The Internationa!Space University
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O"_-" ,11 = NASA Technical Memorandum.!03163 ................................ AIAA-90-2389 ................... The Internationa!Space University 7 ? Kenneth J. Davidian _ _ _ Lewis Research Center Cleveland, Ohio ..... Am N90-22o04 (',_A_A-Tm-IO_163) THE INTFRNATInNAL SPACE ! ! -= 22A UNIVERSITY (NASA) 11 p CSCL Z unclas = .= G3120 02d1584 Prepared for the 26th Joint Propulsion Conference cosponsored by the AIAA, SAE, ASME, and ASEE - _ - -Orlando, Florida, July 16-18, 1990 THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE UNIVERSITY Kenneth J. Davidian National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lewis Research Center ABSTRACT This change, however, will be made more dif- The International Space University (ISU) was ficult unless people are prepared to work along- founded on the premise that any major space pro- side peers who don't speak the same language, gram in the future would require international weren't educated in the same way, don't approach cooperation as a necessary first step toward its problem-solving in a similar fashion, and don't successful completion. ISU is devoted to being a express ideas in the same manner as themselves. leading center for educating future authorities in An education of the process for transitioning from the world space industry. ISU's background, a uninational to a multinational system is neces- goals, current form, and future plans are sary to insure that progress in space-related tech- described. The results and benefits of the type of nological advances are not undermined by the lack education and experience gained from ISU of understanding of the multinational environ- include technical reports describing the design ment. projects undertaken by the students, an exposure The International Space University (ISU) was to the many different disciplines which are a part conceived to begin this process. ISU provides of a large space project, an awareness of the exist- training for people from different cultures on how ing activities from around the world in the space to work together, and to promote space-related community, and an international professional net- relations across frontiers, in order to begin elimi- work which spans all aspects of space activities nating barriers to productive work in future space and covers the globe. programs. By bringing students together for a period of two months to study, attend classes, and INTRODUCTION work on a design project together, the students Any large-scale space project may require learn to overcome problems which stem from dif- international cooperation because no one nation ferences in national origin, native language, cul- can provide the money, facilities, manpower, and ture, and historical perception of one another. Per- other resources necessary to successfully com- haps the biggest benefit of ISU, one which cannot plete it (ref. 1). Plans for the United State's Space be measured quantitatively, is the payoff from Station Freedom, from Phase I to the mature con- building an international network of future space figuration designs, all include international partic- leaders in the period of nine weeks. Under ordi- ipation as an integral portion of the project. A pro- nary conditions, this would take an entire career. gram as ambitious as a lunar base or the Mars ini- This paper outlines the beginnings of ISU, its tiative may require extensive participation from purpose, goals, accomplishments, results, and other interested nations. International cooperation benefits to the space community. has been cited since 1961 as a "principle motiva- tion" of the space program (ref. 2), but it wasn't BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION until recently that a long-term interchange On 12 April 1987 at the SPACEFA.IR confer- between nations was begun in U.S. space activi- ence held at the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- ties. Therefore, the need to change from a uni- nology (MIT), Todd B. Hawley, Peter H. Diaman- national space program to international coopera- dis, and Robert D. Richards first presented the tive efforts will increase if large space projects are idea of the International Space University (ISU) to to be attempted in the future. the Space Generation Foundation (SGF). The SGF was founded on 4 October 1985 "to develop Copyright © 1990 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. No copyright is asserted in the United States under Tire 17, U.S. Code. The U.S. Govern- ment has a royalty-free license to exercise all fights under the copyright claimed herein for Governmental purposes. All other rights are reserved by the copyright owner. projects to foster the peaceful exploration and to set aside national differences to pursue com- development of space, and to prepare members of mercial and scientific opportunities in space" (ref. the Space Generation for unified efforts both on 5). "ISU's objective is simply to fill the expanding and off our planet Earth" (ref. 3). ISU was man- need in industry, universities, and governments dated to educate the future leaders of the space