Space Resources

Space resources sits at the intersection of engineering, planetary science and systems analysis. It focuses on how resources beyond Earth can be identified, characterized and used to support space-based systems and long-duration missions. As activity in space expands, technical decisions increasingly depend on rigorous analysis of materials, environments and operational constraints that are unlike anything on Earth.

Program Overview

The Space Resources PhD is offered online and on campus and structured as an interdisciplinary degree, drawing on expertise across Mines. It is designed for those who want to pursue original research focused on the identification, extraction, processing or utilization of resources in space environments.

This program shifts your focus from applying known concepts to creating new approaches. You will strengthen your foundation in planetary science, engineering systems and quantitative analysis while tailoring coursework to support your dissertation research.

What you'll study and do

Your coursework is customized to your research focus and may span planetary science, mechanical engineering, materials science, mining engineering, geophysics and systems engineering. Topics may include planetary materials, resource characterization, remote sensing, extraction concepts, system design and mission analysis. Coursework is selected to directly support your research rather than stand apart from it.

The core of the program is independent research. You will define a space resources problem, design a rigorous approach to study the topic and generate results that make an original contribution to the field. Research methods may include modeling and simulation, laboratory experimentation with analog materials, data analysis or system-level design studies. You will work closely with a faculty advisor and interdisciplinary committee and complete proposal, candidacy and dissertation defense milestones.

What it takes to complete the PhD at Mines

Completion of the PhD requires advanced coursework, successful completion of qualifying and candidacy requirements and a defended dissertation. Online or in-person format allows flexibility while maintaining strong engagement with faculty, research groups and campus resources. Mines’ applied environment ensures your work remains grounded in physical reality and engineering constraints, even when addressing space-based systems.

You and Mines PhD: A Right Fit?

You may be a strong fit for this program if you:

Are motivated by applying engineering thinking to non-terrestrial environments

Enjoy working with uncertainty, models and emerging systems

Have strong preparation in engineering, planetary science or a related technical field