SpaceForge
Will Over Skill
We admit based on drive and cross-disciplinary curiosity, not GPA alone.
Most graduate programs filter on GPA and test scores. We filter on drive. Every student in this room chose to be here -- not because a department required it, but because they are hungry enough to learn engineering when their background is business, or policy when their background is science.
Skills can be taught. The willingness to step outside your comfort zone cannot. That self-selection is the program's most powerful asset.
6
Domains
18
Credits
6
Departments
24
Faculty Seats
Six Domains
One Forge, Six Lenses
Each 7.5-week module is hosted by a different ASU college, taught by that college's faculty, and grounded in that discipline's methodology. You rotate through all six. By the end, you can lead conversations in engineering, business, science, AI, operations, and policy — the six languages that move space forward. No leader in this industry speaks only one.
Aerospace Engineering & Space Systems
Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering
Space Content
How the world's most complex programs get managed -- and why they fail. Students learn systems engineering as a leadership discipline: evaluating technical feasibility, assessing program risk, leading cross-functional teams, and making high-stakes decisions where a single mistake can destroy a $500 million asset.
What You'll Learn
- Systems engineering as a management discipline
- Spacecraft architecture: how subsystem trade-offs drive program decisions
- Launch vehicle economics, propulsion options, and provider selection
- Power budgets, thermal constraints, and mass margins as business risks
- Integration, test campaigns, and mission assurance governance
Deliverables
- Cross-disciplinary feasibility assessment
- Program risk and governance analysis
- Systems architecture stakeholder brief
- Peer-reviewed leadership case study
Data Science, AI & Computational Intelligence
School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence (SCAI)
Space Content
How organizations extract insight from massive datasets and make decisions with AI. Students learn to evaluate data-driven claims, commission analytical work, and translate findings for non-technical decision-makers -- using space sector data as the operating context.
What You'll Learn
- Remote sensing, SAR imagery, and RF signal intelligence as business inputs
- Evaluating machine learning models, training data, and AI vendor claims
- Predictive analytics, anomaly detection, and operational decision support
- Autonomous systems: on-orbit AI, governance, and strategic implications
- Data pipelines, cloud architecture, and the economics of compute at scale
Deliverables
- Data-driven decision brief using space sector data
- AI/ML application evaluation framework
- Predictive analytics dashboard concept
- Technical translation presentation for non-technical audience
Space Venture Strategy, Finance & Commercialization
W.P. Carey (lead) + Thunderbird (Global Markets)
Space Content
Where the money is -- and where it's going. Students analyze the space economy's value chains, evaluate venture-stage companies, build financial models for space businesses, and develop investor-ready pitch decks. W. P. Carey School of Business leads on finance, business model design, and venture strategy. Thunderbird School of Global Management -- ranked #1 in the world by QS for International Trade -- contributes international market access, cross-border regulatory strategy, and global partnership frameworks. Together they bring the same rigor applied to fintech or biotech investment to the $546 billion space economy.
What You'll Learn
- Space economy value chains: upstream launch to downstream services
- Venture capital, SPACs, and space-specific investment thesis development
- Revenue models: SaaS, capacity-as-a-service, data licensing, and rideshare
- Go-to-market for dual-use (civil/defense) and export-controlled products
- Regulatory navigation: FCC licensing, FAA launch permits, ITAR/EAR compliance
Deliverables
- Space venture business plan
- Financial model & investor pitch deck
- Market analysis & competitive landscape report
- Simulated board presentation
Space Science, Mission Design & Research Methodology
SESE (Psyche, OSIRIS-REx, Mars 2020 PI)
Space Content
NASA's $3 billion planetary science budget is allocated through a governance process that every MBA student should study. Taught by the faculty who lead Psyche (the first ASU-led deep space mission), OSIRIS-REx, and Mars 2020 instruments. Students learn planetary science, astrobiology, and heliophysics at the level needed to sit across the table from a principal investigator and ask the right questions -- then translate those scientific findings into business cases, policy recommendations, and venture concepts for decision-makers who don't speak the language of orbital mechanics or mass spectrometry.
