MISSION
As a chapter of SEDS-USA, the Georgetown University Space Initiative is an entirely student run and operated organization founded in 2019. Its mission is to create and convene a community of people interested in and passionate about space exploration and innovation at Georgetown University, to encourage the university to adopt a more space-oriented curriculum in line with Georgetown’s academic strengths, and to contribute a new generation of leaders with fresh perspectives to the global New Space community.
GOALS
Create and convene a community of people interested in and passionate about space exploration and innovation at Georgetown University with the ultimate goal of developing a rich network of faculty, alumni, and outside sponsors who will mentor students and connect them to the space industry.
Encourage Georgetown University to adopt more space based curriculum with the ultimate goal of establishing clear space oriented academic programs and majors across all schools at Georgetown.
Contribute a new generation of leaders with fresh perspectives to the global space community with the ultimate goal of cementing Georgetown University as center of forward thinking, New Space thought.
WHY?
Georgetown University Space Initiative was born through the realization of an incredibly rare opportunity to affect major change in the space industry, space policy, and Georgetown University itself. Washington, DC is the space decision making capital of the world. NASA and most other US agencies who operate in space are headquartered in Washington. A large number of private aerospace and defense companies, like SpaceX and Boeing, have major offices in DC as well. The future of the space community still unequivocally rests in DC.
Georgetown University is within view of the National Mall and has a storied history of exploration and astronomy: one of the first observatories ever built in the US stands on Georgetown’s campus. However, Georgetown does not have a significant space focus in its courses or goals today. There is a unique opportunity given Georgetown’s location, at the heart of space decision making in DC, and its strengths in policy and business to establish an influential center of space thought and develop a young talent pool literate in the industry. Other university level space clubs across the country have predominantly focused on engineering, but Georgetown University Space Initiative will take up goals suited to the location and strengths of the university.
Ultimately, GUSI was created to further the reaches of humanity in space. Every community has its own skills to contribute to this era-defining undertaking. For some, it is engineering and technical prowess. For Georgetown, it is a tradition of excellence in policy and business.
There is work to do. Let’s get started.
