A first of its kind ‘space’ certificate program will start being offered at Lake Superior State University this fall.
WCMU’s Tina Sawyer spoke with the Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation’s Executive Director and President Chris Olson about the program. He says the classes could help students gain access into the space industry in the Upper Peninsula.
(The following is the transcript from the audio interview)
Tina: Why don't you tell me a little bit about the classes at Lake Superior State?
CO: Okay, there's an educational certificate program, which involves two courses. The first one is an introduction to space systems. It deals with like, top level, orbital mechanics, space environment, types of space missions, satellite subsystems, it's basically, you know, working in space, what is the space environment like, the second class is a space operation fundamentals, it deals with communication, signaling processing, satellite ground station operations, and rocket launch site operations and remote sensing. So, basically, the second course is more of a hands on and how you'd work in a ground station.
Tina: So why these classes now, Chris?
CO: Well, we need to prepare our workforce to be able to work in these types of things. Satellites are only to become more prevalent through the years, and we're trying to establish a ground station here in the Upper Peninsula. And, you know, we don't want to try to bring people from the outside in, that never seems to be a winning formula. So we're trying to train people within the community to go ahead and work these positions and these jobs.
Tina: Is it basically because of the possibility that the Upper Peninsula could be part of the space program or being considered a space state?
CO: Well, I think it's one step. You know, I think there's initiative from as far as the governor's office to go ahead and, and look at Michigan to diversify our economy and look into more of other industries, such as the space industry. So yeah, I think it makes complete sense. And there's no better place to do it here in the Upper Peninsula. You know, we're we have, we have some geographic advantages that we're north of the 45th parallel, got great views and low Earth orbit operations. So yeah, I think this makes an ideal place to set up a new ground station.
Tina: So how was the class offered through Lake Superior State University? How did it come about as far as financially?
CO: So financially, we worked at the time with Representative John DeMoose, you know, I told him what we're trying to do with this ground station, he was very excited about it. And he was able to get an appropriation of $250,000 from the state to go ahead and establish this certificate program. So we started immediately work with Lake Supperior State. And we put together a curriculum with some of our industry expert partners. And by doing that, they were able to form it ,get through their curriculum committee, and finally get it approved. And it's going to be offered this fall.
Tina: Can you kind of clarify what the ground station is?
CO: So it's a ground Mission Operations Center. It's basically a mission control center that would download data from satellites as they pass. And it can also upload data. So there's a number of different uses, not only commercially, but from the Department of Defense as well.
Tina: And is this through the Economic Development Corporation or who is this all through?
CO: So we have a public -private partnership with a number of different space companies right now. And the public side of it, obviously, is the Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation. And we're working with our private partners to establish this ground station.
Tina: Okay, and have you had any opposition to this?
CO: No, we have full community support. Once again, this is just a data exchange, there's no environmental issues such as launches or anything like that sort. So this is strictly just a ground station that deals with data and data transfer.
Tina: And once people get the certificate, let's say they get it to is a one year certificate or two year.
CO: it's a two course, one year certificate.
Tina: Okay. And once they get that certificate, what can they do with it? I mean, can they go anywhere? Does it have to just do with the U.P. stations?
CO: No, no, not at all. They can go anywhere. We're also trying to attract students from outside the area as well, you know, also to the armed forces could use it. So it's not just for our area, it's for anybody statewide or throughout the country, actually.
Tina: And looking to the future, is there any types of other expansion?
CO: Yes, of course. So we have these first two courses for that certificate program. We'd like to add an additional two to get more of an advanced certificate to get into some more details. So I think this is a perfect add on to something like a computer science degree and our engineering degree. That would just give you more marketable skills and have the the ability to work in that environment and hopefully, Michigan does become more and more of a presence in the space industry.
Tina: So with the future certificates planned, how long in the future do you think that would be... That that could come about?
CO: I think it's gonna gauge the success of the first two, the first certificate, the first two courses. So, right now, I think we're getting a lot of engagement. I know we have a number of students signed up already. So I think as the popularity grows, and people start seeing the benefits of having this type of educational background, I think it'll just grow and expand. And hopefully, with the next year or two, we could add on the additional two classes to make that Advanced Certificate.
Tina: Thank you so much. Appreciate your time.
CO: You bet.
Host Tag: That was Chris Olson, Executive Director and President of the Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation talking with WCMU’s Tina Sawyer about LSSU’s 1-year Space Certificate Program.
