Established in 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA) has been able to further US Space exploration efforts through a variety of missions such as the Apollo moon-landing missions, the Skylab space station, and finally the International Space Station(ISS).
NASA focuses on understanding the earth with the help of earth observation technology, advancing heliophysics, exploration of the solar system, and researching theories and other astrophysics topics.
Some of its notable programs include the Space Shuttle Program, the Constellation Program, the Commercial Crew Program, and the Artemis Program.
List of Best NASA Online Courses and Certificate Programs
Here is a list of the best NASA online courses and certificate programs that you may like to increase your knowledge.
1. Analyzing the Universe – The State University of New Jersey
This online four-week course will help you gain extensive knowledge about neutron stars, black holes, quasars, supernovae, and other mysteries of the universe. You will also learn to analyze energy spectra and time series data and will also learn to use DS9 imaging to explore the diversity of astronomical observations.
Course Highlights:
- A four-week online course
- Get introduced to the nature of light and DS9 imaging.
- Learn about the various technologies and procedures used to analyze stars.
- Learn about the evolution of stars and about white dwarfs.
- Learn about the cosmic source Cen X-3
Course Duration: 4 weeks
2. Emergence of Life- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
This online course will help you to will evaluate the entire history of life on the Earth using the understanding of the Tree of Life and will help you uncover the origin of life on the Earth. Moreover, you will be able to learn how earth processes such as meteor impacts, volcanoes, and ice sheets have shaped and structured the Tree of Life.
Course Highlights:
- Learn about the dynamic changes occurring on the ancient earth that favoured the development of life.
- Learn how cutting-edge molecular phylogeny allowed us to have a new understanding of the emergence of life on Earth.
- Learn how to interpret fossilized life.
- Learn about the Cambrian explosion.
Course Duration: 4 weeks
3. Astronomy: Exploring Time and Space – University of Arizona
This NASA online course offered by will introduce you to the topic of space exploration and will help you understand the subject with clarity. You will also get to understand the role of NASA in space exploration.
Further, this course will help you uncover the state of future technology and the level of mastery we can have in space.
Course Highlights:
- Get introduced to space exploration.
- Learn about various past space programs and missions.
- Learn about the most recent astronomical discoveries.
- Learn how the concept of space tourists is becoming a reality.
- Learn how future technology can help us in space exploration
Course Duration: Self Paced
4. Astrobiology – Certificate Program in Planets And Life – Princeton University
This online course will introduce you to Astrobiology and experienced scientists will use their expertise to show to you the origin of life. Moreover, you will get to learn about the conditions and materials necessary for life and how such conditions can give rise to extraterrestrial life on other planets.
Further, you will be able to learn about various other topics including the development of chlorophyll and the extraordinary strength of microbes.
Course Highlights:
- An online course from an accredited University.
- Learn about the astrophysical prerequisites for life.
- Learn about RNA and how it might have been the most primitive “living” material.
- Learn to search for extraterrestrial life in our solar system.
- Contains two 90-minute video lectures.
- The course provides the option of attending an astrological sciences course as a cognate course.
Course Duration: Self Paced
5. Kinetics: Studying Spacecraft Motion – University of Colorado Boulder
This NASA online course will help you learn about the equations and quantities involved in determining the most efficient trajectories in planning space missions. In this course, you will be able to learn about a variety of concepts ranging from deriving gravitational torque to how systems change with the introduction of general momentum devices.
Course Highlights:
- Earn a Certificate upon completing this course.
- Learn to derive rotational equations of rotational motion from basic angular momentum formulation.
- Learn to understand and predict the equations which relate to the spacecraft’s path.
- Derive equations that determine the motion of a system with multiple spinning parts.
- Learn to derive and apply the gravity gradient torque.
- Learn to derive equations for systems with multiple momentum exchange devices.
Course Duration: Self Paced
6. A Brief History of Human Spaceflight – University of Houston
This online course will provide you with a history of human spaceflight starting from the beginning of our fascination with space to the Russian and American modern spaceflight. By the end of this course, you will have gained a new perspective on our history in the exploration of space.
