CourseAerospace, UAM, Drones & Space Applications open

Satellite attitude course

Online course of 300 hours in satellite attitude: 6 modules covering attitude representation, attitude dynamics and kinematics, attitude determination, passive and active stabilisation and attitude manoeuvres and control, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration3 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute certificate

Satellite attitude course — studying from Ireland

Ireland's aerospace sector is concentrated in Shannon, Limerick and the Dublin region, with a strong base of maintenance, repair and overhaul, avionics, aerostructures and engine component manufacturing. Multinational suppliers and specialist SMEs serve global airframe and engine programmes, while the Irish Aviation Authority and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency shape certification and airworthiness requirements. Growing interest in drones, urban air mobility and space-related research is supported by university spin-outs and national research centres. Engineers here work on design assurance, systems integration, maintenance planning and compliance across the aviation value chain.

Fees for Ireland: €448 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.

Relevant bodies in Ireland

  • Irish Aviation Authority (IAA)
  • European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
  • Aerospace Industry Ireland (AII)
  • Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)

Typical roles

  • Aerospace Engineer
  • Avionics Engineer
  • Airworthiness Engineer
  • Drone Systems Engineer

Questions from Ireland

Will a SEIUM qualification be recognised by professional bodies in Ireland for aerospace work?

SEIUM's qualifications are private, not state-awarded, and are not accredited by any national body. Engineers Ireland is the main professional body for engineers in Ireland and sets its own membership criteria, so recognition is decided by them, not by SEIUM. Aviation safety oversight sits with the Irish Aviation Authority. Check directly with these bodies before relying on any credential for licensing or chartership.

Do Irish aerospace and drone employers value private online engineering qualifications?

Hiring in Ireland's aerospace and drone sector is generally driven by demonstrable skills, relevant experience and, for many roles, recognised degrees. A private qualification may support a CV, particularly alongside practical experience, but its weight is decided by each employer. We cannot promise any outcome. Speaking to prospective employers about how they view SEIUM's programmes is the most reliable way to judge.

Can I study this programme alongside a full-time job in Ireland?

The programme is 100% online and taught in English, so there is no travel and no student visa is needed to study from home. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, so plan your weekly time accordingly. You will have an assigned technical tutor, and fees can be paid in instalments. Some employers offer funding, which you should ask about directly.

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Represent attitude using matrices, Euler angles and quaternions.

02

Model attitude dynamics including disturbance torques.

03

Determine attitude using static algorithms and filters.

04

Select passive and active stabilisation systems.

05

Design control laws for reorientation manoeuvres.

06

Manage accumulated angular momentum.

07

Develop a complete attitude determination and control system.

Profile

Who it's for

  • AOCS engineers.
  • GNC engineers looking to master attitude dynamics.
  • Flight software engineers implementing ADCS algorithms.
  • Small-satellite systems engineers.
  • Subsystem test engineers.
  • Attitude dynamics researchers.
  • Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter the space industry.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • ECSS-E-ST-60-30C (satellite attitude and orbit control system requirements)
  • ECSS-E-ST-60-20C (star sensors)
  • ECSS-E-ST-60-21C (gyros)
  • ECSS-E-ST-60-10C (control performance)
  • ECSS-E-ST-10-09C (reference coordinate systems)
  • ECSS-E-ST-10-04C (space environment)
  • MATLAB/Simulink
  • Basilisk
  • 42 (NASA GSFC)
  • Python with NumPy
  • Ansys STK
Syllabus

