Study Programmes 2015-2016
AERO0025-1  
Satellite engineering
Duration :
60h Th, 20h Proj.
Number of credits :
Master in aerospace engineering (120 ECTS)5
Lecturer :
Gaëtan Kerschen
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 :
This course introduces you to spacecraft systems engineering. It presents the fundamental subsystems of a satellite, including propulsion, electrical power, structure, thermal control, attitude control and telecommunications, and analyzes the engineering trades necessary to integrate subsystems successfully into the satellite. Instructors from both academia and industry (ESA, Spacebel, CSL and QinetiQ Space) deliver lectures in this course.
Learning outcomes of the course :
- Obtain a global picture of spacecraft design including the launch vehicle and the ground station.
- Learn the main functionalities and design challenges associated with the different subsystems that compose a satellite.
- Identify interactions between satellite subsystems and get familiar with the inherently multidisciplinary aspect of spacecraft design.
- Read, understand and analyze official technical documents (ESA documents).
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
None
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
Students will be assigned one group project. The objective of the projet will be to analyze and synthetize a phase A document (i.e., feasibility study) of a real space mission (e.g., Solar Orbiter)
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
1st semester
Recommended or required readings :
Textbook: P. Fortescue, J. Stark, G. Swinerd, Spacecraft Systems Engineering, 3rd edition, 2003.
Assessment methods and criteria :
The final grade will be based upon the course project and written examination.
1. The project will be carried out by groups of four students. Grading will be based on the quality of the writing and of the synthesis, on the fundamental understanding that you will have gained, on the links you will establish with the course material and on the interactions between subsystems that you will highlight. A key element is your own interpretation of the technical document.
2. The written examination requires both a thorough knowledge and fundamental understanding of the material presented during the lectures. The exam will be closed book. The questionnaire will comprise 40 questions (examples of questions can be found on the web site).
WRITTEN EXAM: 60%
PROJECT: 40%
  
  
  
Work placement(s) :
Organizational remarks :
Contacts :
Gaetan Kerschen, g.kerschen@ulg.ac.be