The main goal of deep space exploration, both human and robotic space deep space exploration, has always been to increase and widen scientific and technical knowledge. National and international institutions have been involved in deep space exploration since the beginning of the space exploration era. Since the last decade, new private companies and investors have accessed deep space exploration activities. In addition to the scientific and technical goals, new goals need to be added. Specifically, return on investments become crucial goals for private actors, targeting space resources and services. New regulations to apply the principles of the Outer Space Treaty need to be defined but a deep understanding of the space exploration systems and missions is of utmost importance. Furthermore, specific and new technological challenges need to be addressed, including structures and architectures, technologies and materials, to comply with harsh environments and competitive costs. The course encompasses an interactive design activities (Project Work) of students’ teams tutored by teachers and lectures about space exploration missions and systems, including architectures, new enabling technologies and transportation means. The topic of the Project Work is a complex space exploration mission that is assigned every academic year to be in line with the global space exploration roadmaps.

The students will acquire specific technical and operational skills relevant for a critical analysis of space exploration missions. In particular, they will acquire knowledge and competencies on: • Space exploration missions and systems. • How to design at conceptual level space exploration missions to meet scientific, technological and business related objectives. • New trend of space commercialization, which is changing the decision-making process for future space exploration architectures. • Overview on structures and architectures of space crew stations, including deployable and inflatable modules. • Transportation systems and surface mobility. • Space exploration technologies and materials. • New opportunities offered by additive manufacturing and space-based raw resources to build on-demand landing pads, habitats and more during future exploration missions. • Team working and multi-disciplinary design activities.

With respect to the M.Sc. curriculum in Engineering and Management: • The topics covered will require a basic knowledge of the mathematical and physical disciplines acquired during the Bc.S. With respect to M.Sc curriculum in Aerospace Engineering: • The course does not require any specific knowledge on aerospace subjects.

The course will cover the following topics to comply with the new needs: • Imperatives for deep space exploration missions: science, technology and return on investments. • Introduction to missions and systems for deep space exploration (orbital and planetary surface missions and systems). • Introduction to the design of missions and systems for deep space exploration, including cost estimation. • Interactive design of a deep space exploration mission to target science, technology, and return on investments (planetary destination will be changed every academic year): planetary resources, systems, and services. • Technologies, materials, equipment, and processes for space structures and systems. • Environmental requirements for structures and systems. • Structures and architectures of transportation systems, surface mobility, crew stations, and logistic modules. • Assembly and deployable structures, on-site manufacturing and health-monitoring.

The program is structured around 5 modules: Introduction to missions and systems for deep space exploration (10h) Definition of the imperatives for deep space exploration missions: science, technology and return on investments. Introduction to missions and systems for deep space exploration (orbital and planetary surface missions and systems). Concurrent design of missions and systems for deep space exploration: project work (40h) Introduction to the design of missions and systems for deep space exploration, including cost estimation. Guided and interactive Project Work design activities to be carried out in teams on a specific topic, which is highly multi-disciplinary. On the basis of the mission statement and mission objectives (scientific, technological, as well as programmatic and business objectives), the students’ teams, tutored by the teachers, define the mission scenario and mission architecture, to proceed then with the sizing at conceptual level of the main building blocks (e.g. habitable modules, logistics infrastructures, and systems for resources extraction and explitation). Mass and power budgets can thus be determined. Eventually the business model is completed. Structures and architectures for space exploration (20h) Introduction to manned and unmanned spacecraft for space exploration, including deployable and inflatable modules. Robotic systems for exploration and human support. Moon and planetary habitats. Technologies, materials, equipment, and processes (10h) Material challenges and technological developments for space exploration. Additive manufacturing and space-based raw resources 3D printing. Local manufacturing technology that provide solutions for fabrication and repair of components, electronics, tools, and structures.

Course slides. Reports and scientific articles provided by the instructors. Space Mission Analysis and Design, J.R. Wertz and Wiley J. Larson, Springer. Spacecraft Systems Engineering, P. Fortescue, G. Swinerd and J. Stark, John Wiley & Sons.

Modalità di esame: Prova orale obbligatoria; Elaborato progettuale in gruppo;

Exam: Compulsory oral exam; Group project;

... The exam will be based on a combination of a oral exam of about 30-45 minutes on the topics of the course (open questions and discussion on theory, 20 points) and the evaluation of the project work carried out by the students (10 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.