Orbital collision prevention course
Online course of 300 hours in orbital collision avoidance: 6 modules covering the orbital object environment, conjunction assessment, collision probability, avoidance manoeuvres and processes and governance, with an assigned technical tutor.
Orbital collision prevention course — studying from Malta
Malta's aerospace activity is concentrated around Malta International Airport at Luqa, where aircraft maintenance, cabin interiors and aviation services form a significant part of the local economy. The island's aviation sector is supported by a long-established regulatory framework and a growing interest in drone operations and advanced air mobility. Engineers here commonly find work with aircraft maintenance organisations, aviation services providers and companies engaged in unmanned systems testing. Expertise in airworthiness, systems integration and regulatory compliance is particularly valued by employers operating within this niche but internationally connected market.
Fees for Malta: €797 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Malta
Typical roles
Questions from Malta
Which professional bodies in Malta recognise engineers working in aerospace, UAM, drones and space, and how does that affect my title?
Malta's Chamber of Engineers (KSU) regulates the use of the title 'engineer' under the Engineering Profession Act. Aviation safety is overseen by the Malta Competition and Consumers Affairs Authority's aviation counterpart, Transport Malta's Civil Aviation Directorate, which licenses operators and certain technical staff. A private SEIUM qualification does not itself grant a regulated title; recognition depends on the employer or the relevant body.
Which employers in Malta might hire someone with an aerospace or drone engineering background?
Malta has an aviation sector centred on Malta International Airport, aircraft maintenance and MRO activity, and a growing drone and space-related presence at the University of Malta and in private firms. Employers vary in their hiring criteria. A private qualification can support a application, but employers will weigh it against experience and any formal credentials they require.
Can I realistically study this 1,900-hour programme while working full time in Malta, and do I need a visa?
Programmes are fully online and taught in English, so you can study from home in Malta or elsewhere without a student visa. Each student gets an assigned technical tutor. Workload should be planned around your job; 1,900 hours is substantial, so most working professionals spread it over a long period. Ask about employer sponsorship and instalment fee options before enrolling.
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 population of objects in orbit and its data sources.
Interpret conjunction data messages.
Calculate collision probability using different methods.
Design efficient avoidance manoeuvres.
Assess covariance realism in decision-making.
Apply flight safety best practices and regulations.
Develop an operational collision avoidance procedure.
Who it's for
- Flight safety engineers.
- Conjunction analysts.
- Flight dynamics engineers.
- Satellite operations engineers.
- Space situational awareness analysts.
- Space sustainability consultants.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to join satellite operators.
What you'll work with
- CCSDS 508.0-B (Conjunction Data Message) (standard format for conjunction data)
- ISO 16158 (avoiding collisions among orbiting objects)
- ISO 24113 (space debris mitigation requirements)
- IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines (inter-agency debris mitigation guidance)
- NASA-STD-8719.14 (process for limiting orbital debris)
- ECSS-U-AS-10C (adoption of ISO 24113 for space sustainability)
- UN LTS Guidelines (2019) (long-term sustainability of outer space activities)
- CCSDS 502.0-B (Orbit Data Messages) (standard formats for orbit data exchange)
- NASA CARA Analysis Tools
- Orekit
- ESA DRAMA
- Ansys STK
- Python with NumPy
6 modules
1.1Population of catalogued objects1.2Distribution by orbital regime1.3Sources of fragmentation1.4Public and commercial catalogues1.5Space surveillance networks1.6Uncertainty in object position1.7The TLE format and its limitations1.8Operator ephemerides1.9Uncatalogued objects and fragments1.10Workshop: object density analysis by altitude
2.1Conjunction screening2.2Safety volume and miss distance2.3CDM messages2.4Covariance propagation2.5Covariance realism2.6Short-duration encounters2.7Long-duration encounters2.8Alert services and their interpretation2.9Conjunction assessment with manoeuvrable objects2.10Practical exercise: reading and interpreting a CDM
3.1Foster's method3.2Alfano and Patera methods3.3Maximum probability3.4Combined hard-body radius3.5Probability dilution3.6Decision thresholds3.7Monte Carlo methods3.8Sensitivity to covariance3.9Cumulative probability over time3.10Lab: 2D collision probability calculation
4.1Design of avoidance manoeuvres4.2Δv and timing optimisation4.3Post-manoeuvre assessment4.4Coordination between operators4.5Manoeuvres with electric propulsion4.6Differential drag manoeuvres4.7Decision automation4.8Residual risk4.9Manoeuvre coordination with constellations4.10Case study: avoidance manoeuvre after a high-risk alert
5.1Operational assessment processes5.2Agency best practices5.3Ephemeris sharing5.4Liability and legal aspects5.5Constellations and scalability5.6The Iridium-Cosmos case and fragmentation events5.7Flight safety indicators5.8Evolution of civil services5.9Training operators in risk assessment5.10Case study: assessment procedure for an operator
6.1Mission selection6.2Data sources6.3Screening process6.4Probability calculation6.5Decision criteria6.6Manoeuvre design6.7Residual risk assessment6.8Operational procedure6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
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 NASA CARA Analysis Tools, Orekit, ESA DRAMA, Ansys STK and Python with NumPy, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: collision probability calculation from a real CDM, design of a minimum-fuel avoidance manoeuvre and definition of a conjunction assessment procedure. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final project.
Standards covered: CCSDS 508.0-B (Conjunction Data Message), ISO 16158, ISO 24113, IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines, NASA-STD-8719.14, ECSS-U-AS-10C, UN LTS Guidelines (2019), CCSDS 502.0-B (Orbit Data Messages).
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
- 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.
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 NASA CARA Analysis Tools, Orekit, ESA DRAMA, Ansys STK and Python with NumPy, 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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