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.
Satellite attitude 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: €448 (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
Represent attitude using matrices, Euler angles and quaternions.
Model attitude dynamics including disturbance torques.
Determine attitude using static algorithms and filters.
Select passive and active stabilisation systems.
Design control laws for reorientation manoeuvres.
Manage accumulated angular momentum.
Develop a complete attitude determination and control system.
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.
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
6 modules
1.1Direction cosine matrices1.2Euler angles and singularities1.3Quaternions and their algebra1.4Modified Rodrigues parameters1.5Rotation axis and angle1.6Composition of rotations1.7Satellite reference frames1.8Conversion between representations1.9Attitude frames in sensors and actuators1.10Workshop: implementation of quaternion routines
2.1Euler's equations2.2Inertia tensor and principal axes2.3Stability of rotation about principal axes2.4Quaternion kinematics2.5Angular momentum with wheels2.6Disturbance torques: gravity gradient2.7Aerodynamic, magnetic and radiation torques2.8Energy dissipation and nutation2.9Reaction wheel modelling2.10Practical exercise: simulation of free rotation of a rigid body
3.1Wahba's problem3.2TRIAD and QUEST algorithms3.3Davenport's q-method3.4Star trackers3.5Sun and horizon sensors3.6Gyroscopes and drift model3.7Multiplicative Kalman filter3.8In-orbit calibration3.9In-flight gyroscope calibration3.10Lab: attitude estimation with QUEST
4.1Gravity-gradient stabilisation4.2Spin and dual-spin stabilisation4.3B-dot magnetic control4.4Reaction wheels and momentum4.5Control moment gyroscopes4.6CMG singularities4.7Attitude control thrusters4.8Management of accumulated momentum4.9Nutation dampers4.10Case study: B-dot detumbling of a CubeSat
5.1Quaternion feedback control5.2Eigenaxis manoeuvres5.3Minimum-time manoeuvres5.4Target tracking5.5Inertial and nadir pointing5.6Safe attitude modes5.7Lyapunov stability5.8Flexibility effects5.9Pointing accuracy and stability5.10Case study: reorientation manoeuvre with reaction wheels
6.1Pointing requirements6.2Selection of representation and frames6.3Sensor selection6.4Actuator selection6.5Estimator design6.6Controller design6.7Closed-loop simulation6.8Error budget6.9Report 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 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.
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 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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