The course is divided into two sections of four credits each: space systems engineering and telecommunications. The main objective of the `space systems engineering' section of the course is to provide the students with a general knowledge of the engineering systems that constitute an overall `space-based service’ architecture. These architectures aim at providing critical services to government and commercial entities, as well as the general public. The students will gain an understanding of what those services can be, and how a space-based architecture is designed to provide specific services. The course will cover, through examples and case studies, the main domains of application of Earth-orbiting, space-based service architectures, including observation, communication, and navigation. The main objective of the telecommunications section of the course is to provide the students with a general knowledge of the modern communication services based on the use of satellite constellations for providing internet broadband and internet of things, the global navigation satellite systems such as GPS and Galileo, and the Earth observation services. The course will provide the basics of the involved technologies for the data collection, the communications, and the data processing involved in the provision of the services. An overview of the market and the business models of such services will be provided as well. During the class, students will conduct and eventually present a team-project dedicated to the preliminary design of a new space-based service architecture. As part of the project, systems engineering principles and practices will be applied to the development of requirements, and the preliminary analysis and design of both a single spacecraft, seen as a system of on-board sub-systems, as well as the entire space-based service architecture, seen as a system of systems, which includes a `space segment’ (typically consisting of multiple orbiting spacecraft), a `ground segment’ and a `user segment’.

The students will acquire an overall understanding and high-level knowledge of space-based service architectures needed for providing applications and services within the framework of the New Space Economy. The students will be able to apply the obtained knowledge for conducting preliminary evaluations, engineering analysis and design of space-based service architectures. In particular, they will acquire knowledge and skills in: • Fundamentals of space systems engineering • Performing engineering analyses related to space-based service architectures • Developing the requirements, evaluating the feasibility and conducting preliminary high-level sizing of a space-based service architecture • Recent history and future perspectives on space technologies • Knowledge of the satellite based services in the fields of communications, navigation and Earth observation • Capability to conduct a team-project

Mathematical analysis (undergraduate-level) Classical physics (undergraduate-level)

The module will cover the following topics: • Introduction to space systems engineering • History and ongoing developments in space technologies • Future challenges and opportunities • Satellite communications: introduction to ground/space links, new services based on mega-constellations and terrestrial/satellite network integration • Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). GPS and GALILEO system: system architecture and services • Earth observation systems and the Copernicus program • Team project: analysis and preliminary design of a new space-based service architecture

The course is structured around the following modules: Space Systems Engineering (15h): fundamentals of orbital mechanics, types of orbits, on-board spacecraft subsystems and payloads, mission design and analysis, satellite types (including micro and nano), orbit geometry and ground track, mission types (single satellite, distributed satellite, constellations), overall space-based service architectures (space, ground and user segments), concepts of operation. Engineering the New Space Economy (10h): overview of past and current developments regarding space technologies, applications and services, emerging concepts, challenges and opportunities. Satellite Communication Applications (15h): Functional Principles Digital communications for satellite links Innovative space communication services and their market: Internet broadband from mega-constellations, Space IoT, integration between satellites and 5G/6G mobile networks. Navigation Satellite Systems (15h): Functional Principles Description of the GPS and Galileo systems Positioning and Navigation application Market perspectives Earth Observation systems (10 h) Functional Principles Description of the Copernicus system Examples of applications and data processing (athmospheric monitoring, climate change, etc..) Development of the Team Project (10h): workshops and tutoring

Reports, notes and articles provided by the instructors Spacecraft Systems Engineering, Fourth Edition, Editor(s): Peter Fortescue, Graham Swinerd, John Stark, 2011, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd Space Technology, a Compedium for Space Engineering, Thomas Muetsch, Matthias Kowalski, 2016, De Gruyter NASA Systems Engineering Handbook, Revision 2, 2016, NASA Misra P., Enge P. Global Positioning System: Signals, Measurements, and Performance (II edition), Ganga-Jamuna press 2. Kaplan, E. D., Hegarty C.H. Understanding GPS: principles and applications (III edition), Artech House, Norhood, MA, 2018

Modalità di esame: Prova scritta (in aula); Elaborato progettuale in gruppo;

Exam: Written test; Group project;

... The students’ assessment will be based on a combination of a written exam covering the topics of the course (10 points) and the evaluation of the Team Project (20 points).

Gli studenti e le studentesse con disabilità o con Disturbi Specifici di Apprendimento (DSA), oltre alla segnalazione tramite procedura informatizzata, sono invitati a comunicare anche direttamente al/la docente titolare dell'insegnamento, con un preavviso non inferiore ad una settimana dall'avvio della sessione d'esame, gli strumenti compensativi concordati con l'Unità Special Needs, al fine di permettere al/la docente la declinazione più idonea in riferimento alla specifica tipologia di esame.