Introduction to Spacecraft Systems Engineering Course


Short after starting my work experience in the European Space Agency I had the opportunity to enroll into an Introduction to Spacecraft Systems Engineering Course, from the University of Southampton (U.K.).

The course consisted in theoretical lectures and discussion groups, whereby a specific mission case studies were considered.

The Objective of the course was to describe space systems engineering as a discipline. It was not the intention to educate the students in any particular narrow discipline, but rather to indicate the way in which the individual disciplines fit together as a whole - or rather a system.
 


Set of themes:
  • Environment and mission analysis.
  • Propulsion.
  • Fundamentals of attitude control.
  • Structures.
  • Thermal control.
  • Mechanisms.
  • Energy.
  • Communications.
Elements of payload impact on vehicle design were also introduced, as well as case studies of the different possible configurations for each particular mission by the medium of interactive discussions.
 

Iñaki Rodriguez Rebolledo
Curriculum Vitae, 2004