The Space Studies Program (SSP)

The Space Studies Program (SSP), a curriculum designed for young graduates, professionals starting or changing emphasis in their space careers or for persons working in space-related fields who wish to broaden their knowledge and understanding beyond their current discipline. 

The Space Studies Program (SSP), an intense two-month professional development course for postgraduate students and professionals of all disciplines, is a unique educational experience. 

The curriculum covers the principal space related fields, both non-technical and technical and ranges from policy and law, business and management and humanities to life sciences, engineering, physical sciences, and space applications. The shared experience of an international, interactive working environment is an ideal networking forum leading to the creation of an extensive, international, multidisciplinary professional network comprising the program’s alumni, faculty members and visiting lecturers. 

Through the exchange of ideas and information, this network has been successful in advancing projects in such areas as disaster warning and mitigation systems, human health enhancement using space technologies, and has even significantly contributed to the creation of a national space agency. 

Each year the SSP is held in a different location across the globe. Moving to a new city and country adds an exciting dynamic as well as new resources and expertise to the program. 

SSP22

SSP22 will have a hybrid format: 

1. On-site (in residence program in Oeiras) from June 27 to August 26; 

2. An online program from June 27 to August 5, 2022. 

The SSP22 host institutions

Portugal Space

The Portuguese Space Agency – Portugal Space is an organization created by the Portuguese government to implement the National Strategy for Space (Portugal Space 2030). The Agency’s primary purpose is to promote and strengthen Space in Portugal, its ecosystem and value chain, for the benefit of society and economy in the country and worldwide, acting as a business and development unit for research entities and companies. 

Portugal Space coordinates the Portuguese participation in several international organizations such the European Space Agency (ESA) and advises the Portuguese government on the contributions and subscriptions made to ESA.  

Portugal Space also coordinates the Portuguese participation in European Southern Observatory (ESO), in the European Solar Telescope (EST) and in the recent SKAO (Square Kilometer Array Organization) as a founder member. Portugal Space is also the national representative for Portugal to the European Commission for matters related to Space, namely the European Union Space Program (Copernicus, Galileo, GOVSATCOM, SSA) and Horizon Europe having a seat in the Board of the EUSPA.

Instituto Superior Técnico (Técnico)

Técnico is a premium engineering, science, and technology school created in 1911, part of the Universidade de Lisboa, integrating competences from all fields of engineering and fundamental sciences. Técnico offers Bachelor, Master, and PhD programmes, lifelong training and carries out Research, Development, and Innovation activities, which are essential to ensure an education based on top of international standards. 

Técnico consists of three campi, three student residences, and 10 Departments. Técnico is home to more than 11.500 full-year equivalent graduate and post graduate students and approximately 1.500 full time equivalent teaching and non-teaching staff. Research at Técnico is organized in 20 Centres and Institutes and eight Associate Laboratories that address multidisciplinary research in an international and multicultural atmosphere. 

Técnico is a member of the CLUSTER Network of leading universities of science and technology in Europe. Técnico offers dual doctoral degrees with MIT, Carnegie-Mellon University, Univ. Texas at Austin, and EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne). The Aerospace Engineering and the Engineering Physics integrated Masters degrees, offered by Técnico, are top nationally ranked courses since they currently attract students with the highest national admission grades.