Handbook

Space Operations examines issues in space operations, such as orbits (including orbit perturbations and orbit determination), launch, rendezvous, re-entry, space environment, space law, coordination. Operations aspects of space applications are examined, such as communications, navigation, remote sensing, space surveillance and space situational awareness. Mission analysis and design aspects of these applications are also examined.

The major goal of the course is to challenge students to conceive space mission concepts that solve problems facing society and will help grow Australia's capability in the space domain. Students are expected to understand and identify who the end users of their space mission are and form a coherent and sustained argument for the value of their proposed mission. Achieving this aim requires understanding key multidisciplinary space operations concepts, from the basic spacecraft types, the most common orbit types and their parameters, how to investigate the most suitable orbit(s) for a particular task, and the regulatory, strategic, economic, and ethical context in which the mission must operate. The course equips students with the ability to define the mission design and operational requirements to achieve mission goals, providing a suitable requirements brief for subsequent lower level subsystem design to commence