What You'll Learn
- Planetary science, astrobiology, and heliophysics as industry drivers
- Orbital mechanics, mission design, and delta-v budgets as resource allocation
- Decadal Surveys, peer review, and the governance of scientific priorities
- Evaluating TRL levels, research claims, and technology maturation pathways
- From scientific discovery to commercial application: the translation pipeline
Deliverables
- Mission concept analysis (business viability + scientific merit)
- Research translation brief for non-scientific audience
- Scientific due diligence assessment
- Mission design review presentation
Space Operations, Logistics & Supply Chain Management
W.P. Carey SCM (#1 US) + Fulton + SESE
Space Content
How do you manage a supply chain where a single delayed component can push a $300 million launch by six months -- and the customer can't switch providers? Students analyze the unique operational and logistics challenges of space: launch campaign management, constellation fleet operations, orbital sustainability regulation, and the supply chain fragilities that determine which companies deliver on time and which go bankrupt trying. Led by W. P. Carey's supply chain management program -- ranked #1 nationally -- with Fulton engineering and SESE mission operations providing the space-specific technical context.
What You'll Learn
- Launch operations: pad flow, countdown management, and range coordination
- On-orbit operations: station-keeping, LEOP, and anomaly resolution
- Ground segment architecture: MOCs, ground stations, and data pipelines
- Space debris, conjunction assessment, and orbital sustainability regulation
- Supply chain resilience: radiation-hardened parts, ITAR, and sole-source risk
Deliverables
- Launch campaign management plan with risk analysis
- Supply chain vulnerability assessment for a real constellation program
- Operations cost model: human-intensive vs. autonomous fleet management
- Space sustainability policy recommendation
Design, Communication & Innovation Policy
Herberger + Thunderbird + SFIS
Space Content
The best technology loses to the best story -- every time. The Apollo program succeeded because a president communicated a vision, policymakers allocated resources, and designers made complexity comprehensible. Students learn design thinking, strategic communication, and innovation policy -- the skills that determine whether technically excellent programs actually get funded, built, and supported by society. A cross-school capstone drawing from Herberger (design), Thunderbird (global strategy), and SFIS (innovation policy).
What You'll Learn
- Design thinking applied to complex sociotechnical systems
- Translating technical programs (SBIR, STTR, OTAs) for non-technical audiences
- Space policy frameworks: Artemis Accords, ITU spectrum, IADC debris guidelines
- Innovation ecosystems: tech transfer, TRL valleys, and NewSpace incubation models
- Stakeholder mapping, coalition building, and congressional advocacy strategy
Deliverables
- Space governance policy brief for a real regulatory question
- Strategic communication campaign for a space program or company
- Design sprint: reimagining a public-facing space experience
- Stakeholder presentation to a simulated congressional committee
Cyclical Rotation
Start Anywhere. Complete the Loop.
No prerequisites. Every quarter a new module launches. Join in any quarter and rotate through all six.
Each module runs for 7.5 weeks. Students complete all six modules in any order to earn the 18-credit Thunderbird Graduate Certificate in Space Systems & Strategy.
How You Learn
No Exams. No Busywork. Only Real Deliverables.
Every assignment has real-world stakes. Your feasibility report goes to real organizations. Your financial model goes to venture firms. On the last day, you pitch to people who can hire you or fund your ideas. This is not practice.
Learning
AI Writing Coach
Real-time AI feedback on technical reports, policy briefs, and professional deliverables. Improves your writing as you write -- not after you submit.
Spaced Repetition Flashcards
SM-2 algorithm schedules reviews at optimal intervals. Master orbital mechanics, policy frameworks, and financial models -- and actually retain them.
Knowledge Graph
Visualize how concepts connect across all six modules. See the relationships between orbital mechanics, venture finance, and policy in real time.
