Lehigh University launches graduate degree in Aerospace and Space Systems Engineering led by astronaut-turned-professor

Aerospace is entering a new era—defined by reusable rockets, small satellites, and commercial space ventures. At Lehigh University, a new master’s degree program in Aerospace and Space Systems Engineering (MS-AERO), led by former NASA astronaut Terry J. Hart, is preparing students to be part of it. 

A Lehigh mechanical engineering graduate, Hart flew fighter jets, served on the Space Shuttle flight crew, and was a leader in the satellite communications industry before returning to campus, where he has taught and mentored future engineers for more than 20 years.

“The aerospace field is changing fast, and I want students to be ready for the challenges and opportunities ahead,” Hart says.

The debut of MS-AERO, which coincides with World Space Week 2025, is not just a personal milestone for Hart. It also reflects Lehigh’s long history in aerospace education and research—from alumni shaping the industry to faculty-led projects spanning flight dynamics, propulsion, and spacecraft design. The program formalizes those strengths into a dedicated graduate path.

Hart’s aerospace journey: Astronaut, engineer, professor
Hart’s career spans nearly every corner of aerospace. After earning advanced degrees at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Rutgers University, he flew F-106 interceptors, became a NASA astronaut on the 1984 STS-41C mission, and later held senior engineering roles in telecommunications and satellite operations. Two decades ago, he returned to Lehigh to guide the next generation of space-focused scientists and engineers.

Hart’s path began at Lehigh, where he earned his mechanical engineering degree in 1968 before entering active duty with the Air Force Reserve. While flying the F-106 Delta Dart, he pursued graduate studies that eventually led him to NASA and Bell Laboratories.

Selected in 1978 as one of NASA’s “Thirty-Five New Guys,” Hart trained with the first class of astronauts for the Space Shuttle program. In 1984, he flew aboard Challenger on the STS-41C mission, where he used the shuttle’s Canadarm robotic arm to capture the disabled Solar Maximum satellite. The in-orbit repair proved, for the first time, that satellites could be serviced in space—an achievement that still shapes how agencies and companies plan orbital infrastructure.

After his NASA career, Hart shifted to the satellite communications industry, where he spent nearly two decades in leadership roles at AT&T and Loral Skynet. His work advanced global connectivity and broadened access to space-based technologies.

From orbit to academia: Hart inspires the next generation
Hart returned to Lehigh in 2004 and has been central to the university’s renewed focus on aerospace. He created the aerospace engineering minor and developed courses in flight dynamics, orbital mechanics, and aircraft and spacecraft design. Under his guidance, students have built and flown experimental aircraft, competed in NASA design challenges, and advanced research in next-generation propulsion systems. Many have gone on to careers at NASA, SpaceX, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and other leading organizations.

His teaching reflects his career—practical, mission-focused, and rooted in real aerospace experience. In class, he might walk students through the details of an orbital rendezvous, a maneuver he performed aboard Challenger, or guide them through senior design projects. For students, Hart offers not just technical expertise but firsthand insight into the history and practice of space exploration.

Hart also champions aerospace education beyond the university. He has visited K-12 schools across Pennsylvania and beyond, sharing astronaut stories and breaking down the science of spaceflight in accessible ways. He has spoken at museums, libraries, and community events, often tailoring his talks to spark curiosity in students who might not picture themselves in engineering. At Lehigh, he has supported engineering outreach initiatives, mentored high school teams in robotics and aerospace competitions, and supported summer programs that bring aspiring engineers to campus.

@iHartoAerospace: An astronaut boldly goes…into social media
In 2025, Hart launched @iHartAerospace to share lessons and memories with a wider audience. Through short videos, he breaks down topics like orbital mechanics, rocket propulsion, spacecraft design, and satellite operations. He also shares stories from his own career—including the tense moments he experienced as a NASA capsule communicator, or CAPCOM. The project reflects his view of aerospace as not only a technical field but also a source of inspiration that can spark lifelong interest in science and engineering.

Through his @iHartAerospace platform, Hart extends his teaching beyond the classroom, showing how aerospace advances shape daily life and highlighting the opportunities awaiting the next generation of engineers. By mixing astronaut stories with industry perspective, he helps students envision careers in the field and underscores Lehigh’s role in preparing them.

MS-AERO: A graduate program rooted in the industry challenges of today—and tomorrow
Hart’s educational mission reaches a new milestone with the launch of Lehigh’s Master of Science in Aerospace and Space Systems Engineering (MS-AERO), a graduate program designed to meet the surging demand for advanced aerospace expertise. The program offers flexible pathways on campus, online, or in a hybrid format, with accelerated options for Lehigh undergraduates.

Students build a foundation in propulsion, aerodynamics, astrodynamics, guidance and control, flight vehicle design, and systems integration, while choosing concentrations in areas such as aerodynamics, aerospace engineering, or space systems design. Capstone projects and research experiences push them to design and test solutions to real-world aerospace challenges—from hypersonic flight and reusable launchers to small-satellite missions. Graduates are prepared for careers at NASA and in the defense sector, as well as with commercial space ventures and emerging aerospace startups. 

“The most rewarding part of this stage of my career is helping students see themselves in the future of aerospace,” Hart says. “We’re not just studying past missions—we’re building the foundation for the next ones.”

For more about the master’s program or to connect with Prof. Hart’s @iHartAero social pages, visit aerospace.lehigh.edu.