Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research (CCAR)

Morton one of seven new CU Distinguished Professors

Jeff Zehnder — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 17:51:19 +0000

Morton one of seven new CU Distinguished Professors Jeff Zehnder Fri, 11/07/2025 - 10:51

Seven educators at the University of Colorado are being added to the roster of Distinguished Professors, CU’s highest honor for faculty across the four-campus system.

CU Distinguished Professors are tenured faculty members who demonstrate exemplary performance in research or creative work; a record of excellence in promoting learning and student attainment of knowledge and skills; and outstanding service to the profession, the university and its affiliates.

Jade Morton, Ph.D., Professor of Aerospace Engineering Sciences and the Helen and Hubert Croft Professor, Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, 51�Թ��

Jade Morton, Ph.D.

Morton is an internationally renowned expert in satellite navigation, remote sensing and space weather. Her pioneering research at the intersection of aerospace engineering and atmospheric science has transformed how GPS and the broader family of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are used – not only for precise positioning and timing, but also as powerful tools for probing the Earth’s ionosphere, atmosphere and surface. Her innovations in software-defined GNSS receivers, machine learning for ground-based and spaceborne sensing, and global monitoring networks have advanced the reliability and scientific utility of satellite-based positioning systems worldwide.

At 51�Թ��, Morton directs the Satellite Navigation and Sensing Laboratory, where she leads her students and researchers to integrate GNSS technologies into multidisciplinary Earth and space science research. She previously served as professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Colorado State University and Miami University. Her prolific record includes hundreds of peer-reviewed publications, lead editor of the Wiley-IEEE two-volume “Position, Navigation, and Timing Technologies in the 21st Century,” and leadership of major NASA, NOAA, NSF, DoD and industry-sponsored projects.

Morton’s leadership extends across academia, government and industry. She is a member of the U.S. Space-Based Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) Advisory Board, where she chairs the Education and Science Innovation Subcommittee, and she serves on advisory boards for multiple scientific organizations. A Fellow of the IEEE, the Institute of Navigation (ION) and UK’s Royal Institute of Navigation, she also is a past president of the ION.

Her many honors include the ION Johannes Kepler Award, the IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society Richard B. Kershner Award and the American Geophysical Union’s SPARC Award. A dedicated educator and mentor, Morton has guided more than 50 graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, many of whom have gone on to leadership roles in academia, industry and government laboratories.

Through her visionary research, leadership and mentorship, Morton has advanced the science and engineering of satellite navigation and remote sensing and fortified the global infrastructure that depends upon it.

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Naval grant to improve ionospheric research over the open ocean

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 22:27:14 +0000

Naval grant to improve ionospheric research over the open ocean Jeff Zehnder Mon, 10/27/2025 - 16:27

Jeff Zehnder

Brian Breitsch is improving our understanding of the upper atmosphere in some of the most isolated places on Earth.

A research associate in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, Breitsch is leading an $840,000 U.S. Office of Naval Research project to study the ionosphere, which spans from roughly 50-1000 km (31-621 mi) in altitude above the Earth.

It is an area where solar flares and other space weather can wreak havoc with high frequency communications and radar signals.

“This region of the atmosphere is ionized due to the sun’s radiation. There are all these free electrons and ions floating around, otherwise known as plasma, and the structure of this plasma impacts radio signals that travel through it. We want to be able to better see what’s going on in this region,” Breitsch said.

Day-to-day ionosphere forecasting works fairly well over populated continents, thanks to a broad network of ground sensors. However, there is much less data covering areas over the ocean. Although few people live on the water, such regions are crucial to Naval communications and operations. It is this region, specifically at equatorial latitudes, where Breitsch’s work will focus.

“We don’t have many sensors at the surface here, since they’d have to be deployed on boats or buoys. Instead, we want to use satellite-based reflectometry, which roughly mimics the type of measurement geometry we’d get from ground receivers,” he said.

Breitsch is an alumnus of 51�Թ��, earning his aerospace engineering sciences PhD in Professor Jade Morton’s lab in 2021. A leader in the remote sensing field, Morton is also involved in Breitsch’s grant.

The research process involves GPS satellites and other similar global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). The signals from these satellites continuously blanket the planet. When beamed down, some of that signal reflects off the surface and bounces back into space, where it can be picked up by other satellites in low Earth orbit.

When those signals travel through the ionosphere, they undergo subtle changes that can be used to measure the plasma structure.