6 modules

  1. 1.1Direction cosine matrices
  2. 1.2Euler angles and singularities
  3. 1.3Quaternions and their algebra
  4. 1.4Modified Rodrigues parameters
  5. 1.5Rotation axis and angle
  6. 1.6Composition of rotations
  7. 1.7Satellite reference frames
  8. 1.8Conversion between representations
  9. 1.9Attitude frames in sensors and actuators
  10. 1.10Workshop: implementation of quaternion routines
  1. 2.1Euler's equations
  2. 2.2Inertia tensor and principal axes
  3. 2.3Stability of rotation about principal axes
  4. 2.4Quaternion kinematics
  5. 2.5Angular momentum with wheels
  6. 2.6Disturbance torques: gravity gradient
  7. 2.7Aerodynamic, magnetic and radiation torques
  8. 2.8Energy dissipation and nutation
  9. 2.9Reaction wheel modelling
  10. 2.10Practical exercise: simulation of free rotation of a rigid body
  1. 3.1Wahba's problem
  2. 3.2TRIAD and QUEST algorithms
  3. 3.3Davenport's q-method
  4. 3.4Star trackers
  5. 3.5Sun and horizon sensors
  6. 3.6Gyroscopes and drift model
  7. 3.7Multiplicative Kalman filter
  8. 3.8In-orbit calibration
  9. 3.9In-flight gyroscope calibration
  10. 3.10Lab: attitude estimation with QUEST
  1. 4.1Gravity-gradient stabilisation
  2. 4.2Spin and dual-spin stabilisation
  3. 4.3B-dot magnetic control
  4. 4.4Reaction wheels and momentum
  5. 4.5Control moment gyroscopes
  6. 4.6CMG singularities
  7. 4.7Attitude control thrusters
  8. 4.8Management of accumulated momentum
  9. 4.9Nutation dampers
  10. 4.10Case study: B-dot detumbling of a CubeSat
  1. 5.1Quaternion feedback control
  2. 5.2Eigenaxis manoeuvres
  3. 5.3Minimum-time manoeuvres
  4. 5.4Target tracking
  5. 5.5Inertial and nadir pointing
  6. 5.6Safe attitude modes
  7. 5.7Lyapunov stability
  8. 5.8Flexibility effects
  9. 5.9Pointing accuracy and stability
  10. 5.10Case study: reorientation manoeuvre with reaction wheels
  1. 6.1Pointing requirements
  2. 6.2Selection of representation and frames
  3. 6.3Sensor selection
  4. 6.4Actuator selection
  5. 6.5Estimator design
  6. 6.6Controller design
  7. 6.7Closed-loop simulation
  8. 6.8Error budget
  9. 6.9Report and presentation
  10. 6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, making it compatible with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB/Simulink, Basilisk, 42 (NASA GSFC), Python with NumPy and Ansys STK, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: B-dot detumbling of a CubeSat, attitude estimation with the QUEST algorithm and simulation of reorientation manoeuvres with reaction wheels. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final project.

Standards covered: ECSS-E-ST-60-30C, ECSS-E-ST-60-20C, ECSS-E-ST-60-21C, ECSS-E-ST-60-10C, ECSS-E-ST-10-09C, ECSS-E-ST-10-04C.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of ECSS-E-ST-60-30C, ECSS-E-ST-60-20C and ECSS-E-ST-60-21C applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:MATLAB/Simulink, Basilisk, 42 (NASA GSFC), Python with NumPy and Ansys STK, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:a complete attitude determination and control system, from pointing requirements to the error budget, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Quaternion routines
Implement quaternion routines and frame conversions.
Attitude estimation
Estimate attitude with QUEST and a multiplicative Kalman filter.
B-dot detumbling
Simulate detumbling of a CubeSat with B-dot control.
Reorientation manoeuvre
Design a reaction-wheel reorientation manoeuvre.
Final project
Deliver a complete ADCS design with closed-loop simulation, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

AOCS engineerGNC engineerFlight software engineerSmall-satellite systems engineerSubsystem test engineerAttitude dynamics researcher
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • No prior qualification is required.
  • Internet connection and a computer able to run 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.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with MATLAB/Simulink, Basilisk, 42 (NASA GSFC), Python with NumPy and Ansys STK, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute certificate, 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.

No prior qualification is required; you need an internet connection, 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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