Course Highlights:
- Earn a Certificate upon completing this course.
- Learn about the history of human spaceflight.
- Learn about the early Russian and American space stations.
- A completely self-paced online course.
Course Duration: Self Paced
7. Understanding Einstein: The Special Theory of Relativity – Stanford University
This course will help you delve into the monumental special theory of relativity published by Albert Einstein. Through this course, you will be able to get to know Einstein’s thought process worked and will also learn about his theory’s predictions, concepts, and the strange paradoxes that it gave rise to.
By the end of this course, you will have gained a detailed overview of the Special Theory of Relativity and will have furthered your understanding of the working of the universe.
Course Highlights:
- Earn a Certificate upon completing this course.
- Get introduced to the term “relativity”.
- Learn about Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity and its concepts and predictions.
- Learn why time became to be known as the third dimension.
- Learn about the theory’s practical relevance.
- Learn if time travel is truly possible or not.
- Learn why things cannot exceed the speed of light.
Course Duration: Self Paced
8. Space Mission Design And Operations – EPFL
This seven-unit NASA course will build upon university-level physics mechanics to introduce to you orbital dynamics and will equip you with the tools necessary to plan missions in orbit around the Earth or in the solar system. Moreover, the experienced faculty from the ESA will guide you to develop a conceptual understanding of space mechanics, propulsion, and control systems.
Course Highlights:
- Earn a certificate upon completing this course.
- Learn about the fundamental laws of mechanics and orbital mechanics.
- Gain knowledge about space vehicle architecture, propulsion, and onboard control systems.
- Learn about risk management and reliability.
- Learn about the concept of gravitational wells and slingshot manoeuvres.
- Get introduced to space systems and space tethers.
- Learn about Extra-Vehicular Activity(EVA) and Space Launch Systems.
Course Duration: Self Paced
9. The Radio Sky I: Science And Observations – EPFL
This course will help you learn the major sources of radio emissions detected from space and will explain to you the birth and death of stars. Moreover, this course will introduce to you the basics of radio detectors and the technology used in observing radio wavelengths.
This course will help you to understand how radio observations allow us to gain a richer understanding of the universe and its importance today.
Course Highlights:
- Earn a certificate upon completing this course.
- Gain an overview of radio astronomy.
- Learn about the basics of photon properties.
- Learn about the various celestial bodies that can be detected through radio emissions.
- Learn about the main emission mechanisms.
Course Duration: Seven weeks
10. The Radio Sky I: Science And Observations – EPFL
This course will help you learn the major sources of radio emissions detected from space and will explain to you the birth and death of stars. Moreover, this course will introduce to you the basics of radio detectors and the technology used in observing radio wavelengths.
This course will help you to understand how radio observations allow us to gain a richer understanding of the universe and its importance today.
Course Highlights:
- Earn a certificate upon completing this course.
- Gain an overview of radio astronomy.
- Learn about the basics of photon properties.
- Learn about the various celestial bodies that can be detected through radio emissions.
- Learn about the main emission mechanisms.
Course Duration: Seven weeks
11. The Conquest of Space: Space Exploration And Rocket Science – Universidad Carlos II de Madrid
This seven-week course will introduce you to the history of space exploration and its cultural, political, and scientific impact. Through this course, you will also learn about the basics of aerospace engineering and will also get to learn about the key aspect of space systems and the space environment.
By the end of this course, not only will you have learned about the important events in human space exploration, and will have become informed of the recent developments made in space exploration.
Course Highlights:
- Earn a certificate upon completing this course.
- Learn about the history of human space exploration and its impacts in various spheres.
- Learn how rockets work and operate.
- Learn about the development of rockets all the way back from the Cold War era.
- Learn how space is actively utilized by humans through telecommunication services, GPS systems, and earth observation.
Course Duration: Seven weeks