“We’re at the forefront of processing those signals and using them to estimate the ionosphere. Reflectometry gives us geometries of measurement over the ocean that we wouldn’t otherwise have,” Breitsch said.

That data is already being collected and is available to researchers, but it is extremely difficult to analyze.

“We only get coherent reflections when the sea is calm. One of the main things we’re trying to do in this project is work with noncoherent reflections from rough seas. To do that, we need to analyze data over longer timespans. It’s much more challenging,” he said.

Over the next three years, Breitsch will work with graduate students to develop signal processing techniques to extract useful information from the data. They will also validate and integrate this data with other measurements from other sources, including radio occultation receivers, ground-based radars, and Android phone GPS receivers.

“This is a tough estimation problem, but the ionosphere and the science of it all is really cool. These techniques we’re working on might be the future of GNSS reflectometry for ionosphere observation,” Breitsch said.

In addition to Breitsch, researchers on the grant include PhD student Jiawei Xu and two co-investigators, Morton and Smead Aerospace Distinguished Professor Penina Axelrad.

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Schaub inducted into National Academy of Engineering

Jeff Zehnder — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 15:04:13 +0000

Schaub inducted into National Academy of Engineering Jeff Zehnder Tue, 10/14/2025 - 09:04

Jeff Zehnder

Hanspeter Schaub and his husband, Steve White,
at the NAE gala.

Hanspeter Schaub has been officially inducted into the National Academy of Engineering.

A distinguished professor and chair of the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences at the 51�Թ��, Schaub was welcomed as a member of the NAE Class of 2025 during a ceremony on Oct. 5 in Washington, D.C.

The distinction recognizes outstanding contributions to a field and is one of the highest an engineer can receive in their career.

“NAE has a long legacy and history and to be included in that group is an incredible honor,” Schaub said. “It’s very exciting.”

Schaub is a leader in the field of astrodynamics and spacecraft control whose research has advanced theoretical and practical understanding of spacecraft operations.

His contributions to satellite formation flying, proximity operations, autonomous spacecraft scheduling and charged astrodynamics have transformed the modeling and management of spacecraft motion, particularly through his work in electrostatic charging. These advancements are reshaping mission proximity and rendezvous concepts, enabling new capabilities in spacecraft control without physical contact.

Schaub’s research has been instrumental in high-profile space projects, including the development of key components for the UAE Hope mission to Mars and the creation of the widely used Basilisk software for spacecraft mission simulation.

“We do a lot of fundamental and applied research in my lab. Industry is using the tools we’ve created and hired students I’ve mentored. We have stuff flying all over the solar system. That’s pretty cool,” Schaub said.

Schaub’s leadership is reflected in his recognition as a Fellow of both the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the American Astronautical Society (AAS), alongside prestigious awards like the AAS Dirk Brouwer Award and the AIAA Mechanics and Control of Flight Award. In 2023, he won the University of Colorado Hazel Barnes Prize, which recognizes outstanding teachers who also have distinguished records in research and scholarship.

As an educator, he has mentored dozens of PhD students, fostering the next generation of aerospace leaders. The textbook he co-authored is a cornerstone in universities worldwide, and his groundbreaking aerospace MOOC has brought advanced learning to tens of thousands of students.

Schaub is one of nine current 51�Թ�� aerospace professors or department affiliates who are members of NAE.

Hanspeter Schaub has been officially inducted into the National Academy of Engineering. A distinguished professor at the 51�Թ��, Schaub was welcomed as a...

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Welcoming Associate Professor Alia Khan to Smead Aerospace

Jeff Zehnder — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 22:17:11 +0000

Welcoming Associate Professor Alia Khan to Smead Aerospace Jeff Zehnder Fri, 09/05/2025 - 16:17

Fall 2025 is bringing a new faculty member to the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences.

Alia Khan is joining the 51�Թ�� as an associate professor in Smead Aerospace and the Environmental Engineering Program.

Khan comes from Western Washington University, where she was an associate professor in their environmental sciences department, but she is no stranger to 51�Թ��. She completed graduate school here, earning her master’s in environmental studies in 2012 and PhD in civil and environmental engineering in 2016. During that time, her research was conducted at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research. She then went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Snow and Ice Data Center on campus.

A North Carolina native, Khan has had a life-long affinity for snow, which is central to her research. She combines environmental chemistry and optical remote sensing from uncrewed aerial vehicles and orbiting satellites to document snow and ice melt in mountainous and polar regions. Khan also has strong expertise in autonomous system development for environmental monitoring, aquatic biogeochemistry, aerosols, the cryosphere, and glacial and snow hydrology.

