SGUS in Space Engineering

The AOSS Space Engineering SGUS program provides breadth, depth and hands-on experience in the scientific, engineering and management aspects of space engineering.

Program Objectives

• To provide a comprehensive knowledge of space science and engineering and their interrelationship.
• To increase depth beyond the baccalaureate level in a space-related discipline.
• To teach the systems approach to conceiving, designing, manufacturing, managing, and operating complex space systems.
• To provide practical experience in space system design, project development and management.

Program Advisor

Dr. Darren McKague
Email: dmckague@umich.edu

Program Concentrations

While your specific SGUS curriculum will be decided through discussion with your program advisors suggested programs have been developed.

Space Engineering Course Categories

Core Courses (19 credit hours) (PDF file of Core Courses)

The five core courses plus seminar required of all students cover aspects of space engineering that are considered fundamental and necessary parts of our educational program. Relevant aspects of underlying physical phenomena are covered such as gaskinetic theory, space plasma physics, and magnetospheric physics. Engineering courses offer hands-on projects that focus on space subsystems and technology and space system design.

These projects involve Space Physics Research Laboratory engineering staff, industry and government laboratories. The purpose is to provide practical experience in applying both system concepts and disciplinary skills to a real-life space system project. Space policy and management teaches the systems approach to conceiving, designing, manufacturing, managing and operating complex space systems. The purpose is to expose students to the problems and management methods of complex space systems. These topics are developed and taught with the help of adjunct faculty from industry and government.

Cognizant Faculty for Core Courses

• AOSS-464 (Intro to the Space and Spacecraft Environment),Gombosi
• AOSS-581 (Space Systems Management), Fisk
• AOSS-582 (Spacecraft Technology), Zurbuchen
• AERO-583 (Space Systems Design), Gallimore
• AOSS-590 or AERO-590 (Space Systems Projects), Gilchrist/Gallimore

Concentration Elective Courses (6 credit hours) (PDF file of Concentration Courses)

Students select two from a limited number of space engineering-specific courses. These courses are intended to allow students to tailor the program to their individual interests while maintaining a focus on aspects of space engineering.

Cognizant Faculty for Concentration Electives

• AERO-535 (Space Propulsion), Gallimore
• AERO-548 (Astrodynamics), Scheeres
• AERO 575 (Flight and Trajectory Optimization), Scheeres
• AOSS-584 (Space Instrumentation)
• AOSS-585 (Introduction to Remote Sensing and Inversion Theory), Ruf
• AOSS-468 (Geophysical Data Analysis), Ridley

Breadth Elective Courses (6 credit hours) (PDF file of Breadth Courses)

Students select two from a large list of technical courses with topics generally related to space engineering and science. These courses are intended to permit students to pursue advanced, graduate level studies in a wide variety of specialized topics that have some relevance to space engineering as well as to other engineering disciplines.

Click here for a complete list of AOSS course descriptions. Courses are subject to change, so please see your advisor.