation of space technology programs. In this course, the political, organizational, and technical variables that affect the management processes of space organizations are examined.

565. Space Law. 3 credits. Pre- or corequisites: SpSt 501 or consent of instructor. This course serves as a graduate-level introduction to the field of Law as applied to Space Law. The course examines the origins and evolution of the laws of outer space from the beginnings of the space age to the present. International laws governing access and use of space, and national laws regulating governmental and commercial activities in space are reviewed and analyzed.

570. Advanced Topics in Space Studies. 1 to 3 credits. Lecture, discussion and readings on advanced topics of current interest. May be repeated if the topic is different.

575. Remote Sensing Law and Policy. 3 credits. Corequisite: SpSt 501. This course focuses on the evolving laws, policies, and institutions that have long-term ramifications for earth observations. Some topics addressed are the United Nations Principles on Remote Sensing; the United Kingdom’s 1984 National remote sensing policy; the Montreal Protocol; and, the United States Land Remote Sensing Policy Act of 1992. Ground segment institutions considered are the Landsat Ground Stations Operations Working Group and the Global Land 1-KM AVHRR Project. Remote sensing litigation that has begun to address various applications of remote sensing will also be considered. Cases include Dow vs US and EOSAT vs NASA and NOAA.

590. Space Studies Colloquium. 1 credit. A series of lectures presented by visiting lecturers and faculty. May be repeated for up to 2 credits. Graded as pass/fail.

593. Individual Research in Space Studies. 1 to 3 credits. Individual student projects designed to develop advanced knowledge in a specific area of expertise. A written report is required. May be repeated for up to 6 credits.

595. Space Studies Capstone. 3 credits. The capstone course integrates, extends and applies knowledge learned in earlier Space Studies courses and reading. The major component of this course is a collaborative project inter-relating policy, technology and science. This course is required by SPACE.EDU students and should be taken during the year they plan to graduate. The course begins in the spring semester and concludes with an intensive seven-day capstone experience on the UND campus.

997. Independent Study Report. 2 credits. Independent study and preparation of a written report for students taking the non-thesis option in the Master’s program.

998. Thesis. 6 credits. S/U grading only. Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Space Studies, completion and approval of a thesis proposal. An original research project approved by and completed under the supervision of a thesis committee.

405. Advanced Space Mission Design. 3 credits.

410. Life Support Systems. 3 credits.

420. Space Science and Exploration. 3 credits.

425. Observational Astronomy. 3 credits.

430. Earth System Science. 3 credits.

435. Global Change. 3 credits.

450. International Space Programs. 3 credits.

Course designations

Policy area courses: 450, 540, 541, 545, 551, 552, 555, 560, 561, 565, 575.

Technical area courses: 405, 410, 420, 425, 430, 435, 460, 500, 506, 515, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 526, 527, 538, 550, 552.