She has led research grants funded by NASA and the National Science Foundation, which recognized her with a $1.3 million CAREER Award in 2021 to investigate snow darkening in Antarctica. She is beginning a new NASA-funded award to study Greenland’s dark ice zones from space. She is a recipient of the US Fulbright Scholar Award and an Antarctic Service Medal.

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51�Թ�� establishes Colorado Space Policy Center

Jeff Zehnder — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 20:34:37 +0000

51�Թ�� establishes Colorado Space Policy Center Jeff Zehnder Tue, 06/24/2025 - 14:34

The 51�Թ�� has established the Colorado Space Policy Center—positioning itself as a new resource on the forefront of an evolving landscape in national and global space exploration.

The center is designed for original research; discussion and debate on space policy issues; and educational programming. The work of the center will address advances in space science and technology, the role of government, the growth of commercial space, increases in global entrants and civilian-military interactions within the space sphere.

The center will seek to tie together entities within the university that involve space science, engineering, exploration, law and business in the aerospace context.

51�Թ��’s Research & Innovation Office, Office of the Provost, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering and Applied Science and Leeds School of Business represent key partners in the launch of the CSPC.

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New endowed professorship in space policy and law to expand frontiers of global collaboration

Jeff Zehnder — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 20:31:51 +0000

New endowed professorship in space policy and law to expand frontiers of global collaboration Jeff Zehnder Tue, 06/24/2025 - 14:31

$2.5 million investment will support teaching, research in cutting-edge field.

Through a generous investment in the future of space governance, 51�Թ�� donors Dale and Patricia Hatfield have given $2.5 million to establish the Hatfield Endowed Professorship in Space Policy & Law.

Underscoring the university’s commitment to leadership in this fast-evolving field, the professorship will drive teaching and research on space policy and law, with broad implications for national security, global communications, navigation, weather forecasting and international collaboration.

This interdisciplinary position will rotate every two years between the College of Engineering and Applied Science, the Leeds Schools of Business and Silicon Flatirons, supporting faculty whose teaching and research advance this work. Professor Marcus J. Holzinger of aerospace engineering sciences is the inaugural Hatfield Endowed Professor, bringing expertise in space policy, domain awareness, development and strategy.

“As humanity ventures beyond our planet, space law and policy have emerged as a new frontier, offering vast opportunities to shape the future of space exploration and utilization,” Dale Hatfield said. “The realm of space beckons a new generation to establish the legal and policy frame that will govern our cosmic endeavors.”

Building on strengths for greater impact

The Ann & H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences building

With this position, 51�Թ�� will help address the legal and policy challenges of space activities — advancing critical knowledge and preparing the next generation of leaders in outer space governance.

The university already boasts strengths in aerospace engineering, public policy and international law, with powerful research and industry partnerships across these areas. The addition of a dedicated, endowed professorship — along with the new Colorado Space Policy Center — will unify and elevate these efforts, helping to attract and retain top researchers, as well as distinguish the campus as a leader in outer space governance.

As the first appointment to the Hatfield Endowed Professorship, Holzinger will use his policy research — combining astrodynamics and geopolitics — to build a future in space that’s based on democratic norms.

“The Third Space Age presents a choice: Will we build a future in space guided by proven values and foresight, or will we extend old conflicts into this new arena?” said Holzinger. “Space is already deeply integrated into our global society, but traditional approaches to preventing conflict don’t meet our emerging needs in this complex environment. My research confronts these emerging challenges directly.

“By combining the physics of space with the dynamics of international strategy, we are charting new frameworks. The objective is to craft fresh views on deterrence and cooperation, establishing norms for responsible conduct that will safeguard our expanding human enterprise, on Earth and beyond.”

In addition to direct funding for the holder of the professorship, the endowment will fund research, course development, conference attendance and related efforts that strengthen the university’s work in space policy and law.

This flexible funding model will give Holzinger and future holders the tools they need to explore big ideas and offer students valuable learning opportunities.

“The Hatfield Endowed Professorship will directly facilitate my research,” Holzinger said. “It will enable and encourage engagement in national and international policy debates and facilitate network-building with key decision-makers essential for shaping sound space strategy.”

Furthermore, the rotating structure of the position is specifically designed to encourage collaboration across engineering, law and business — mirroring the real-world intersections shaping today’s space landscape.

