Study Programmes 2015-2016
AERO0018-3  
Space experiment development
Duration :
30h Th, 30h Pr
Number of credits :
Master in aerospace engineering (120 ECTS)5
Master in physical engineering (120 ECTS)5
Master in space sciences (120 ECTS)5
Lecturer :
Pierre Rochus
Language(s) of instruction :
English language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Course contents :
Spacecraft definition and characteristics
Space environment and constraints
Observation and science mission payloads
Optical and optoelectronic techniques
Mechanical and thermal engineering
 
Detailed contents
 
Space messengers (static fields (gravity, geoids, magnetic field), photons, particles, neutrinos, dust, samples, gravitons and gravitational waves, exoplanets, ...)
Why space activities and orbit selection.
Information transported by photons.
Aerospace and space systems designs compared
Reliability and life time
On ground environment
Launch environment
Space environment and impacts on the design of Spacecraft and Instrumentation
- Vacuum and its effects
- Microgravity and its effects
- Temperature cycling and its effects
- Outgassing and its effects
- Contamination in space
- Materials selection
- Residual atmosphere
- Atomic oxygen
- Radiations
- Energetic particles, electrons, protons and ions
- Induced radiation
- Meteorites and orbital debris
- Electrical environment (solar wind, magnetosphere, radiation belts, plasma environment) and effects on spacecraft (electrical charging, mission definition, orbit selection, ...)
Effects on the optical, mechanical and thermal design
Mechanical and dynamical design of instruments
Thermal design of instruments
Thermal control
Scientific missions at ESA and at CSL.
Different steps in the design of space instruments
- Dimensioning criteria
- Integrity-Resistance
- Rigidity-Dynamical behavior
- Dimensional stability
- Specifications for instruments
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC-EMI)
Contamination and cleanliness
Qualification of instruments
Learning outcomes of the course :
The courses and practical sessions are presented orally using viewgraphs. The practical work is done in class by students (laptop required to use the software).
Mode of delivery : presence of the students; presentations, Q&A
The courses and practical sessions are presented in class. Some practical work can be carried out remotely by the student to better understand the course.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
To acquire more easily the notions of the course, it is recommended (but not required) that the student has the prerequisites
     Heat transfer      Vibration theory      Satellite design      Astrodynamics, celestial mechanics
For information, the corresponding courses taught at ULg are:
     "Transfers of heat and matter," Prof. XX      "Dynamics of mechanical systems" Prof. J-C. Golinval      "Theory of vibrations," Prof. J-C Golinval      "Design of satellites," Prof. G. Kerschen      "Astrodynamics" Prof. G. Kerschen
This course is usually attended by students of two faculties of Science and aplliquées Sciences; the control of  acquired knowledge generated by this course will take the past background and future goals of the student into account.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
The courses and practical sessions are presented orally using transparencies. The practical work is done in class by students (laptop required to use the software).
Face-face teaching with Q&A.
The courses and practical sessions are presented in class. Some practical work can be carried out remotely by the student to better understand the course.
Practical examples are presented and visits can be planned
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
face to face + Q&A
Recommended or required readings :
Following books could be useful for  additional information :
« Spacecraft Systems Engineering », P.Fortescue, J.Stark, G.Swinerd
« Cours de technologie spatiale: Techniques & Technologies des Véhicules Spatiaux » CNES
" Handbook of Space Technology" Wilfried Ley/Klaus Wittmann/Willi Hallmann (Editors)
« Spacecraft Thermal Control Handbook, Vol I : Fundamental Technologies », D.G Gilmore
« Principles of Space Instrument Design », A.M. Cruise, J.A. Bowles, T.J. Patrick, C.V. Goodall
« Spacecraft Structures », J.J Wijker
« Vibration Analysis for Electronic Equipments », D.S Steinberg
« Electronic Imaging in Astronomy ; «Detectors and Instrumentation» Ian s. McLean
« Observing Photons in Space » M.C.E. Huber, A. Pauluhn, J.L. Culhane, et al. Eds.
« Astronomical Optics » Daniel J. Schroeder
« Principles of Optics » Max Born & Emil Wolf
« L'observation en Astrophysique » Pierre Léna, Daniel Rouan,
 
Assessment methods and criteria :
The final rating of the course is based on: - 30% written exam: exercises and concepts covered in class (with opened book) -70% Oral exam: open questions (from a list of questions - to be confirmed) organizational note The courses are most of the time given at Centre Spatial de Liège to show pratical examples. The course support is written in French / English and the course is taught in French or English depending on the audience.
Work placement(s) :
Internships and TFE directly related to different aspects of the courses are regularly proposed at CSL
Organizational remarks :
The course is mostly in Liège Space Centre to allow seeing of live concrete examples. 
The course support is written in French / English and the course is taught in French or English following the audience.
Contacts :
Professor : Pierre ROCHUS, Scientific Director of CSL; prochus@ulg.ac.be 0477372388
Assistant: Lucas Salvador lsalvador@ulg.ac.be +3243824600 ext 663
Library and Intership Management : Florence Defraigne. fdefraigne@ulg.ac.be  +3243824600 ext 612
Usually we propose final year projects in such fields as thermal design, mechanical design, optics, electronics, surface engineering...(see http://www.csl.ulg.ac.be/jcms/c_5053/en/home)