Spacecraft Instrumentation

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Perform calculations from first principles to allow simple first order design analyses for a range of instruments.
• Select appropriate components to put together the design of complete instruments.

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Identify how instruments are developed for spacecraft, from the definition of their requirements to the final design and operation.
• Describe the basic physical principles involved in spacecraft instrument measurements and how these are translated into specific requirements for the instrument itself.

Full CEng Programme Level Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Students formulate and analyse complex problems to reach substantiated conclusions determining the suitability of instruments to achieve their mission objectives for a given space application or mission requirement. This involves evaluating available data using first principles of mathematics, statistics, natural science and engineering principles, and using engineering judgment to work with information that may be uncertain or incomplete, discussing the limitations of the instruments designed and the techniques employed. This is assessed summatively through fortnightly quizzes and a final written exam.
• Students apply a comprehensive knowledge of mathematics, statistics, natural science and engineering principles to understand and design scientific instruments used to observe and monitor space and it's environment. This includes the knowledge of techniques at the forefront of space instrument design and informed by a critical awareness of new developments and the wider context of engineering. This is assessed formatively in an in-class activity, as well as summatively through fortnightly quizzes and a final written exam.
• Students select and critically evaluate technical literature and other sources of information to solve complex problems and evaluate space instrument designs used for particular space missions. This is assessed formatively in an in-class activity, as well as summatively through fortnightly quizzes and a final written exam.
• In a scheduled session, students are divided into groups and each group is given an instrument to evaluate and they must assess how it contributes to the overall space mission goals. They then communicate effectively on these advanced instrument designs, evaluating the effectiveness of the methods used. This is assessed formatively during this in-class exercises and verbal feedback is immediately given.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Study and learn independently.
• Solve problems systematically.

Discussion of the various different types of spacecraft instruments, including science and remote sensing.

This module includes a series of lectures, which cover:

• Physics of instruments: Remote sensing principles (electromagnetic spectrum, synthetic aperture and other radars, optics, spectroscopy, cameras, telescopes), in –situ measurements (planetary probes, landers and rovers, particulate/dust detectors, charged particle spectrometers).
• Sensors for attitude and position sensing
• The instrumentation design process in general
• The space qualification process (vibration (launch vehicles, thermal and other environmental aspects)
• Key performance parameters: Field of view, sensitivity, pointing, detectors, resolution
• Thermal and structural design requirements
• Future Developments

Teaching methods include:

• 36 lectures, including slide and video presentations and examples.

Learning activities include:

• directed reading
• individual work to understand and master the course content, with the objective of successfully solving problems.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.