ISU- Igniting the Spirit in U

Are you a food lover? Do you love travelling and tasting different cultures?

Do you dream of exploring the dark unknowns of Space?

Or your main aim in life is to do something extraordinary for the benefit of humankind on Earth?

There’s just one solution to all the above desires- get enrolled at the International Space University! 

ISU is only one university of its kind. With its 3Is approach- International, Interdisciplinary and Intercultural- it has successfully established itself as the favorite destination for all space geeks. The reputation of ISU in the space sector is indisputable. 

The best thing is you do not have to be a rocket scientist to be a part of this outstanding organization. All you need is to have an undying passion for SPACE.

My journey so far:

ISU happened to me by chance, while surfing through the internet a year ago. Although I was always interested to study and explore Space yet I never knew that such a university ever existed! Hailing from a middle class Indian family, studying abroad was a far-fetched dream but ISU seemed exactly the place I wanted to be. Overcoming all hurdles in my path, I finally landed in Strasbourg as a student of ISU MSS 2015. 

I was instantly impressed by the warm welcome I received here. Students from more than twenty nations were to be my companions for the next one year. It was like half the world coexisting within a three-storeyed building. The faculty and staff are truly inspiring and friendly, ever-ready to impart knowledge and advice. They made me feel like home away from home. 

The Interdisciplinary nature of my university is what I admire the most. There is always something new to learn. The lawyers and policy makers learning technical content and the engineers handling legal matters, is its greatest uniqueness. If it was not for ISU, probably I would have never learnt about managing a space business or known about the political constraints that exist in this field. Soon I realized I am one of the youngest in my batch and this made me a little apprehensive in sharing my ideas among the more experienced ones. But I have gradually gained confidence and now enjoy working in a team, and this has proved to be an excellent way to gain more knowledge about the topics that are not covered in class.

The MSS program is an intensive course and we are required to work on our individual and team project simultaneously. We have a very strenuous routine which is a way to prepare us for the challenging work environment in this demanding industry. Over the past few months I have worked on various assignments and workshops on real-life situations related to Space science, policies, engineering, applications and management.

ISU has some of the best facilities for hands-on experiences, thanks to the altruistic European Space Agency. A Satellite Ground Station, a Concurrent Design laboratory, an EyasSat satellite and a Microgravity experimental box, are few among those.  My most-preferred hang-out spot is the library which has an amazing collection of reference books, novels and movies!

My ultimate aim has always been to improve the conditions of lives on Earth using Science and Technology. ISU has taken me a step further towards realizing my goal. I am currently working on a team project, Global Water Initiative, which aims to solve the water crisis inspired by space applications. Another of my assignments was based on monitoring Human Rights violation using satellite images. Such noble endeavors make me thank my stars for bringing me to ISU. 

I shall never get tired of boasting about the wonderful network that ISU maintains with the prominent members of the space industry. Most of them are the alumni of this prestigious school doing extraordinary work in different parts of the world (even in Antarctica!). Lectures are delivered by representatives and scientists from national space agencies of different countries and we socialize with astronauts and cosmonauts. The long list of eminent personalities include Sergei Krikalev, Jean-Jacques Favier, Robert Thirsk, Jeffrey A. Hoffman, Jim Dator and so many more.

The Intercultural and International aspect of this school is the fun part of our lives. We occasionally have cultural nights which give us the golden opportunity to know about the traditions and taste the best cuisines from around the world. I performed a classical dance during the Indian night and everyone danced to the beats of famous Bollywood songs! ISU strives to create a culture embracing, cooperating society and we are the proud members of that community.

ISU being situated at the heart of Western Europe has a lot of advantages. I have had quite a number of short trips and the thrills of of ice- skating and skiing on shoe-string budgets, and have already visited three other countries- Germany, Luxembourg and Switzerland. Most fascinatingly, I often go grocery shopping across the border to Germany! We had two professional visits to Airbus Defense & Space and the SES Headquarters, and are planning an adventurous excursion to Russia in early March (Yes you read it right Moscow, Kremlin, Star City... et al).

The multidimensional character of ISU makes it stand out of all the other universities of the world. We belong to the Universe! We are a model of the International Space Station. We firmly believe that the ISU vision to have universities on the Moon and beyond will soon come true. For me, ISU is the best thing that has happened in my life till now and I look forward to an exciting future ahead.

Me and my friend Karishma with cosmonaut Sergei Krakilev