Collaboration
Integrated Team Workspace
Tasks, messages, shared documents, and project timelines in one place. Every cross-disciplinary team operates from a shared command center.
Assessment
Structured Peer Review
Your first module is probationary. Faculty and peers evaluate collaboration, intellectual courage, and cross-disciplinary contribution using structured rubrics.
Professional Deliverables
Technical feasibility reports, financial models, working prototypes, and live pitches to industry panels. Everything you produce has real-world value.
The Collision Engine
When an engineering student's deliverable overlaps with a policy student's analysis, the platform detects the collision and opens a shared thread. These are not accidents -- they are the entire point of cross-disciplinary education. The Collision Engine is what makes SpaceForge more than six modules taught in sequence.
Delivery Model
Two Tracks, Same Cohort
Choose the schedule that fits your life. Both tracks meet in person and cover the same content in the same module cycle.
Weekday Evenings
Designed for local ASU students on campus. Same faculty, same content, same deliverables as Track B.
1-2 evenings per week
On the Tempe campus
Same rigor and deliverables as Track B
Executive Hybrid
One weekend per month in person on the Tempe campus. Remaining weekends asynchronous online. For working professionals and MSTS students.
One weekend per month in person (Sat – Sun, 8 AM – 5 PM)
~18 contact hours per in-person weekend
Remaining weekends: asynchronous online
Faculty Model
24 Champions Across 6 Departments
Each module is co-taught by 3-4 faculty from the host department, ensuring deep disciplinary expertise combined with cross-disciplinary perspective.
Space Systems & Programs
Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering
Data & AI Strategy
School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence (SCAI)
Space Ventures
W.P. Carey (lead) + Thunderbird (Global Markets)
Science & Mission Strategy
SESE (Psyche, OSIRIS-REx, Mars 2020 PI)
Space Operations
W.P. Carey SCM (#1 US) + Fulton + SESE
Design & Policy
Herberger + Thunderbird + SFIS
4 faculty per module × 6 modules = 24 faculty champions drawn from across the university, ensuring no single discipline owns the curriculum.
Faculty assignments for the founding cohort are being finalized. Each module lead will be drawn from the host department listed above.
Your Credential Pathway
From One Module to a Master's Degree
SpaceForge is the foundation of every credential. Start with a single module and build up -- every credit counts toward the next level.
Start With One Module
3 creditsTake any single module. No commitment beyond 7.5 weeks. If you love it, keep going. If not, you have earned 3 graduate credits and walked away certain.
Thunderbird Graduate Certificate
18 creditsYou have completed the full cross-disciplinary rotation. Issued by Thunderbird School of Global Management. Thunderbird alumni status included. Many stop here. If you want more, you have momentum.
Thunderbird MicroMasters
27 creditsGraduate Certificate + Integration Practicum + Capstone Venture Sprint. A standalone Thunderbird credential, or transfer all 27 credits into the ASU MSTS degree.
ASU Master of Space Technology and Systems (MSTS)
42 creditsMicroMasters (27 cr transfer in) + space elective + integrative seminar + 3 immersions (FL, TX, DC) + capstone defense. Dual alumni: Thunderbird + ASU.
Professional Credentials
Industry Certifications, Built In
Through a partnership with the Space Force Association, SpaceForge modules map directly to Certified Space Professional requirements. Earn professional certifications alongside your academic credential -- no separate prep needed.
Earn all 5 space industry certificationsfrom the Space Force Association's Global Space University while completing your coursework -- the only program that embeds industry certifications directly into every credential level, from certificate to full degree.
Certified Space Professional Level 1
Entry-level, 3-5 years experience
Foundational space professional certification. Validates cross-domain knowledge of space systems, operations, policy, and technology. Earned upon completing the full 6-module disciplinary rotation.
