Master’s in Constellation Operations Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in constellation operations engineering: 12 modules covering deployment, orbital geometry maintenance, mission planning, automation, fleet anomaly management, network links, conjunctions, end of life, operational data and service management, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Constellation Operations Engineering — studying from Australia
Australia's aerospace sector spans defence and commercial aviation, maintenance, repair and overhaul, and a growing space industry. Key clusters sit around Adelaide's Edinburgh Parks and the Melbourne and Sydney defence precincts, with major employers including Airbus Australia Pacific, BAE Systems Australia, Boeing Defence Australia and Lockheed Martin Australia. Recreational and commercial drone operations are increasingly regulated, and advanced air mobility is emerging as a research and policy priority. Engineers working in this area typically support airworthiness, systems integration, structures and avionics across both crewed and uncrewed platforms.
Fees for Australia: A$12,600 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Australia
Typical roles
Questions from Australia
Does a SEIUM qualification help me get recognised by a professional body in Australia?
SEIUM qualifications are private qualifications, not official state degrees, and they are not accredited by any Australian body. Engineers Australia accredits university engineering degrees, and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) regulates drone and aviation operations. Recognition of a private qualification is decided by the employer or the relevant body, so check with them before enrolling.
Will this course help me find work in Australian aerospace, drones or space?
Australia has aerospace and defence employers, drone operators and space-sector companies, and skills in these areas are valued. Whether a SEIUM qualification counts for a given role depends on the employer, who will usually weigh your experience and portfolio alongside any private credential. Ask prospective employers how they view it.
Can I study this part-time while working, and does the time zone suit Australia?
The programmes are fully online and taught in English, so you can study from anywhere in Australia, with no student visa needed for home study. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, so plan your weekly load realistically. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Understand constellation operations.
Plan the deployment of constellations.
Maintain constellations in orbit.
Automate operations planning.
Manage fleet anomalies.
Manage orbital safety and end of life.
Analyse operational data.
Who it's for
- Constellation operations engineers looking to scale their practice to large fleets.
- Flight dynamics engineers dealing with deployment, station-keeping and collision avoidance.
- Mission planners who schedule contacts and user requests.
- Automation engineers building lights-out operations.
- Space data analysts working with fleet telemetry.
- Orbital safety managers responsible for conjunctions and end-of-life compliance.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter the space sector.
What you'll work with
- ECSS-E-ST-70C (ground systems and operations)
- ISO 24113:2023 (space debris mitigation requirements)
- CCSDS 508.0-B-1 (Conjunction Data Message)
- COPUOS Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines (UN guidelines on debris mitigation)
- ITU Radio Regulations (international spectrum rules)
- ECSS-E-ST-70-11C (space segment operability)
- ISO 16158:2021 (avoiding collisions among orbiting objects)
- STK
- GMAT
- Orekit
- Python
- Grafana
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Differences from operating a single satellite1.2Scaling operations to hundreds of satellites1.3Centralised and distributed operating models1.4Organisation of operations teams1.5Operating cost structure1.6Commercial reference constellations1.7Operational performance indicators1.8Fleet operations tools1.9Customer service requirements1.10Case study: operating model for a 100-satellite constellation
2.1Injection strategies per launch2.2Satellite separation and dispersion2.3Phasing by differential drift2.4Orbit raising with electric propulsion2.5Serial commissioning of satellites2.6Launch schedule management2.7Risks during deployment2.8Defective satellites after injection2.9Optimisation of deployment time2.10Lab: phasing plan using nodal drift
3.1Altitude control against drag3.2In-plane phase keeping3.3Inclination and RAAN control3.4Fleet propellant budget3.5Replacement of failed satellites3.6On-orbit spare satellites3.7Fleet performance degradation3.8Fleet manoeuvre planning3.9Optimisation of propellant consumption3.10Practical exercise: maintenance strategy for an orbital plane
4.1Planning of user requests4.2Power and memory constraints4.3Scheduling of ground station contacts4.4Schedule optimisation algorithms4.5Resolution of resource conflicts4.6Reactive planning and replanning4.7Customer prioritisation4.8Planning tools4.9Automation of the request chain4.10Lab: contact scheduler with a greedy algorithm
5.1Lights-out operations without an operator5.2Automated pass procedures5.3Automatic telemetry monitoring5.4AI-based anomaly detection5.5Intelligent alarm management5.6On-board and ground autonomy5.7Human supervision of automation5.8Risks of automation5.9Validation of automated functions5.10Case study: automation of routine passes
6.1Early anomaly detection6.2Root cause diagnosis6.3Recovery of satellites in safe mode6.4Systematic failures across a series6.5Fleet trend analysis6.6Anomaly knowledge bases6.7Communication with the manufacturer and customers6.8Anomaly review and actions6.9Fleet reliability indicators6.10Practical exercise: root cause analysis of a recurring anomaly
7.1Optical inter-satellite links7.2Routing in space networks7.3Global ground station network7.4Spectrum management in constellations7.5Capacity and traffic management7.6End-to-end latency7.7Interference management with GEO7.8Hybrid satellite-terrestrial networks7.9Integration with non-terrestrial 5G7.10Lab: routing simulation in a constellation
8.1Fleet-scale conjunction assessment8.2Collision probability thresholds8.3Automated avoidance manoeuvres8.4Coordination between operators8.5Commercial and institutional SSA services8.6Ephemeris data quality8.7Ephemeris sharing8.8Orbital safety policies8.9Sustainability of the orbital environment8.10Case study: high-frequency conjunction management
9.1Controlled deorbiting strategies9.2Passivation of batteries and propulsion9.3Re-entry and ground risk9.4Requirements of ISO 241139.5Fleet end-of-life planning9.6Management of satellites unable to manoeuvre9.7Active removal services9.8Liability and insurance9.9Demisability and design for re-entry9.10Practical exercise: end-of-life plan for a constellation
10.1Management of massive telemetry10.2Subsystem trend analysis10.3Big data platforms10.4Machine learning for prediction10.5Predictive maintenance of satellites10.6Fleet status visualisation10.7Storage and archiving10.8Telemetry data quality10.9Cybersecurity of operational data10.10Workshop: fleet health dashboard
11.1Constellation service catalogue11.2Service level agreements11.3Customer management and support11.4Operating costs per satellite11.5Regulatory compliance and licences11.6In-orbit insurance11.7Replenishment and renewal strategy11.8Competition in the sector11.9Organisation and talent11.10Case study: fleet operating cost model
12.1Definition of the constellation and its service12.2Deployment plan12.3Orbit maintenance strategy12.4Mission planning design12.5Automation concept12.6Conjunction management12.7End-of-life plan12.8Operating cost analysis12.9Master's Thesis: written report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is STK, GMAT, Orekit, Python and Grafana, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for constellation deployment simulations, automated contact scheduling and conjunction analysis. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: ECSS-E-ST-70C, ISO 24113:2023, CCSDS 508.0-B-1, COPUOS Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines, ITU Radio Regulations, ECSS-E-ST-70-11C, ISO 16158:2021.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with STK, GMAT, Orekit, Python and Grafana, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the programme software, and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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