Luleå University of Technology - Space at LTU

The Space Campus in Kiruna unites the Luleå University of Technology, Swedish Institute of Space Physics (Head Office) and EISCAT Scientific Association (Head Office). Researchers from these organizations contribute to the formal education by lecturing and supervising projects and Master's theses. Students have access to scientific data from satellite and ground based instruments. The very close proximity of these research institutions allows students to participate in the scientific seminars, lectures and workshops organized by these institutions for their own academic staff. Students have daily contact outside the lecture rooms with experienced senior researchers, post graduate and Master's students.
The Space Campus is located about 40 km from the Esrange Space Center, a rocket and balloon launching site operated by the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC). Program students participate every year in the international student projects BEXUS (Balloon Experiment for University Students), REXUS (Rocket Experiment for University Students) and SERA, part of the PERSEUS (Projet Étudiant de Recherche Spatiale Européen Universitaire et Scientifique) programme that is piloted by the French Space Agency (CNES) in partnership with other organizations. During these projects students communicate and collaborate directly with specialists from the European Space Agency (ESA), German Space Agency (DLR), Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA), CNES and SSC.
The Luleå University of Technology offers Scientific and Engineering tracks during the first year. The education is organised by the Department of Computer Science, Electrical and Space Engineering and is related to two academic subjects, i.e. On-board Space Systems and Atmospheric Science.
On-board Space Systems focuses on concurrent methodologies for the design and development of systems for control, observation, instrumentation, communication and manipulation in the upper atmosphere, in space and on small extra-terrestrial bodies and planetary surfaces. Atmospheric Science focuses on Mars exploration and research of its atmosphere (ESA mission ExoMars), study of the far-infrared spectrum of the Earth, exoplanets, physics of the upper polar atmosphere, fundamental development of radiative transfer in the infrared and microwave range.
During the studies students are trained in entrepreneurship and business development by LTU Business AB and Arctic Business Incubator.
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Aalto University

Aalto University, School of Electrical Engineering is responsible for two tracks in SpaceMaster. The Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation is responsible for the Engineering Track in Space Robotics and Automation. Control, robotics and autonomous systems are one of the focus areas of the department, represented by 5 professors, research themes including distributed systems, autonomous machines, intelligent robotics and micro- and nano-robotics. The Scientific Track in Space Science and Technology is given by the Department of Electronics and Nanoengineering. Space science and technology is one of the focus areas of the department with research themes including space plasma physics, radio astronomy, space climate, space technology and space weather. This Science track encompasses hardware projects related to Aalto University’s own CubeSat program, ESA space missions, local ground-based space infrastructure as well as modern space weather computer simulations. Moreover, Aalto University has a very close collaboration with other Finnish Universities and institutions with modern ground-based infrastructure (EISCAT radar, magnetometers, riometers, ionosondes, all-sky cameras) to investigate the Arctic ionosphere, geospace and space weather.

Czech Technical University in Prague

The CTU Department of Control Engineering is responsible for Engineering Track 3 in Space Automation and Control. The mission of the Department is to educate aspiring engineers in the fields of cybernetics, robotics, and control engineering (along with related fields). This mission is realized through dedicated Bachelor (BSc.), Master (Ing.) and Doctoral (Ph.D.) study programs. The professional expertise of the faculty members lies in various sub-disciplines of cybernetics, robotics and control engineering. It includes fundamental mathematical control theories, various numerical methods for modelling and simulation of dynamical systems, algorithms for control design, (including control based on real-time numerical optimization), protocols for industrial networking and both software and hardware design and implementation/realization. This expertise is strongly multiphysical and multidisciplinary, covering diverse domains such as aerospace, automotive, mechatronics, microsystems, chemical engineering, smart grids, smart buildings, combustion engines, biology/biochemistry, medicine, transport and even economics. The Department has a rich history of collaboration with local hi-tech industrial partners. For instance, some graduate projects are conducted in cooperation with companies such as Honeywell, Porsche, EATON, Volkswagen, Škoda Auto, Siemens, KUKA and Rockwell.

Cranfield University

Cranfield University is responsible for Engineering Track 4 in Dynamics and Control of Systems and Structures. The research is focused within the Centre for Autonomous and Cyber-Physical Systems, in which the MSc in Astronautics and Space Engineering is based. The Centre undertakes research and consultancy on autonomous system design and space systems, calculation of payloads and operations for systems and sub-systems including airframes, avionics and guidance, control and navigation, vibro-acoustics and signal processing. The Centre’s academics have experience in developing algorithms for sensor fusion, data analytics, information management, control, guidance and estimation, for space and aerospace applications. Within space dynamics, there is current research exploring potential opportunities for fast, low-energy multiple asteroid fly-by trajectories. This has developed from previous work supporting the UK-led CASTAway asteroid spectroscopic survey mission proposal. Structures-related space research currently includes acoustic sensing for monitoring of spacecraft operations, spacecraft docking dynamics, and on-orbit manufacture and assembly. Related work into CubeSat landing dynamics on low-gravity bodies is being undertaken via a drop-tower payload under the ESA Drop Your Thesis program. The space group has also developed drag sail payloads for deorbiting Low Earth Orbit satellites at end of life, to prevent proliferation of space debris. Three of these payloads are currently in orbit, with two of them already having been successfully deployed at the end of their respective satellite missions.

University Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier

UT3 (Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse), is responsible for Engineering Track 5 in Space Techniques and Instrumentation and Scientific Track 2 in Astrophysics, Space Science and Planetology. Teaching is strongly linked to the research and engineering activities of the main research laboratories on the Toulouse campus, mainly grouped within the Midi-Pyrénées Observatory and in particular the Institute of Research in Astrophysics and Planetology (IRAP). The scientific objectives of IRAP are the study and the understanding of the Universe and its contents: the Earth as a planet, its ionized environment, the Sun and its planets, stars and their planetary systems, galaxies, the very first stars and the primeval Big Bang. With engineers specialized in the field of conception, construction, integration and operation of ground and space instruments and laboratory astrophysics, it is one of the main poles of space and ground astrophysics in France. In both research and teaching there are highly-developed links with the French National Space Agency (CNES) and local aerospace industry (both geographically close), as well as strong international collaboration. The science track is also linked to ISAE-SUPAERO, a world leader in aerospace engineering higher education. Top-class researchers, highly experienced lecturers, and high-level industrial partners teach SpaceMaster students. The objective of the engineering track is to train physics students who will become tomorrow’s actors in the field of space sciences and technology. The training provides an overview of space technology, introducing the design constraints specific to spacecraft, their development, tests and operations. The objective of the science track is to provide quality skills to students so that they can pursue a doctorate or quickly find a job in the field of fundamental or applied research, both public or private, in the fields of astrophysics, aeronautics, space and physical engineering.