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PHYC41110

Academic Year 2024/2025

Spacecraft operations (PHYC41110)

Subject:
Physics
College:
Science
School:
Physics
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
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.

Since we now have an orbiting spacecraft, we wish to capture this expertise and make it available for students on the MSc through a dedicated module. Given that there is a full replica system in the lab, as well as a ground station in physics, this course would still be relevant even after EIRSAT-1's demise. There are more and more jobs in spacecraft operations and it is a big advantage to have actual hands-on operations experience.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Indicative course content (to be further developed): Components and subsystems of a spacecraft (EduCube); Radio communications; signal encoding/decoding and protocols; ground stations; link budgets; Waterfall diagram; Doppler correction; data rates; VHF/UHF; S-band; on-board data handling; transceivers; basics of spacecraft operations; passes; uplink/downlink; pass planning; mission control software; gpredict; dashboards; data analysis; troubleshooting; safe mode recovery; interpreting house-keeping data. Practical aspects of spacecraft operations using EIRSAT-1 FlatSat and the spacecraft.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

60
Lectures

24
Laboratories

36
Total

120

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Student will learn through a combination of lectures, tutorials, labs , peer-group assessments and assignments.

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
Practical Skills Assessment: one 3 hour lab per week Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No

20

 No
Participation in Learning Activities: Practical aspects of spacecraft operations using EIRSAT-1 FlatSat and the spacecraft. Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No

80

 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

face to face/via email

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