CourseAerospace, UAM, Drones & Space Applications open

Satellite testing course in laboratory

Online course of 300 hours in laboratory satellite testing: 6 modules covering the space test laboratory, instrumentation and data acquisition, mechanical and environmental tests, electrical and RF tests and results analysis, with an assigned technical tutor.

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

Satellite testing course in laboratory — 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: €797 (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

Distinguish the types and levels of testing in space programmes.

02

Organise a test laboratory in line with ISO/IEC 17025.

03

Design instrumentation and data acquisition.

04

Plan mechanical, thermal and electromagnetic tests.

05

Analyse results and correlate models.

06

Write traceable test reports.

07

Prepare a complete test plan for a satellite.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Space test engineers looking to deepen their laboratory practice.
  • Test laboratory technicians working on space hardware.
  • Laboratory quality managers responsible for test procedures and accreditation.
  • Instrumentation engineers moving into the space sector.
  • Verification engineers who plan or witness environmental tests.
  • Test data analysts handling vibration, thermal and EMC results.
  • Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter the space industry.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • ECSS-E-ST-10-03C (space engineering testing)
  • ISO/IEC 17025:2017 (competence of testing and calibration laboratories)
  • ECSS-E-ST-20-07C (electromagnetic compatibility)
  • ECSS-E-ST-10-02C (verification)
  • NASA-STD-7001 (payload vibroacoustic test criteria)
  • GSFC-STD-7000 (General Environmental Verification Standard, GEVS)
  • MIL-STD-461G (EMI control requirements)
  • ECSS-Q-ST-60-15C (radiation hardness assurance)
  • Siemens Simcenter Testlab
  • NI LabVIEW
  • MATLAB
  • Femap with Nastran
Syllabus

6 modules

  1. 1.1Test types: development, qualification and acceptance
  2. 1.2Test levels and margins
  3. 1.3Organisation of an accredited laboratory
  4. 1.4Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025
  5. 1.5Test equipment and its calibration
  6. 1.6Laboratory safety
  7. 1.7Clean room management
  8. 1.8Facility occupancy planning
  9. 1.9Major reference laboratories: ESTEC
  10. 1.10Case study: test plan for a subsystem
  1. 2.1Accelerometers and strain gauges
  2. 2.2Thermocouples and temperature sensors
  3. 2.3Data acquisition systems
  4. 2.4Sampling, filtering and aliasing
  5. 2.5Measurement uncertainty
  6. 2.6Calibration of measurement chains
  7. 2.7Cabling and instrumentation in vacuum
  8. 2.8Telemetry of the equipment under test
  9. 2.9Test data management
  10. 2.10Workshop: instrumentation plan for a structure
  1. 3.1Sine and random vibration
  2. 3.2Pyroshock tests
  3. 3.3Acoustic tests in a reverberant chamber
  4. 3.4Thermal vacuum and thermal cycling
  5. 3.5Mass properties
  6. 3.6Deployment tests in simulated microgravity
  7. 3.7Leak tightness tests
  8. 3.8Radiation and single-event effects tests
  9. 3.9Mechanism tests
  10. 3.10Practical exercise: defining acceptance vibration levels
  1. 4.1Conducted and radiated electromagnetic compatibility
  2. 4.2Electrostatic discharge tests
  3. 4.3Measurements in an anechoic chamber
  4. 4.4Antenna tests and radiation patterns
  5. 4.5Transponder characterisation
  6. 4.6Power and battery tests
  7. 4.7Solar simulators and panels
  8. 4.8RF link tests
  9. 4.9Multipactor tests
  10. 4.10Case study: EMC test plan for a unit
  1. 5.1Comparison with model predictions
  2. 5.2Finite element model correlation
  3. 5.3Acceptance criteria and deviations
  4. 5.4Anomaly management and NRB
  5. 5.5Test reports
  6. 5.6Post-test review (PTR)
  7. 5.7Data traceability
  8. 5.8Statistical analysis of results
  9. 5.9Lessons-learned log
  10. 5.10Lab: report on a vibration test
  1. 6.1Selection of the equipment under test
  2. 6.2Test matrix and levels
  3. 6.3Instrumentation plan
  4. 6.4Test procedures
  5. 6.5Acceptance criteria
  6. 6.6Analysis and reporting plan
  7. 6.7Test laboratory requirements
  8. 6.8Management of anticipated anomalies
  9. 6.9Report and presentation
  10. 6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

Training is 100% online 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 you can combine the programme with your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Siemens Simcenter Testlab, NI LabVIEW, MATLAB and Femap with Nastran, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied on real procedures: defining test matrices and levels, instrumentation planning and writing test reports. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final integration project.

Standards covered: ECSS-E-ST-10-03C, ISO/IEC 17025:2017, ECSS-E-ST-20-07C, ECSS-E-ST-10-02C, NASA-STD-7001, GSFC-STD-7000, MIL-STD-461G, ECSS-Q-ST-60-15C.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of ECSS-E-ST-10-03C, ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and ECSS-E-ST-20-07C applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:Siemens Simcenter Testlab, NI LabVIEW, MATLAB and Femap with Nastran, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:complete test plan for a satellite unit, from the test matrix and instrumentation to acceptance criteria and reporting, 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.

Select the unit under test
Choose the equipment under test and define its test matrix and levels.
Plan the instrumentation
Prepare the instrumentation plan and data acquisition set-up.
Write the test procedures
Draft the test procedures and set the acceptance criteria.
Plan analysis and reporting
Define the analysis, reporting and anomaly management approach.
Final project
Present the complete satellite test plan and report, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Space test engineerTest laboratory technicianLaboratory quality managerInstrumentation engineerVerification engineerTest data analyst
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • No prior qualification 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.

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 Siemens Simcenter Testlab, NI LabVIEW, MATLAB and Femap with Nastran, 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 a computer able to run the programme software, an internet connection 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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