The power of philanthropy

Dale and Pat Hatfield

Dale Hatfield, a pioneer in telecommunications policy, is known for his leadership in both government and academia. He began his career as chief of the Office of Plans and Policy at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in Washington, D.C., before moving to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. He then founded a 51�Թ��-based consulting firm before rejoining the FCC as chief technologist, eventually serving as chief of the Office of Engineering and Technology. He now serves as a distinguished advisor at Silicon Flatirons and an adjunct professor at 51�Թ��.

Dale and his wife, Patricia, have supported the university for years, including an endowed professorship and scholarship fund for the ATLAS Institute, scholarships for the Lattice Scholars program and support for Colorado Law. Their latest investment exemplifies how private philanthropy can catalyze new areas of research, teaching and discovery.

By establishing this endowed professorship, the Hatfields are making a commitment to a future defined by innovation, cooperation and responsible exploration — where a new generation of space leaders can make their mark.

Dale summed it up by saying, “As Horace Greeley once urged pioneers to ‘go West,’ today we encourage young visionaries to go into space policy and law, to explore and to find the legal and policy landscapes of our new frontier beyond Earth.”

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Silicon Flatirons to Host Inaugural Space and Spectrum Policy Conference

Jeff Zehnder — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 20:48:00 +0000

Silicon Flatirons to Host Inaugural Space and Spectrum Policy Conference Jeff Zehnder Tue, 06/17/2025 - 14:48

In theory, space is infinite. In practice, it is not.

Practical and physical limitations of the space environment are now evident as stakeholders wish to use resources in space. As barriers to entry in space continue to fall, and resource conflicts emerge, this begs the question: what is the correct way to regulate space?

On June 24 and 25, Silicon Flatirons will aim to examine this urgent question at the inaugural Space and Spectrum Policy Conference hosted at Colorado Law. The event, titled “Challenges in Sustaining Space as a Resource,” will highlight the challenges of space sustainment, and explore technical, regulatory, and cultural issues that must be addressed.

“The increasing exploitation of space is obvious to even the casual observer,” said Keith Gremban, Senior Fellow at Silicon Flatirons and Research Professor at the 51�Թ��’s Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research (CCAR). “Any area that is growing so quickly is bound to stretch the borders of existing technology, regulations, and policy. Space also has the property of being international, which opens up an additional range of regulatory and policy concerns.”

"This conference examines urgent issues as commercial space activity quickly outruns existing space regulations,” said Brad Bernthal, Executive Director of Silicon Flatirons. “This is what Silicon Flatirons does best. We convene top experts, and different opinions, to tackle tough questions in technology policy.”

Conference topics will range from addressing the challenges of maintaining orbital space as a resource to issues like managing radio frequencies to keep satellite communications from interfering with each other or with terrestrial communications. Sessions include “Historical Lessons for Governing the Final Frontier,” “Contemporary Challenges in Space Governance,” and “Resolving Spectrum Conflicts Between Active Users in Space and on Earth.”

“Exploitation of space can be a huge benefit for the U.S. and the entire world if managed appropriately,” Gremban explained. “However, as with any other natural resource, inappropriate actions can have drastic consequences for everyone. It’s time to draw attention to the challenges of regulating space in order to maintain it as a global resource. As we know, regulation can stifle or encourage innovation.”

Colorado Law serves as a superb launch point for the conference. The state itself is a hub for the space industry and is already home to a number of existing and startup space companies such as Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, as well as newcomers Kayhan Space and Capella Space. Additionally, CU houses one of the largest aerospace engineering departments in the U.S. along with the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP), one of the premier academic institutes exploring space.

Keynote speakers include Anna Gomez, FCC Commissioner; David Goldman, Vice President of Satellite Policy at SpaceX; and Adam Cassady, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and Deputy Administrator at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). In addition to the three keynote addresses, participants will hear from more than 25 different speakers across seven sessions. The results of the conference discussions will be documented in a report.

“A particularly interesting discussion will be on so-called “dark and quiet skies,” meaning keeping the skies clear for radio and optical astronomy, for amateur star-gazing, and to preserve the legends, myths, and religions that reside in the visible stars,” Gremban said. “There are a number of designated dark sky locations around the world, but that won’t matter if brightly reflecting satellites obscure the constellations.”

Registration for the conference is now open, and a remote option will be available. Additionally, CLE credits for Colorado attorneys are pending. Visit the Silicon Flatirons website for more details.