Earned at: Thunderbird Graduate Certificate (18 credits)
Certified Space Professional Level 2
Mid-career, 5+ years experience
Intermediate certification demonstrating deeper expertise across space domains. Earned alongside CSP-1 through graduate certificate coursework and professional deliverables.
Earned at: Thunderbird Graduate Certificate (18 credits)
Certified Space Professional Level 3
Senior, 5-10 years experience
Advanced certification for senior space professionals. Earned through completion of the Integration Practicum and Capstone Venture Sprint beyond the 6-module core.
Earned at: Thunderbird MicroMasters (27 credits)
Certified Space Business Professional
Business & strategy professionals
Business-focused certification for space industry strategists. Validates competency in space venture economics, program acquisition, and commercial strategy. A unique credential developed exclusively for this program.
Earned at: Thunderbird MicroMasters (27 credits)
Certified Space Professional Executive
Senior leaders, 15+ years experience
Executive-level certification for senior space leaders. Earned through completion of the full Master of Space Technology and Systems (MSTS) degree, including immersions, integrative seminar, and capstone defense.
Earned at: MSTS Degree (42 credits)
Space Force Association Partnership -- Five certifications (CSP-1, CSP-2, CSP-3, CSBP, CSP-E) are embedded directly into SpaceForge coursework through a partnership with the U.S. Space Force Association. Students gain access to SFA events, industry experts, and professional networking. Exam fees included in program tuition.
Capstone Experiences
From Classroom to Launch Pad
Real-world engagements that prove you can deliver, not just discuss. Each credential level culminates in a capstone experience with real stakes.
Integration Practicum
A quarter-length real-world consulting engagement. Teams are matched to actual problems sourced from the NewSpace network, ASU Space Alliance, and industry partners. This is not a simulation -- sponsoring organizations use your deliverables.
- Matched to real industry or government challenge
- Cross-disciplinary teams mirror professional reality
- Faculty AND sponsoring organization evaluate your work
- Deliverables used by the sponsoring organization
Required for: Thunderbird MicroMasters Completion
Capstone Venture Sprint
A full-semester venture development cycle. Take a concept from any previous module and build it launch-ready. Culminates in a public Demo Day with industry judges and venture capital participation.
- Full venture development from concept to pitch-ready
- Public Demo Day with industry judges and VC participation
- Strongest concepts receive mentorship connections
- Seed funding introductions for top ventures
Required for: Thunderbird MicroMasters Completion
How You'll Learn
SpaceForge is not a video library. It's an AI-powered learning platform built for graduate-level space professionals.
AI Research Coach
Graduate-level advisor that knows your academic history, searches arXiv, reviews methodology, and prepares you for capstone defense.
Mission Control Simulator
Team-based decision-making under real mission pressure. Play Mission Control with real telemetry and cascading consequences.
Live Mission Integration
Real SpaceX launches and NASA milestones become hands-on exercises — orbital mechanics problems from actual conjunction events.
Knowledge Graph
Visualize how 200+ concepts connect across six modules and the broader space industry — companies, regulations, and technologies.
Peer Workshops
Students teach each other. Earn credentials for sharing expertise. A Q3 student who aced venture modeling coaches Q1 students on business cases.
SpaceForge Intel
Federal contract intelligence: curated SAM.gov opportunities, salary benchmarks, hiring trends, and career placement for the space industry.
Competency Portfolio
Verified simulation scores and credentials that employers can trust more than resumes. Shareable with a single link.
Industry Certifications
See exactly how SpaceForge competencies map to PMP, FAA Part 107, ITAR compliance, and other industry certifications.
Cohort Events
Virtual pitch nights, cross-cohort debates, and mission control tournaments. Alumni return to judge, employers come to scout.
The Space Industry Needs People Who Can Lead Across Boundaries.
SpaceForge is where engineers learn venture strategy, where MBAs learn why orbits determine business models, and where everyone learns to lead across disciplines. Six modules. Six departments. One cohort that thinks differently from day one.