Space Engineering Minor

Return to: Swanson School of Engineering

The Space Engineering minor helps students deepen their knowledge and skills in space technology, explore space-related interests beyond their major, and strengthen their career options in the space industry.  Space offers several compelling advantages for modern society: a global perspective (the ultimate high ground), a clear view of the heavens unobscured by the atmosphere, a free-fall environment enabling us to develop advanced materials impossible to make on Earth, abundant resources such as solar energy and extraterrestrial materials, and a unique challenge as the final frontier. With the renewed global interest in space exploration, the global space economy is experiencing rapid growth projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035. Advancements in satellite technology, launch vehicles, and space exploration missions by commercial players and government agencies are driving the expansion of this market.  The University of Pittsburgh has been a major contributor to the region’s emergence as a leader in space-related high-performance computing and sensing, autonomous systems, robotics, advanced manufacturing, and medicine.  

The minor is designed to address the engineering workforce development challenges facing the space enterprise. Pitt has a long history of excellence in both education and research across high-performance and resilient computing and sensing, electronics, electric power systems, guidance and control, and communications. All these tech strengths help to build solid pillars supporting space technologies. The minor program not only ensures that students have a foundation in traditional astronautical areas such as orbital mechanics, space environment, attitude determination and control, spacecraft systems engineering, space structures, and rocket propulsion, but also provides students with modern perspectives and skills in space technologies.

The minor is an integral part of Pitt Space - the university-wide initiative launched in 2024. Pitt Space (www.space.pitt.edu) features over 100 Pitt faculty members from all across campus who are working together to create world-class research and graduates in space engineering, biomedicine, and science to meet the growing needs of the U.S. space community