Master of Space Technology & Systems
Twelve to Eighteen Months. One Credential That Changes Your Career.
Concentration in Leadership, Innovation, and Operations. Granted by SFIS, Rob Walton College of Global Futures at Arizona State University. Stackable pathway from Thunderbird MicroMasters to full ASU degree.
Two delivery tracks -- Executive Hybrid (Track B) for working professionals, Weekday Evenings (Track A) for local students -- identical curriculum, faculty, and assessments.
The $67.5K tuition covers instruction, CSP certification exam fees, and immersion programming and site access. Travel and lodging for the three immersions are the student's responsibility. Transparent pricing with no surprise fees.
Not ready for 42 credits? Start smaller.
Start with One Module
3 credits · $4,500 · 7.5 weeks
Test the program and upskill in a single discipline. Every credit counts toward the certificate or degree if you continue.
Learn moreThunderbird Graduate Certificate
18 credits · $27,000 · 3-4 semesters
Complete all six SpaceForge modules for a Thunderbird Graduate Certificate in Space Systems & Strategy. Earns CSP-1, CSP-2, and Thunderbird alumni status.
Learn moreThunderbird MicroMasters
27 credits · 4-5 semesters
Add the Integration Practicum and Capstone. Transfer all 27 credits into the full MSTS degree, or hold as a standalone Thunderbird credential. Earns CSP-3 and CSBP.
42
Credits
12-18
Months
3
Immersions
2
Tracks
Degree Architecture
How 42 Credits Stack Up
Think of it as three acts. Act One: Foundation (18 credits). Six modules, six disciplines. Act Two: Depth (12 credits). Four space-specific courses that sharpen what you learned. Act Three: Application (12 credits). Three immersions plus a capstone where you contribute to the industry.
6 SpaceForge Modules
184 Space Degree Courses
12Integrative Seminar (1 cr × 3 semesters)
3FL Immersion (Space Coast)
3TX Immersion (Houston + Starbase)
3DC Immersion + Demo Day
3Total Credits
42Stackable Pathway
Every Credit Stacks Toward the Degree
You do not have to commit to 42 credits on day one. Start with a single module, earn Thunderbird credentials along the way, then transfer into the full ASU MSTS degree. Two institutions, one pathway, zero wasted credits.
Individual Module
ASU Graduate Credit
Take any single SpaceForge module (7.5 weeks) for 3 graduate credits.
Thunderbird Graduate Certificate
Thunderbird School of Global Management
Complete all 6 cross-disciplinary SpaceForge modules. Thunderbird alumni status included.
Thunderbird MicroMasters
Thunderbird School of Global Management
Graduate Certificate + Integration Practicum (4.5 cr) + Capstone Venture Sprint (4.5 cr). A standalone Thunderbird credential, or transfer all 27 credits into the full MSTS.
Full MSTS Master's Degree
Arizona State University — SFIS
MicroMasters (27 cr transfer in) + 3 immersions (FL, TX, DC) + integrative seminar + space elective + capstone defense. Dual alumni: Thunderbird + ASU.
4+1 Accelerated Pathway
Exceptional ASU undergraduates (3.5+ GPA) in STEM, business, or policy can begin earning Thunderbird MicroMasters credits during their senior year.
Transfer those credits into the MSTS and complete the remaining requirements within one year of graduation -- earning a bachelor's, Thunderbird alumni status, and an ASU master's in approximately five years (~36 total credits).
Space Degree Courses
Four Courses. 12 Credits.
Purpose-built graduate courses that deepen space domain expertise beyond the cross-disciplinary foundation of SpaceForge.
12 credits total across four courses, delivered via both Track B (executive hybrid -- Saturday & Sunday, 8 AM to 5 PM) and Track A (weekday evenings).
Two Pathways
12 Months if You're All In. 18 if You're Working Full-Time.
Same 42 credits, same faculty, same credential, same cohort. Track B meets one weekend per month for professionals who cannot pause their careers. Track A meets weekday evenings on campus for students who can move fast.
