42 participants from 20 countries attended the International Space University’s (ISU) Executive Space Course on ISU’s central campus in France, from 20 to 24 March 2023. Participants coming from as far as Columbia, Canada, the United States of America, Japan, South Korea – or closer – from Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, United Kingdom, amongst others, were welcomed by ISU past president Prof. Walter Peeters.
This intensive one-week course aims to give a broad and comprehensive introduction to the space sector.
Participants explored topics from seven space disciplines – from policy and law and entrepreneurship to engineering, human space flight, and satellite applications including:
a workshop on microgravity, another one on how to build a satellite, the observation of the Sun, the discovery of space habitats, a talk by IRCAD’s Dr. Forgione (research and training in the surgery of the future), an insight into the journey of an ISU alumni founded start-up – SPIRE Global Inc. – given by one of the co-founders himself – Jeroen Cappaert.
Another new and innovative learning experience at ISU, initiated by ISU Prof. Virginia Wotring, took place in the shape of a “Space lunch” during which participants not only got to taste space like food and were introduced to the eating and living habits on the International Space Station but they had the opportunity to meet ISU’s Master of Space Studies students MSS23!
Lecturers and experts who contributed to the success of the course include:
Wasim Ahmed, Founder of the Metavisionaries
Jeroen Cappaert, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Spire Global Inc
Pascale Ehrenfreund, President ISU
Bertrand Goldman, Associate Professor in Astronomy and Research Facilitator ISU
James Green, Chief Scientist of the Metavisionaries
Hugh Hill, Full Professor in Space Sciences ISU
Joerg Kreisel, Space Business and Finance Consultant JKIC
Walter Peeters, Professor of Space Business and Management ISU, Past President of ISU
Nicolas Peter, Professor of the Practice in Space Policy and International Affairs ISU
Serge Plattard, Visiting Professor Space Security and Defence, Honorary Professor at UCL
Claude Rousseau, Consultant Analysis Market Research in the Satellite Industry Northern Sky Research (NSR)
Francois Spiero, Manager, European Space Affairs, French Prime Minister’s Office
Chris Stott, Entrepreneur and Founder of ManSat/Lonestar Data Holdings Inc
Gongling Sun, Full Professor in Space System Engineering and Space Policy ISU
Taiwo Tejumola, Assistant Professor Space Applications – Space Engineering ISU
Virginia Wotring, Full Professor in Human Performance in Space ISU
From the numerous posts on social media (and not just!), we can note that this course not only exceeded participants’ expectations by providing them with a new set of skills and a global outlook on the space sector, it also allowed them to go back to their companies with ideas on how to innovate, set up fruitful business endeavors, better prepare the future and experience first-hand how inspirational space can be.
Rendez-vous has already been given for some ESC23 participants on a nine- or eighteen-month-long ISU course!
Further information about ISU’s Executive Space Courses
29 October – 3 November 2023 – ESC23 Tel Aviv, Israel
12-16 November 2023 – ESC23 Medicines in Space, Oxford UK
27-31 May 2024 ESC24 Oslo, Norway
