Space Systems Engineering - Specialization
Learn to design, develop, and qualify scientific space instruments and spacecraft systems for space research and geophysics.
Space Systems Engineering
Learn to design, develop, and qualify scientific space instruments and spacecraft systems for space research and geophysics.
Measurements and observations from space are of fundamental importance for physical sciences such as geophysics and astrophysics. As such, the development of scientific instrumentation and space-based systems is essential to provide high-quality data to increase knowledge about our world.
Students following the specialization 'Space Systems Engineering' will learn how to design, develop, and qualify scientific space instruments and satellite systems and how to use advanced analysis methods and physical and mathematical modelling to ensure these complex systems comply with mission requirements. Furthermore, these instruments and support systems (e.g. navigation and communication) also need to operate and perform efficiently in harsh space conditions, for which verification techniques before launch into space are essential to be implemented.
Graduates will be able to contribute to the development of state-of-the-art instruments and support systems for use in extreme environments like space. Graduates may, for example, become key employees for commercial companies working with hi-tech systems like aerospace applications or space agencies such as ESA or NASA.
Academic focus
The academic focus of this specialization is the design, development and testing of scientific instrumentation and support systems. These include both space, airborne and ground-based instruments and systems.
Within the specialization 'Space Systems Engineering', it is possible to focus primarily on either instrumentation, data processing or Physical and mathematical modelling.
Requirements for the specialization
If students - in addition to the general requirements for the programme - meet the following five more strict requirements for the selection of courses, the title of the specialization 'Space Systems Engineering' will be added to the diploma under the title of the general programme: 'Earth and Space Physics and Engineering'.
1.
Students must have passed the following mandatory programme-specific courses in Measurement Technology:
| 30300 | Introduction to Satellite Systems | 10 | point | Autumn E5 (Wed 8-17) |
| 30310 | Space Systems Engineering | 5 | point | Spring F5A (Wed 8-12) |
2.
Students must have passedat least 25 ECTS programme-specific courses in Measurement Technology from the following list:
| 30021 | Digital Instrumentation | 5 | point | Autumn E4A (Tues 13-17) |
| 30320 | Spacecraft Instrumentation Systems | 10 | point | Spring F2 (Mon 13-17, Thurs 8-12) |
| 30330 | Image Analysis with Microcomputer | 10 | point | Autumn E1A (Mon 8-12) and Autumn E1B (Thurs 13-17), Autumn E2A (Mon 13-17) |
| 30340 | Radar and Radiometer Systems | 10 | point | Spring F3 (Tues 8-12, Fri 13-17) |
| 30350 | Remote Sensing | 10 | point | Autumn E4 (Tues 13-17, Fri 8-12) |
3.
Students must have passed at least 5 ECTS programme-specific courses in Physical Large Scale Structures and Processes from the following list:
| 30720 | Space Physics - Physics of the space environment | 5 | point | Autumn E2A (Mon 13-17) |
| 30745 | Earth and Planetary Magnetism | 5 | point | Spring F3A (Tues 8-12) |
| 30752 | Cryosphere physics and observation | 5 | point | Autumn E5B (Wed 13-17) |
| 30791 | Physical processes in astronomy | 5 | point | Autumn E3B (Fri 13-17) |
Programme-specific courses beyond 30 ECTS will count as elective courses.
4.
The topics of both the mandatory project in 'Earth and Space Physics and Engineering' and the Master's Thesis must be in the specialization field.
5.
Students must have passed a sufficient number of elective courses – and preferably selected from the following list of the recommended elective courses - to bring the total number of ECTS points of the entire study up to 120:
| 30545 | Analysis of spatial and temporal data within geoscience | 5 | point | January |
| 30552 | Satellite Geodesy | 5 | point | Autumn E2A (Mon 13-17) |
| 30554 | Global Navigation Satellite Systems | 5 | point | Spring F2B (Thurs 8-12) |
| 30555 | Microwave remote sensing models and data | 5 | point | January |
| 30742 | Exoplanets | 5 | point | January |
| 30755 | Climate change - physics and observations | 5 | point | Autumn E2A (Mon 13-17) |
| 30784 | Radiation Detectors for Space Instrumentation | 5 | point | Autumn E2A (Mon 13-17) |
| 30785 | Scientific instrumentation for Astronomical telescopes | 5 | point | Spring F4B (Fri 8-12) |
Other relevant elective online courses may be found in the EuroTeQ Partner Universities' course catalogue
Specializations are merely recommended ways of choosing the courses in the curriculum. Applicants are not admitted to a specialization but to the programme and it is possible to choose among all the courses in the curriculum following the directions given. However, if a specialization has been fulfilled the title of the specialization may be added to the diploma.
Head of Specialization
José M. G. Merayo Professor Phone: +45 45253452 jmgm@dtu.dk