Records of the Colorado Space Grant at Colorado State University

Congress initiated the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program on October 30, 1987, with the passage of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Act. The Act included such objectives as assuring the vitality of the nation and the quality of life through the understanding, assessment, development, and utilization of space resources. The original goals of the national program included: (1) the establishment of a national network of universities with interests and capabilities in aeronautics, space and related fields; (2) the formation of cooperative programs among universities, aerospace industry, and federal, state, and local governments; (3) the broadening of interdisciplinary training, research and public service programs related to aerospace; (4) the recruiting and training of professionals, especially women and underrepresented minorities, for careers in aerospace science, technology and allied fields; and, (5) the development of a strong science, mathematics and technology base from elementary school through university levels.

The Colorado Space Grant Consortium (CSGC) was founded in 1989 as one of the initial 17 universities and consortia. The CSGC, led by the University of Colorado at Boulder, currently consists of 21 institutions, including Colorado State University, and one non-profit foundation.

The CSGC works to enhance the educational experience of students throughout the state based on cooperative relationships among universities, colleges, industry, research organizations, NASA, and other Space Grant programs, and to cultivate this rich cooperative environment to provide incentives, educational opportunities, and educational excellence in space science and engineering. The CSGC program features hands-on opportunities for undergraduate and graduate student research in space, space-related courses and seminars, and cooperative outreach projects to inspire pre-collegiate students to pursue an education in science or engineering.

Faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students from the member schools and foundation coordinate their efforts to provide an effective state-wide educational program in space sciences and engineering. Thousands of students have participated in CSGC's space research and educational opportunities since the program's inception.

Overseeing the Space Grant resources at Colorado State University was the Center for Engineering Infrastructure and Sciences in Space (CEISS). CEISS was an interdisciplinary center that promoted exploration and human settlement of space, with particular emphasis on the establishment of a human-tended lunar base in the 21st century. Dr. Willy Sadeh, a professor of civil engineering at CSU since 1968, established CEISS in 1987 and served as its director until his death on May 12, 1997. In 2001, the name of CEISS was changed to Colorado Space Grant at Colorado State University.