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PHYC40810

Academic Year 2024/2025

Satellite Subsystems (PHYC40810)

Subject:
Physics
College:
Science
School:
Physics
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Professor Lorraine Hanlon
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

One problem inherent with space projects is the length of time from concept through launch and operations.

The aim of this course is to bring each student team (3-4 students) through the complete satellite system development process in one trimester. The aim is to make these small satellites (which we call ‘TupperSats’) as capable as possible and to (i) develop a payload compatible with platform, budget and mass constraints; (ii) launch these satellites by weather balloon, or other suitable launch vehicle; (iii) operate the satellites and telemeter data and (iv) recover the satellite.

Students are introduced to project management, project phases, systems engineering, collaborative tools (e.g. GitHub) and documentation.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this course, student should be able to:

• Implement a simplified space system development process, including documentation
• Write code in Python to run the instruments on the satellite and communicate data to the ground station
• Work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team and stick to a schedule
• Prototype different instrument concepts
• Assemble, integrate and test the complete satellite
• Launch the satellite using a suitable vehicle (weather balloon…)
• Operate the satellite using a ground station to collect data
• Recover the satellite using portable tracking equipment and analyse data



Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

40
Autonomous Student Learning

80
Lectures

4
Laboratories

96
Total

220

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This is a laboratory-based module. Within the laboratory setting there will be hands-on experimental work, computer programming and interfacing, team-working, fieldwork, presentations and report writing.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Group Work Assignment: Critical design review data pack and interview Week 6 Graded No

20

 No
Group Work Assignment: Flight acceptance review, data pack and interview Week 10 Graded No

20

 No
Report(s): Post-flight analysis Week 14 Graded No

10

 No
Quizzes/Short Exercises: Systems Engineering quiz Week 8 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

10

 No
Participation in Learning Activities: Continuous assessment based on: participation in the team, motivation, listening & engagement, autonomy, quality of work, functionality of Tuppersat, test campaigns, launch campaign. Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No

30

 No
Group Work Assignment: Preliminary design review presentation, interview & data pack
 Week 3 Graded No

10

 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Name Role
Mr David Murphy Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr Jack Reilly Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Ronan Wall Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
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