Countdown to Launch Becomes Student Partner with The Space Consortium
- Maximilian Kent
- 8 hours ago
- 3 min read
Countdown to Launch (CTL), the student-run space media and science communication within The Dean Daily, has officially been recognized as a student partner organization with The Space Consortium, a major nonprofit organization focused on advancing space education, research collaboration, and public outreach.
The partnership marks a significant milestone for CTL as it continues expanding its mission of bringing the wonder and importance of space exploration to broader audiences through storytelling, journalism, and multimedia production.
Founded in 2017, The Space Consortium is a Massachusetts-based, academics- and researchers-led nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding public access to space knowledge and opportunity. The organization works to connect educators, researchers, students, companies, and communities through collaborative space initiatives and interdisciplinary research programs.
Originally formed through collaboration between faculty and academic leaders connected to institutions such as Harvard and MIT, the Consortium has grown into a statewide and national network involving thousands of students, researchers, and industry professionals. Its goal is to build an inclusive space ecosystem that encourages innovation, outreach, and education across scientific and creative disciplines.
Behind The Space Consortium is a collaborative group of space academics, researchers, educators, and outreach professionals who are working to expand public access to space education and opportunities. The organization was founded in 2017 at Harvard with support from the Harvard Provost Office as a grassroots academic initiative designed to bring together universities, research institutions, and public communities through space-focused collaboration and outreach programs.
Leading the organization is Dr. Alissa J. Haddaji, Founder and Director of The Space Consortium. Haddaji is an educator and researcher specializing in space law, policy, and planetary defense. Along with founding the Consortium, she also created Massachusetts Space Week, which has grown into one of the largest public space outreach initiatives in the state. Her work spans both academic and international space policy communities, including roles with the International Academy of Astronautics and the International Astronautical Federation.
Through events, academic programming, and community initiatives, the organization helps bridge the gap between academic research and public engagement. These efforts include free public programming, educational workshops, and large-scale outreach events designed to make space science accessible to all audiences.
CTL joins the Consortium as part of its network of student organizations working to promote space awareness, communication, and interdisciplinary collaboration. As a program, CTL focuses on producing educational media centered on NASA missions, aerospace technology, and the cultural impact of space exploration. Students involved with CTL contribute through research, writing, video production, and on-camera presentation while building professional skills in science journalism and digital storytelling.
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One of the most anticipated opportunities within the partnership is CTL’s involvement in upcoming Space Consortium programming, particularly Massachusetts Space Week. Scheduled to take place from April 20 through April 26, 2026, the statewide celebration brings together researchers, industry professionals, students, and community members through a wide range of events focused on space science and exploration.
Massachusetts Space Week is designed to connect academic research with the public through more than one hundred events, including film screenings, career fairs, panel discussions, workshops, and community outreach programming. The annual initiative encourages collaboration between institutions and promotes space education across diverse audiences.
In addition to Space Week, the Consortium hosts events such as Space Days and space-themed film festivals, which often include astronaut presentations, educational demonstrations, and networking opportunities for students and professionals interested in the aerospace field.
Through its new partnership with The Space Consortium, CTL hopes to contribute to statewide outreach efforts and provide student-driven media coverage of upcoming events and research initiatives. The collaboration allows CTL members to gain professional networking opportunities while strengthening public engagement with space exploration.
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As CTL continues to grow, its involvement with the Consortium reflects a shared commitment to making space exploration more accessible, interdisciplinary, and culturally relevant. By combining science with storytelling, CTL and The Space Consortium aim to inspire the next generation of explorers, researchers, and communicators.
