Diploma in Orbital Thermal Control, MLI and Radiators
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in orbital thermal control, MLI and radiators: 8 modules covering the orbital thermal environment, heat transfer, thermo-optical coatings, multi-layer insulation, radiators, active thermal control and thermal testing, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Orbital Thermal Control, MLI and Radiators — studying from Canada
Canada has a substantial aerospace sector, anchored in Montréal and Québec City, with major manufacturers and suppliers such as Bombardier, Pratt & Whitney Canada and CAE. Ontario's Greater Toronto and Ottawa regions host avionics, satellite and space technology firms, while the Canadian Space Agency coordinates national space programmes, including robotics for the International Space Station. Urban air mobility and drone operations are emerging under Transport Canada's regulatory framework. Engineers in this area typically work on airframe design, systems integration, certification and space mission support.
Fees for Canada: C$2,330 (Canadian dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Canada
Typical roles
Questions from Canada
Does a SEIUM qualification give me recognition with Canadian professional bodies for aerospace work?
Not automatically. In Canada, engineering is regulated by provincial and territorial associations such as Professional Engineers Ontario, which licence Professional Engineers (P.Eng.). SEIUM qualifications are private and are not official state degrees, so they do not confer P.Eng. status or accreditation. Recognition by employers or other bodies is decided case by case, so check directly with them before enrolling.
Will Canadian aerospace, drone or space employers value this training?
Employer valuation depends on the specific employer and role. Canada has a sizeable aerospace sector, including companies in Quebec, Ontario and Western Canada, and employers generally judge candidates on demonstrated skills, projects and experience. SEIUM's final project can serve as evidence of capability, but whether a private qualification carries weight is for each employer to decide. Discuss your goals with prospective employers.
Can I study this alongside a full-time job in Canada, and what about language?
Yes, the programmes are 100% online, so you can study from home at your own pace around work. Master's programmes are 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, so plan your weekly time accordingly. Teaching is in English, and each student has an assigned technical tutor. Employer sponsorship and fees payable in instalments may help, depending on your circumstances.
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
Characterise the orbital thermal environment of a satellite.
Set up steady-state and transient energy balances.
Select coatings with suitable thermo-optical properties.
Design MLI blankets and their integration details.
Size radiators to dissipate internal loads.
Apply active and two-phase thermal control elements.
Plan qualification and acceptance thermal tests.
Who it's for
- Thermal control engineers
- Space thermal analysts
- Thermal test engineers
- Space materials engineers
- Satellite systems engineers
- Integration engineers
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the space sector
What you'll work with
- ECSS-E-ST-31C (thermal control general requirements)
- ECSS-E-ST-10-03C (space engineering testing)
- ECSS-Q-ST-70-02C (thermal vacuum outgassing test for screening of space materials)
- ECSS-Q-ST-70-09C (measurement of thermo-optical properties of thermal control materials)
- ASTM E595 (total mass loss and collected volatile condensable materials from outgassing)
- ECSS-E-ST-10-04C (space environment)
- ESATAN-TMS
- Thermal Desktop
- Systema Thermica
- Siemens Simcenter 3D Space Systems Thermal
- MATLAB
8 modules
1.1Direct solar radiation1.2Earth albedo1.3Earth infrared radiation1.4Eclipses and beta factor1.5Hot and cold cases1.6GEO and deep-space environment1.7Free molecular heating1.8Seasonal variations1.9Environmental uncertainties1.10Practical exercise: external fluxes as a function of beta angle
2.1Conduction in structures2.2Radiation between surfaces2.3View factors2.4Contact conductances2.5Nodal networks2.6Thermal capacity2.7Steady-state analysis2.8Transient analysis2.9Temperature margins2.10Laboratory: simplified nodal model of a CubeSat
3.1Solar absorptivity and emissivity3.2White and black paints3.3Optical solar reflectors (OSR)3.4Tapes and metallic deposits3.5Degradation from UV and atomic oxygen3.6Molecular contamination3.7Measurement of thermo-optical properties3.8Outgassing to ASTM E5953.9Coating selection3.10Case study: selecting finishes for a panel
4.1Principle of MLI4.2Layers, spacers and effective emissivity4.3Blanket design4.4Seams, venting and overlaps4.5Blanket grounding4.6In-orbit degradation4.7MLI modelling4.8Manufacture and installation4.9MLI in cryogenics4.10Practical exercise: estimating losses through a blanket
5.1Sizing the radiating surface5.2Location and views to space5.3Heat-pipe radiators5.4Deployable radiators5.5Variable-emissivity radiators5.6Thermal louvres5.7Mass and performance5.8Protection against contamination5.9Radiator verification5.10Workshop: sizing a radiator for a payload
6.1Heaters and thermostats6.2Software control6.3Constant-conductance heat pipes6.4Variable-conductance heat pipes6.5Loop heat pipes6.6Mechanically pumped fluid loops6.7Phase-change materials6.8Cryocoolers6.9Thermal power budget6.10Laboratory: heater control in simulation
7.1Thermal verification philosophy7.2Thermal balance test7.3Thermal vacuum test7.4Solar and infrared simulators7.5Instrumentation and thermocouples7.6Model correlation7.7Qualification thermal cycling7.8Anomaly management7.9Test documentation7.10Case study: thermal vacuum test plan
8.1Mission and thermal requirements8.2Environment and design cases8.3Thermal model8.4Selection of coatings and MLI8.5Sizing of radiators and heaters8.6Case analysis8.7Verification plan8.8Conclusions8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
A 100% online programme 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. You work with ESATAN-TMS, Thermal Desktop, Systema Thermica, Siemens Simcenter 3D Space Systems Thermal and MATLAB in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: thermal modelling of satellites in orbit, sizing radiators and heaters and planning thermal balance tests. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: ECSS-E-ST-31C, ECSS-E-ST-10-03C, ECSS-Q-ST-70-02C, ECSS-Q-ST-70-09C, ASTM E595, ECSS-E-ST-10-04C.
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
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- 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 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with ESATAN-TMS, Thermal Desktop, Systema Thermica, Siemens Simcenter 3D Space Systems Thermal and MATLAB, 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 final project. 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 are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the 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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