The Space Studies program benefits from the expertise and support of the PSM Board of Affiliates, comprised of professionals from various industry and academic backgrounds, providing invaluable mentorship and networking opportunities for students. Career opportunities for graduates of the Space Studies program encompass a wide array of roles within the aerospace and space-related industries, catering to diverse career aspirations and backgrounds. These opportunities include:

Space Technicians and Payload Specialists: Graduates can find roles as space technicians or payload specialists, contributing directly to space missions and exploration endeavors.

Commercial Space Sector: Opportunities exist within the commercial space sector, working with NASA contractors, national laboratories, science and research organizations, law firms, medical centers, educational institutions, military entities, and public relations firms.

International Opportunities: While challenges may arise for international students seeking internships and jobs in the US space industry due to citizenship requirements, there are strategies to overcome this hurdle:

Focus on engineering to strengthen your background.
Explore opportunities with multinational companies in your home country.
Develop skills in data science and software engineering, which are in high demand.
Consider non-traditional paths and smaller companies.
Collaborate with technology collaboration centers or national research centers.
Pursue internships with subsidiary companies abroad or contractors not engaged in government contracts.
Explore policy-related and law firms hiring space studies graduates.

Companies

Various companies and organizations offer internship and job positions to Space Studies graduates, including:

Ad Astra Rocket
Aerojet Rocketdyne
Axiom
Ball Aerospace
Blue Origin
Boeing
Final Frontier Design
Firefly Aerospace
Houston SpacePort
Jacobs Engineering
Lockheed Martin Space Systems
Lunar and Planetary Institute
Maxar Technologies
NASA
Nanoracks
Northrop Grumman
Orbital Sciences Corporation (now part of Northrop Grumman)
Planet Labs
Raytheon Technologies
Relativity Space
Rocket Lab
Sierra Nevada Corporation
Space Systems Loral (SSL)
SpaceX
Southwest Research Institute
UTC Aerospace Systems
UT Austin Center for Space Research
Virgin Galactic
and many more

Additionally, internship programs such as the NASA Pathway Program and the Air Force Research Laboratory Scholars Program provide valuable opportunities for hands-on experience and collaboration with leading scientists and engineers in the field. The Horizon's Fellowship also offers full-funded support for graduate students interested in integrating technology into their studies.