A Discussion of Spaceflight-Associated Graduate Education in the United States
- Paper number
IAC-11,E1,2,13,x10197
- Author
Ms. Sathya Silva, MIT, United States
- Coauthor
Ms. Alaina Brinley, University of Texas Medical Branch, United States
- Year
2011
- Abstract
{\bf Purpose:} Spaceflight is a multi-disciplinary endeavor that requires the cooperation of thousands of individuals from many different organizations and academic backgrounds. Current training for spaceflight operations and research does not necessarily prepare students for the interdisciplinary nature of their future careers. In this study, we will compare three university-based programs that educate future spaceflight engineers and scientists. {\bf Methods:} A qualitative comparison of the spaceflight-associated graduate programs at the Georgia Institute of Technology (GT), the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was completed. This analysis was based on a list of defined characteristics including: key spaceflight coursework, opportunities for interdisciplinary research, exposure to fields other than the major field, preparation for the major field, opportunities to work at a spaceflight center, etc. Each of these characteristics was rated on a scale of 1-5. A specific set of criteria were defined for each factor in order to standardize the comparison between universities. {\bf Results:} Each program scored highly in the category associated with preparation for the major field; however, the interdisciplinary program offered by MIT consistently outranked the discipline-specific programs at GT and UTMB in most categories. For example, the Aeronautics and Astronautics program at MIT is an engineering-based program that also provides opportunities for education regarding the human physiology of spaceflight. In addition, the program is more team-oriented than the programs at UTMB and GT. Overall, the MIT program appears to prepare its students for a career in a spaceflight field due to rigorous discipline-specific education, additional exposure to other fields, and cultivation of team-building skills. {\bf Conclusions/Discussion: }Though all programs provide high-quality discipline-specific education, MIT offers a thorough, interdisciplinary education including team-building components. An education program encompassing both engineering and life sciences leads to more comprehensive learning and better training for careers in human spaceflight. It is important to ensure no dilution of the core material occurs when proposing a multi-disciplinary curriculum. An ideal spaceflight-associated degree program, in addition to rigorous coursework in the academic major, should also include exposure to other academic fields, collaborative work between students, at least one internship at a spaceflight center, and education outreach components. A spaceflight education program including all of these components will enhance the quality of the future spaceflight workforce by better preparing students for the inherent, interdisciplinary nature of the spaceflight industry.- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
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