for space professionals who are prepared to func- community in all disciplines relating to space tion in a broad spectrum of specialities crucial to V activities. the future of space exploration and operations" ISU, as detailed in April 1987, has developed (ref. 6). into a non-profit, non-governmental institution The three founders of ISU foresaw the initial which is headquartered in the United States. To be ISU as being conducted as a summer session only, a principle institution of education in the space changing locations between prestigious academic industry, the following goals, paraphrased here institutions in different nations until 1992 when, from an ISU document, were established: in association with the International Space year, ISU would expand to a two year format at a per- • to select, assemble, and instruct the best manent site with the ability to grant graduate-level graduate students from all nations of degrees. In addition, ISU would then establish the world, permanent "advanced campuses" in other locales • to provide a curriculum in the area of all around the world, to complement the overall edu- space-related disciplines which will cational program at ISU. The year-round format give the students the ability and of ISU would benefit industry and universities by knowledge to overcome future performing more in-depth research than is cur- challenges and changes in the space rently being accomplished. Access to orbiting industry, space facilities for faculty, researcher, or student • to develop leadership skills, use is included in ISU's long-range plans. Government leaders, scientists, space experts, • to develop permanent personal and academicians, many of whom were present at relationships amongst the students the SPACEFAIR conference in April 1987, make and faculty, up the Board of Directors and the Board of Advi- • to develop and increase the sors of ISU (Table 1). "Prototype" lectures were international understanding and given during the founding conference to give the cooperation in existing and future attendees a feeling for the type of course work space programs, and which ISU would feature (ref. 7). An initial funding requirement for operations • to develop the student's awareness of and staffing was obtained via grants from corpora- all the disciplines involved with a tions and foundations, and from the National large space program. Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). International cooperation will play a major Supporters of ISU within NASA included former role in advanced and ambitious space projects, Associate Administrator for Space Station Free- such as long-term human habitation off of the dom, Andrew J. Stofan, and former Head of the planet Earth. One of the founders of ISU, Peter H. Office of Space Science, Burr Edelson (ref 5). Diamandis, sees ISU as accelerating humanity's Currently, contribution of funds for ISU are solic- move into space on a permanent basis (ref. 4), ited by the foundation of ISU liaisons. Currently, Other ideas as to what ISU's objectives are have these liaisons exist in ten different countries been expressed in scientific and space-related (including Canada, india, Japan, the People's periodicals. ISU "was designed to...create an Republic of China, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, the international community of space professionals, a United Kingdom, the U.S., and the U.S.S.R.) and new breed of scientists and policy makers willing the European Space Agency. Today, ISU is sup- Over 240 hours of course work and over 280 ported by over 100 corporate and govemment sponsors. hours of project design work were completed by A facultysearch forthe flrstISU summer ses- the students during the nine week summer session. sion resultedin hiring31 full-summer professors The design project for the first summer session of (primarilyNorth American), 21 course advisors, ISU was a lunar base, referred to as the Interna- and approximately 80 visitingfacultyrepresenting tional Lunar Initiative. The first summer session 15 nations.The chance to teach a selectgroup of was noted by the award of Aviation Week and students, as well as the promise of a salary equiv- Space Technology's "Laurels" mention of the alent to a summer teaching position at Harvard founders of ISU and the successful completion of University, provided the impetus for the faculty to the MIT session (ref. 8). The second summer session was held between accept the teaching posts. The search for students began with the distri- the dates of 1 July and 31 August 1989 in Stras- bution of 5,000 applications world-wide, 350 of bourg, France at the Universit6 Louis Pasteur which were returned meeting ISU's student selec- (ULP). ULP was selected because it is recognized tion requirements (Table 2). Final selection of 104 for its forte in science education and also for its students from 21 nations was made by the ISU affiliation with Nobel Prize winning scientists. faculty. ISU's first summer session was held at Strasbourg, one of three meeting sites of the Euro- MIT in Boston, Massachusetts between the dates pean Parliament, serves as a political center of of 20 June and 20 August 1988.