نظرة عامة على البرنامج
Introduction to the Space Resources Program
The Space Resources program at Colorado School of Mines is a leading institution for the study of space resources and their utilization. The program has been in existence since the 1990s and has become a destination for space scientists and engineers, government agencies, aerospace companies, entrepreneurs, the mining and minerals industry, financial and legal experts, and policy makers to discuss all topics related to space resources.
Program Description
The program focuses on developing core knowledge and gaining design practices in systems for responsible exploration, extraction, use, and stewardship of resources in the Solar System. The broad topic of space resources brings together many fields in which Mines has a strong presence, including remote sensing, geomechanics, mining, materials/metallurgy, robotics/automation, advanced manufacturing, electrochemistry, solar and nuclear energy, and resource economics and policy.
Degree Options
The graduate program for Space Resources includes the following degree options:
- A 12-credit-hour Graduate Certificate in Space Resources offered online
- A 30-credit Master of Science Non-Thesis (MS-NT) degree in Space Resources offered online
- A PhD program in Space Resources requiring a total of 72 credits of combined coursework and research, and a doctoral dissertation
- The PhD program can be completed on campus and also online for those students approved to conduct their research remotely by their advisor and dissertation committee
Graduate Certificate
The Graduate Certificate is intended to give the student a panoramic view of space resources to understand the role that scientific knowledge, engineering systems, economic analyses, business cases, and legal and policy aspects play in this field. This option requires students to take a minimum of 12 credits online with 6 credits from two core courses (SPRS501 and SPRS502) and 6 credits chosen from other core or elective courses.
Master of Science (Non-Thesis)
The Master of Science program is intended to give the degree holder the knowledge and skills to make immediate contributions to any government agency or company pursuing technical activities related to space resources. The Master of Science degree program is exclusively non-thesis (MS-NT) and online. The MS-NT degree program coursework requires 30 credits as laid out in Table 2, with 12 credits from five core courses (SPRS501, SPRS502, SPRS503, SPRS591 and SPRS592) and 18 credits from elective courses.
PhD in Space Resources
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is intended to provide the degree holders the necessary knowledge and research skills to pursue academic positions or contribute as a space-resources specialist in industry or government agencies. The PhD degree in Space Resources requires 72 total credits, consisting of at least 36 credits of courses beyond the BS and at least 24 research credits.
PhD Requirements
- General Requirements: The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Space Resources requires 72 total credits
- PhD Qualifying Exam: Students enrolled in the Space Resources PhD program are required to pass a Qualifying Exam
- Dissertation Research Proposal: After passing the Qualifying Exam, the PhD student will meet with his/her advisor and select a Dissertation Committee
- Degree Audit and Admission to Candidacy: PhD students must complete the Degree Audit form and the Admission to Candidacy form by the posted deadlines
- Preliminary Defense: Prior to the final Dissertation Defense, the PhD student will make at least one oral presentation to the student's Committee
- Required Number of Publications and Presentations: The required and recommended journal publications for PhD students prior to graduation
- Dissertation Submission and Defense: At the conclusion of the student's PhD program, the student will be required to write a Dissertation and make a formal presentation and Defense of his/her research
- Unsatisfactory Progress: To ensure that a student receives proper feedback if progress toward the Preliminary Defense or the Dissertation Defense is not satisfactory
- Time Limit: As stipulated by the Mines Graduate School, a candidate for a doctoral degree must complete all requirements for the degree within nine years of the date of admission into the degree program
Course Descriptions
The Space Resources program offers a variety of courses, including:
- SPRS501: SPACE RESOURCES FUNDAMENTALS
- SPRS502: SPACE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
- SPRS503: SPACE RESOURCES SEMINAR
- SPRS504: ECONOMICS OF SPACE RESOURCES
- SPRS505: SPACE OPERATIONS
- SPRS506: INTERNATIONAL SPACE LAW & POLICY
- SPRS507: ADVANCED PLANETARY GEOLOGY
- SPRS591: SPACE RESOURCES PROJECT I
- SPRS592: SPACE RESOURCES PROJECT II
- SPRS598: SPECIAL TOPICS IN SPACE RESOURCES
- SPRS599: INDEPENDENT STUDY IN SPACE RESOURCES
- SPRS707: GRADUATE THESIS / DISSERTATION RESEARCH CREDIT
Faculty and Research
The program is led by a team of experienced faculty members, including:
- Director and Professor of Practice Angel Abbud-Madrid
- Professor of Practice Christopher Dreyer
- George Sowers
- Assistant Professor Kevin Cannon Faculty from several departments at Mines are also affiliated with the program and teach courses, supervise independent and course projects, act as thesis advisors, and conduct research.