You do not choose between quality and flexibility. Both tracks deliver identical curriculum, faculty, and assessments -- the only difference is pace.
12-Month Track
Full immersion for professionals who can commit to a higher credit load each semester. Ideal for career changers and employer-sponsored fellows.
Fall Session A
Module 1 + Seminar + Space Policy, Law & Regulatory Strategy
6.5 credits
Fall Session B
Module 2 + Seminar + Global Space Security & Strategic Systems
6.5 credits
FL Immersion
Florida Space Coast — Kennedy, Cape Canaveral, SpaceX, ULA
3 credits
Spring Session A
Module 3 + Seminar + Space Venture Design & Commercialization
6.5 credits
Spring Session B
Module 4 + Seminar + Systems Integration & Mission Ops
6.5 credits
TX Immersion
Houston + Starbase — NASA JSC, Axiom, Intuitive Machines, SpaceX
3 credits
Summer A
Module 5 + Seminar + Capstone development
3.5 credits
Summer B
Module 6 + Seminar + Capstone completion
3.5 credits
DC Immersion
Washington, D.C. — NASA HQ, Space Force HQ, Capitol Hill + Demo Day
3 credits
Integrative Seminar — 3 credits total (1 cr/semester, runs across all semesters). Included in credit totals above.
Recommended For
Career changers, employer-sponsored professionals, and military transition candidates ready for full immersion.
18-Month Track
Balanced pacing for working professionals who need to maintain full-time employment while completing the degree.
Fall 1 (Sessions A+B)
Modules 1-2 + Seminar + Space Policy + Space Security
13 credits
FL Immersion
Florida Space Coast — Kennedy, Cape Canaveral, SpaceX, ULA
3 credits
Spring (Sessions A+B)
Modules 3-4 + Seminar + Venture Design + Systems Integration
13 credits
TX Immersion
Houston + Starbase — NASA JSC, Axiom, Intuitive Machines, SpaceX
3 credits
Summer (Sessions A+B)
Modules 5-6 + Seminar + Capstone development
7 credits
Fall 2 (Session A)
Capstone completion + DC Immersion + Demo Day
3 credits
Integrative Seminar — 3 credits total (1 cr/semester, runs across all semesters). Included in credit totals above.
Recommended For
Working professionals maintaining full-time roles, executives balancing leadership responsibilities with continued education.
Integrative Seminar
The Thread That Ties 42 Credits Into One Coherent Experience
Modeled on MIT's System Design and Management year-long core course. A continuous seminar that runs alongside your modules, synthesizing cross-disciplinary insights into your capstone thesis.
Integrative Seminar
1 credit × 3 semesters = 3 total credits
Semester 1
Systems Thinking
Map connections across SpaceForge domains. Begin framing your integrative thesis question.
Semester 2
Synthesis & Analysis
Develop methodology and gather evidence. Connect space courses to your SpaceForge learning.
Semester 3
Capstone Defense
Present your integrative thesis to a faculty panel and industry reviewers in the Capstone Showcase. Classmates and advisors evaluate each project on technical merit, commercial viability, and policy alignment.
Your Learning Platform
Every MSTS student gets access to SpaceForge — an AI-powered platform with 60+ tools purpose-built for space professionals.
AI Research Coach
Capstone advisor, literature reviews, methodology critique
Mission Simulations
Team-based decision-making with real telemetry
Live Mission Exercises
Real launches become orbital mechanics problems
Knowledge Graph
200+ concepts connected across 6 modules
Peer Workshops
Students teach each other, earn credentials
SpaceForge Intel
Federal contracts, salary data, career placement
Industry Certifications
Map competencies to PMP, FAA, ITAR certs
Competency Portfolio
Verified scores employers trust
Your Path to Space Leadership Starts Now
42 credits. Seven schools. Three immersions at launch sites, mission control, and Capitol Hill. Five industry certifications. Thunderbird MicroMasters plus ASU MSTS degree -- dual alumni networks that tell employers you can lead where engineering, business, science, and policy collide.
The founding cohort is limited to 30 students. Every seat that fills is one fewer available. Every month you wait, someone else decides faster.