Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal’s leading engineering and technology institution, recently launched the first edition of the Master of Business Engineering (MBE) in Space Systems. The program, the first of its kind in Portugal and among the first in Europe, was specifically designed to meet the evolving demands of the global space sector.
The inaugural event took place at the end of 2025, featuring Zachary Manchester, a leading satellite technology researcher who recently transitioned from Carnegie Mellon University to MIT. Manchester has been a key contributor to various CMU Portugal Program initiatives, including the Prometheus Exploratory Research project. Alongside Rodrigo Ventura – the Space Systems MBE Coordinator, Associate Professor of Robotics & AI at Técnico, and CMU Portugal researcher – they have collaborated on several CMU Portugal initiatives, including the co-supervision of Dual Degree Ph.D. student Pedro Cachim.
As an invited international expert to present at the launch of the first edition of the MBE in Space Systems, Zachary Manchester provided insights on how rapid advances in space technologies intersect with industry, entrepreneurship, and Europe’s evolving strategic landscape. In a follow-up interview, he shared his vision for the MBE and his role in shaping this first-of-its-kind course.
- You recently visited Técnico for the launch of its first MBE in Space Systems. How did this invitation come about? Is this somehow related to your work as a PI under CMU Portugal ERP project Prometheus? I’ve been collaborating with researchers in Portugal through the CMU-Portugal program for several years, beginning in 2020 when Prof. Rodrigo Ventura reached out to me when I first joined CMU. Prometheus was one of these projects, but there have been several others, and I have hosted several Portuguese students in my lab at CMU, as well as one of my students visiting IST.
- What will be your contribution to the MBE in Space Systems programme? So far, I have participated by giving a talk and meeting with the first cohort of students. I plan to continue participating as the program evolves, and am excited to watch it grow.
- What is your overall opinion of this new MBE programme? I think that a program like this, that is focused on the business and entrepreneurship side of the space industry, is a great addition to the space landscape as we’ve moved past a few large traditional space companies to a thriving ecosystem of smaller companies and startups over the past 10 years. This is the greatest time ever for commercial space, and I expect the importance and impact of this program to grow in the coming years.
- In your talk at the opening session of the MBE event, you discussed developments in satellite technologies. In your opinion, which innovations are currently the most transformative? Over the past decade, the most transformative changes in the space industry were miniaturization and the massive reduction in launch costs thanks to SpaceX and other new commercial launch providers. Over the next decade, I expect the most transformative change to be on-orbit computing, autonomy, and AI – all of which are very interconnected.
- Portugal is significantly increasing its investment in the space sector and aligning with European initiatives. How do you see this moment for the country and for Europe? We’re beginning a time of great technological and geopolitical change, and space is going to play a big role. Increasing investment in space is crucial.
- Given your experience in the United States, how do you perceive the research landscape in the European Union? Do you see any key differences or complementarities compared to the U.S.? Historically I think there has been more research funding and a bigger ecosystem for space research in the U.S., however, I think this is changing. We’re seeing lots of budget cuts in the U.S. this year, which is providing a strategic opportunity for Europe to increase investment, attract global talent, and close the gap.
More about the MBE in Space Systems
Developed by Técnico+, the postgraduate training school of Instituto Superior Técnico, this new MBE will integrate high-level engineering, management, and innovation in the field of Space, bridging the gap between academic excellence, industry needs, and international research.
According to Rodrigo Ventura “This Course is oriented to real problems, project-based, and with a very strong link to industry. Most of the students come from the industry itself, bringing with them the challenges that will be worked on throughout the year. Space remains the last frontier of civilization, as we move towards commercial space stations, the Moon, the space economy and, finally, Mars and beyond.”
The 12-month course will use an immersive, project-based methodology balancing online modules in cutting-edge fields—such as astrodynamics, satellite communications, AI, and Earth observation—with three intensive in-person weeks.
The Master program benefits from the support of strategic partners – such as CEiiA, the start-up N3O, CoLAB +Atlantic and SME MUVU — in collaboration with the Portuguese Air Force and its Aerospace Innovation and Technology Centre. Additional alliances include academic collaborations with CMU Portugal, MIT Portugal and UT Austin Portugal, and other international stakeholders such as ESA, EUSPA, ICEYE and Neuraspace.
Read more about the Master of Business Engineering (MBE) here.
