Space Infrastructure & Sustainable Exploration

• A Bachelor’s Degree from a college or university accredited by the appropriate regional association with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent work experience in professional academic and/or government or private industry positions and achievements. Each applicant’s specific experience will be evaluated by the KSI Admissions Committee.
• Official transcripts from all previous universities or colleges attended or proof of work equivalent
• Three completed recommendation letters, Completion of application, and Application fee

• A Graduate Record Examination (GRE) revised General Test score or a Miller’s Analogy Test(MAT) score at or above the 50th percentile. The GRE or MAT requirement will be waived if an applicant has completed a Master’s degree or twelve or more credits of post- baccalaureate upper division or graduate coursework with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Additionally, all international applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and submit a combined score of 550 or better (new scoring of 213 or better) or the Internet based test scoring of 80 or better. International transcripts are required to be translated if the grading and evaluation system used differs from those used by the United States education system. Official translation and a course- by-course evaluation from all prior institutions and grade-point average computation must be provided to the Office of Admissions. Please use one of the following services for evaluation.

Application Fee (one-time, nonrefundable) $150 Library Fee (each semester) $150

Applicants to Kepler have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities. View financial support opportunities.

Students enrolled in this Graduate Certificate program will investigate technologies to develop space infrastructure and sustainable exploration of the solar system and beyond. This program is designed to guide students through methodologies of building space infrastructure, remote sensing, space science, space management and operations. In addition to exploring the development of a broad set of space systems, students will delve into surveying supporting systems for space settlement and roadmaps for technological growth and expansion.

To successfully complete the program and earn the Graduate Certificate, students must fulfill all credit hour requirements, maintain a minimum GPA (as specified by the program) and meet any additional criteria set by the university or department.

Choose any three of the courses listed below and one three-credit elective from any graduate program. 

This course surveys the resources available in asteroids and other planets and considers the technologies required to identify and mine material for space exploration. Topics shall include autonomous technology, robotics, material sciences, prospecting and target selection, extraction techniques, processing materials, additive manufacturing, nanotechnology, miniaturization, regulations, and safety.

This course provides an integrated view of space transportation systems and developing systems to plan and manage infrastructure in space throughout its lifecycle.  Students shall examine launch and transportation systems design, development, testing, and manufacturing; creating operations concepts; remote sensing; types and functions of infrastructures; infrastructure design, development, and refurbishment; performance modelling; failure analysis and reliability engineering; inspection and monitoring; maintenance and rehabilitation strategies; and lifecycle costs and applicable business cases.

This course examines the exploration of outer space and technologies that enable humans to settle the space frontier. Topics shall include advanced mission analysis; air-breathing; electromagnetic, fission, fusion, and antimatter propulsion; breakthrough propulsion physics; faster-than-light travel; non-rocket and hybrid launch systems; reusable spacecraft technology; satellites; telescopes; space habitats; space stations; rovers; drones; and applications using artificial intelligence.