CCCS Internal 
In the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, a pioneering educational initiative is taking shape—one that could transform how we think about space education and Colorado’s aerospace workforce. The Colorado Space Institute at Arapahoe Community College is breaking new ground by creating pathways for students from all backgrounds to enter the growing space industry—and it’s about much more than just rockets and engineering.
In the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, a pioneering educational initiative is taking shape that could transform how we think about space education and Colorado’s aerospace workforce. The is breaking new ground by creating pathways for students from all backgrounds to enter the burgeoning space industry – and it’s about much more than just rockets and engineering.
A Vision Beyond Traditional Space Education
“Space touches us every single day. A lot of people may not realize that when you’re using your GPS, that’s space data. When you’re on your computer, this is space data,” explains Grace Crain-Wright, Director of the Colorado Space Institute. Hired in January 2025, Crain-Wright brings a non-traditional background in plant ecology, soil ecology, and space biology to her role – a deliberate departure from traditional aerospace leadership.
This unconventional background represents the Institute’s core philosophy: space isn’t just for engineers. ACC’s Space Institute aims to create pathways for students of all interests and aptitudes to find their place in Colorado’s thriving aerospace ecosystem.
“The idea is definitely to go beyond engineering and manufacturing and let students know that you don’t have to go into mechanical engineering in order to go into the space industry,” says Crain-Wright. “A lot of students don’t think they’re very good at science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). They might have a love for science and space, but they think it’s not for them.”
The idea is definitely to go beyond engineering and manufacturing and let students know that you don’t have to go into mechanical engineering in order to go into the space industry.
Four Pillars of Space Education
The Space Institute focuses on four key areas that Colorado’s aerospace industry has identified as critical workforce needs:
- Space Data Analytics – From processing satellite imagery for precision agriculture to detecting wildfires.
- Space Manufacturing – Building components and systems for aerospace applications.
- Space Operations – Controlling satellite systems and managing space-based assets.
- Space Business – The commercial, marketing, and entrepreneurial side of the industry.
Retired Air Force colonel, current ACC Academic Dean, and Executive Director of the Colorado Space Institute, Dr. Tom Coakley, explains the initiative’s broader vision: “We in the community college system tend to think of space and aerospace as manufacturing. But in Colorado, a lot of people just don’t understand how massive the industry is.”
Colorado: An Aerospace Powerhouse
Few realize that Colorado has become a global leader in space and aerospace data processing. At Buckley Space Force Base, the Aerospace Data Facility Colorado represents one of the largest satellite downlink centers in the world. This concentration of space assets has created a robust ecosystem of aerospace companies throughout the state.
“We have community college students who have two-year cybersecurity degrees that are absolutely essential for any American company that has a Department of Defense space-related contract,” says Coakley. “We have space business specific jobs… HR professionals, contracting specialists, logistics professionals.”
Many of these positions command impressive salaries, especially for those with security clearances. “The satellite enterprise that I ran was a national security enterprise,” Coakley notes. “The people earning on average $140,000 a year, most of them went through a Department of Defense college in which students earned career and technical certifications on their way to earning associate of applied science (AAS) degrees.”
Beyond Traditional STEM: Space for Everyone
What makes the Space Institute unique is its commitment to embedding space education across disciplines. Art students have already designed the Institute’s logo as part of a work-based learning project. Faculty from business departments are developing space marketing curriculum, while environmental science courses incorporate space data analysis.
“That’s what I would really love the Institute to be – a place that is for any student to come into,” says Crain-Wright. “Whether that’s a more traditional student just coming into community college, trying to figure things out… or for a returning learner, an adult learner, to come be like, ‘I’m ready to try something new. I never thought I could do this when I was younger.'”
Building the Future Workforce
This summer, the Institute will host a Space Educator Boot Camp, bringing together high school teachers and community college faculty to develop space-related curriculum across multiple disciplines. The goal is to create course outlines that embed space themes into existing classes and newly developed classes, from data ethics to business marketing.
“We’re hoping to have five to ten course outlines developed over this three-week intensive period,” Crain-Wright explains. “One faculty member has already been dedicating time on creating a data ethics course that talks about artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) ethics and how that needs to be on the forefront for anyone working with AI and ML, especially in aerospace, defense or intelligence.”
Real-World Applications
The practical applications of space technology extend far beyond what most people imagine. From precision agriculture to wildfire monitoring, space-based assets are transforming critical industries.
Dr. Coakley shares a compelling example: “Space played a role in saving lives in Boulder County in December 2021. Technicians with community college equivalent degrees received data and worked with Colorado first responders to get the word out for the Marshall Fire.”
This incident highlights a potential future direction for the Institute – building a climate-resilient, space-based system that could detect and characterize wildfires across the state, potentially saving lives and property.
“Our vision puts Colorado community college students to work detecting and characterizing wildfires in partnership with State Agencies such as the Department of Fire Prevention and Control to provide a service to the people and businesses of Colorado,” says Coakley.
Our vision puts Colorado community college students to work detecting and characterizing wildfires in partnership with State Agencies such as the Department of Fire Prevention and Control to provide a service to the people and businesses of Colorado.
Industry Partnerships
The Space Institute is actively seeking industry partnerships to ensure its curriculum remains relevant to workforce needs. “We are looking for folks to be consultants on our curriculum and support its development,” says Crain-Wright.
One surprising insight from these industry conversations: “They need people to be able to read a schematic, be able to interpret it and say that’s wrong. And then tinker and problem solve,” notes Crain-Wright. “We need tinkerers… students need that exposure and that ability to play.”
A Space for All
Perhaps most importantly, the Colorado Space Institute aims to be a place of opportunity for underrepresented groups in aerospace. “Something that I would also like to see connected through the Institute is a space for people that aren’t normally heard or usually at the forefront of space science,” says Crain-Wright. “That’s also, I think, a very important piece and something that we have the ability to do as the community college system.”
As the Institute takes shape with support from the Sturm Family Foundation and ACC, it represents a bold reimagining of space education – one that emphasizes accessibility, interdisciplinary learning, and direct pathways to meaningful careers. In a state where aerospace already represents a significant economic driver, the Colorado Space Institute may well become the model for how community colleges can help diverse students reach for the stars – both literally and figuratively.
“That’s the beauty of space,” Crain-Wright concludes. “It’s for everyone.”