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Scheeres honored by International Astonautical Federation

Jeff Zehnder — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 20:58:18 +0000

Scheeres honored by International Astonautical Federation Jeff Zehnder Tue, 04/08/2025 - 14:58

Dan Scheeres is being recognized with a 2025 International Astronautical Federation Distinguished Service Award.

Scheeres, a distinguished professor in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, is an expert in the mechanics of natural bodies, spacecraft, and debris within space environments.

The IAF is a leading space advocacy body with members worldwide. They are honoring Scheeres for outstanding contributions to the astrodynamics community.

Scheeres’ research spans the topics of astrodynamics and spacecraft navigation to planetary science and celestial mechanics and has published extensively in these fields.

One primary focus of Scheeres’ research is studying the mechanics of small bodies (such as moons and asteroids) with applications to planetary and asteroid missions. A separate focus of Scheeres’ research is in the field of Space Situational Awareness, where his lab studies the dynamics and estimation of orbital debris and active satellites.

Most recently, Scheeres is serving as the Radio Science Lead and Co-Investigator for NASA’s OSIRIS REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission.

Find out more at the IAF website...

Dan Scheeres is being recognized with a 2025 International Astronautical Federation Distinguished Service Award. Scheeres, a distinguished professor in the...

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Schaub elected to 2025 class of National Academy of Engineering

Jeff Zehnder — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 23:21:35 +0000

Schaub elected to 2025 class of National Academy of Engineering Jeff Zehnder Thu, 02/27/2025 - 16:21

Two 51�Թ�� faculty members, a former faculty member and a distinguished alumnus are among 128 new members elected to the National Academy of Engineering for 2025.

According to NAE, "election to the National Academy of Engineering is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer. Academy membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions in at least one of the following categories: 'engineering practice, research, or education,' 'pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or development/implementation of innovative approaches to engineering education' or 'engineering leadership of one or more major endeavors.'"

The four will be formally inducted during the NAE's Annual Meeting in October.

Hanspeter Schaub

For contributions to the control of satellite formations and relative orientations utilizing natural forces, including the use of electrostatics

A distinguished professor and chair of the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences at 51�Թ��, Hanspeter Schaub has made pioneering research advances in spacecraft formation flying, space debris mitigation, attitude dynamics, autonomous spacecraft tasking and charged astrodynamics. His work has been instrumental in high-profile space projects, including the development of key components for the UAE Hope mission to Mars and the creation of the widely used Basilisk software for spacecraft mission simulation. He has been recognized multiple times for excellence in research and education, including the 2024 American Astronautical Society Dirk Brouwer Award for transformational research. He is a Fellow of both AIAA and AAS. Schaub has been a member of the 51�Թ�� aerospace faculty since 2007 and holds a bachelor's, master's and PhD in aerospace engineering, all from Texas A&M University.

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CIRBE CubeSat finds new radiation belts after solar storm

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 16:44:51 +0000

CIRBE CubeSat finds new radiation belts after solar storm Jeff Zehnder Mon, 02/10/2025 - 09:44

NASA is highlighting new research from the Colorado Inner Radiation Belt Experiment (CIRBE) CubeSat.

Designed at built at 51�Թ�� and LASP, CIRBE is conducting sophisticated, fine-grain measurements of the Van Allen Belts.

Following the largest solar storm in two decades, scientists discovered that this storm also created two new temporary belts of energetic particles encircling Earth.

“When we compared the data from before and after the storm, I said, ‘Wow, this is something really new,’” said the paper’s lead author Xinlin Li, a professor at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) and Smead Aerospace. “This is really stunning.”

Read the full article at NASA...

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Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research (CCAR)

Morton one of seven new CU Distinguished Professors

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Naval grant to improve ionospheric research over the open ocean

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Schaub inducted into National Academy of Engineering

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Welcoming Associate Professor Alia Khan to Smead Aerospace

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51�Թ��� establishes Colorado Space Policy Center

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New endowed professorship in space policy and law to expand frontiers of global collaboration

Building on strengths for greater impact

The power of philanthropy

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Silicon Flatirons to Host Inaugural Space and Spectrum Policy Conference

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Scheeres honored by International Astonautical Federation

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Schaub elected to 2025 class of National Academy of Engineering

Hanspeter Schaub

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CIRBE CubeSat finds new radiation belts after solar storm

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51�Թ�� establishes Colorado Space Policy Center