| Univ. NICE Prof. Roser et al. | Science Mission & Spacecraft Conceptual Design (S3, elective, 6 ECTS) – renamed “Space mission 3: Science Mission & Spacecraft Conceptual Design” from A.Y. 2024/2025 |
| Learning Outcomes: | This course supervised by Thales Alenia Space(TAS) aims at providing the major skills required to design a space science mission as a scientific pri-mary investigator or as space system engineer, and to propose such a mission to a space agency. The Competence acquisition will be based on the concep-tual design of a space mission, as would be expected from a science consortium to propose a space mis-sion to agencies. This course is located at TAS, at Cannes La Bocca. |
| Knowledge and Understanding: | This lecture supervised by Thales Alenia Space aims at providing future competences, required to design a space science mission as a scientific primary investigator, as an instrument scientist or as space system engineer. |
| Applying Knowledge and Understanding: | How to build a satellite and to manage from the requirement to the realization |
| Prerequisites | Basics in physics and math |
| Program | •Science space mission context (customers, selection, funding and related constraints) •Mission Architecture (spacecraft orbits and trajectories, spacecraft operational concept, ground control segment, science mission planning,management of spacecraft science data) •Spacecraft architecture & concep-tual design (functions and subsys-tems, estimation/pre-sizing of space-craft subsystems and equipment, dependability and sizing loops). Systems and following subsystems will be covered: Guidance-Navigation & Control, Communication, Avionics, Power generation, Storage and distribution, Propulsion, Structure, Thermal control. •Based on the analysis of examples of recent major science satellites (such as XMM, Herschel – picture above -, Hubble), overview and con-cepts of science instruments, estimation of key parameters (size, volume,mass), covering observation in vari-ous spectral ranges. The development approach and various aspects related to a space mission will be covered. |
| Description of how the course is conducted | The competence acquisition will be based on the conceptual design of a space mission, as would be expected from a science consortium to propose a space mission to agen-cies. A topic corresponding to current space science trends and objectives will be selected, such as exo-planets atmosphere spectral analysis,cosmic background wave polarization observation, Near Earth Asteroid re-visit, Trojan fly-by or remote sensing. •The first step, will be based on a bibliographic research on some examples of recent science spacecrafts and the identification of how the science objective derived in the space-craft design, what were the main functions and their design drivers.Exchanges with the tutor and a guided review of classical public space system engineering course will enable to acquire the key space-craft competences. •The second step, will address the application of these competences, in the conceptual design and prelimi-nary sizing of the selected new mission. This will be supported by us-ing freeware tools, made available by space agencies. •Finally these activities will be reported in the form of a typical sci-ence proposal to the European Space Agency with an appendage providing the sizing methods and approaches followed. The evaluation of this activity will be performed on the ba-sis of the final report evaluation and an oral presentation of each student’s personal contribution. This activity would be best performed by 2 or 3students, collaborating but endorsing each clear role and sharing the final report. |
| Description of the didactic methods | Lectures, exercises, visit of satellite integration center and satellite operation center |
| Description of the evaluation methods | Oral and report of the project |
| Adopted Textbooks | none |
| Recommended readings | none |
