"ISU Master's 10th Anniversary Celebrations"
Claire Jolly (MSS'99), Vincent Denis (MSS'03), and pictures by Valérie Milon (MSS'02)
(January 2006)
More than 150 people were present in Strasbourg on December 2nd, 2005, for a great 10th anniversary of ISU's Master programme. Current and former ISU staff members, actual MSS'06 students, and numerous MSS and SSP alumni shared an emotions filled evening.
Brief historic review: ISU is 19 years old and its Master program is 10!
The International Space university (ISU) was created in 1987 by three young visionaries, Peter Diamandis, Todd B. Hawley, et Robert D. Richards. While the cold war was still ongoing, these three young men convinced the space agencies of the world and many aerospace companies that creating a new type of university, focussing on space education with an innovative international, interdisciplinary, and intercultural vision, could meet the needs of the space community.
Having received key encouragements from many agencies and individuals, including the inconditionnal support of Sir Arthur C. Clarke who became the 1st ISU chancellor, the new "space university" was able to develop an innovative academic programme. The ISU Summer Session programme (SSP), taking place each year in different places in the world (USA, France, Canada, Chile, Thailand...) gained increasingly in international recognition. During the 1990s, the ISU coming of age, chose a base and finally settled its headquarter in Strasbourg to start up the second phase of its development: the establishment of a central campus and the launch of its Master's programme.
The Master of Space Studies was born as a natural complement to the summer session. As soon as the ISU building was inaugurated, the SSP started taking place there every two years (Strasbourg in 2006, China in 2007...). Currently, a SSP student may continue his/her ISU education by joining the Master's modules, over several years if needed, to get the ISU Master diploma in the end.
The first Master class, the pioneers (or "guinea pigs" according to the memories of some alumni!), was composed of thirty students in 1995-96. Since then, the master's programme has been enriched with two branches, (the Master of Space Studies and the Master of Space Management), and has gained more international academic recognition. In summer 2006, while the SSP'06 with its +100 students will take place in Strasbourg, the 11th Master class will graduate, composed of +55 students, which will join the growing alumni community.
ISU Master's 10th Anniversary Celebration
In December 2005, following ISU's anual international symposium dedicated to space exploration this year, the ISU campus has celebrated its Master's 10th Anniversary Celebration.
The celebration started with speeches in the great ISU auditorium, by Michael Simpson, ISU President, Walter Peeters (ISU Dean), Prof. Becker (former ISU Dean), and Bob Richards (ISU co-founder).
A surprise awaited the participants: a videotaped speech by ISU's chancellor, Sir Arthur C. Clarke. This great science fiction author, residing in Ceylan, Sri Lanka, has published classics, such as "2001: A Space Odyssey". However he has also described in details the 1st concept of orbital satellite communications networks, in his essay "Extra-terrestrial relays" printed in the "Wireless World" publication in 1945!
Adressing a captivated public, Sir Arthur C. Clarke described with humour and emotion his first meting with the three young ISU founders in the 1980s. He mentioned that the combination of a vision to better humanity and the support of key personalities can indeed contribute to change the world for the best. He also reminded the participants that the ISU alumni and their professors are today the depositaries of the "three i vision", and that it is their responsability to try and aim to the creation of true "international", "interdisciplinary", and "intercultural" space cooperation. In that context, Sir Clarke added a fourth "i", as to not forget the growing "inter-generational" dimension, old and new generations needing to communicate well to prepare future space missions.
Following the speeches and the friendly message from Arthur C. Clarke, participants left the auditorium to meet in the ISU's Pioneer Hall, especially decorated for the occasion, with a buffet and nice round tables. Alumni, professors and guests then shared a fun evening, rythmed by typical ISU events!
At dessert time, Bob Richard - one of ISU's co-founders - has invited all the participants to join him in opening a time-capsule that he and his co-founders had given to the ISU administration, when the Master was created ten years ago.
The time-capsule contained small messages from the founders and some objects, including an audiotape with the Canadian anthem! In our all-digital and DVD era, Bob asked humorously around "but what is this old tchnology?!"
He then offered to all those present, in particular the current Master students (MSS'06), the opportunity to fill once again the time-capsule with messages and objects, and to open it again in ten years, for the 20th annniversary of the ISU Master's programme.
Music was suddenly added to the joyful mood and the emotion. The ISU staff came together and performed a classic show of the traditional ISU Christmas party, a choreography on the French song "Alexandrie" by the singer Claude François.
A large part of the participants joined the staff for a second rendition of the choreography, and then the Pioneer Hall became a full-blown discotheque until late in the night!
In conclusion... And 'rendez-vous' in August 2006 for the "alumni weekend"!
Many of the alumni present felt they had shared a very nice and fun evening, full of emotions, reminding them also of good memories of their respective ISU adventure. For some, this evening also re-lighted some of their dreams and hopes for space exploration and the future of humanity.
As Sir Arthur C. Clarke mentioned, challenges of all kind lie ahead for the different members of the "ISU family", but the ingeniosity and the energy of those who share the three "i" vision will always contribute in strengthening the worldwide space community from inside.
If you feel like enjoying a great ISU-like ambiance, you may join in many ISU alumni who will meet in Strasbourg in the first week of August 2006, for the great alumni weekend, held at the same time as the SSP'06!
To learn more about ISU-France activities, you may contact Bérénice Guédel, ISU-France secretary at 
.