Diploma in Orbital Mechanics and Maneuvers
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in orbital mechanics and manoeuvres. 8 modules covering the two-body problem, orbital perturbations, application orbits, impulsive manoeuvres, relative motion and rendezvous, low-thrust and station-keeping, and orbit determination, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Orbital Mechanics and Maneuvers — studying from the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has one of the world's most established aerospace sectors, anchored by clusters in Bristol, Filton, Derby, Hampshire and Scotland's Glasgow corridor. Major manufacturers and suppliers such as Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, Airbus UK and GKN Aerospace drive demand for engineers in design, propulsion, structures and systems integration. Urban air mobility, electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, and commercial drones are emerging alongside, supported by government programmes and test corridors. Space engineering is growing through launch and satellite activity around the UK spaceports and Harwell. Graduates with aerospace expertise find roles across manufacturing, certification and research.
Fees for the United Kingdom: £910 (Pound sterling), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United Kingdom
Typical roles
Questions from the United Kingdom
Which professional bodies in the UK recognise aerospace engineering qualifications, and does SEIUM's qualification give me chartered status?
In the UK, the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) is the main professional body for aerospace engineers and can award Chartered Engineer status through the Engineering Council. SEIUM's qualifications are private and are not accredited by the Engineering Council or RAeS, so they do not confer chartered status on their own. Recognition is decided by employers and the relevant body, so check directly with RAeS whether your study and experience will count towards registration.
Will a private online aerospace qualification help me find work with UK aerospace or drone employers?
UK aerospace, drone and space employers, including many working on civil aviation, defence and space projects, generally judge candidates on demonstrated skills, portfolio work and experience. A private qualification may support your application, but its value depends on each employer's own assessment. It is worth asking prospective employers how they view such qualifications before you enrol.
Can I study this programme alongside a full-time job in the UK, and what language level is needed?
Yes, programmes are delivered fully online, so you can study from home without a student visa, wherever you are based. Workload varies by programme length, and you will have an assigned technical tutor for support. Teaching is in English, so you should be comfortable reading and writing technical English. Check the programme schedule and time commitment against your working hours 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
Solve the two-body problem and describe orbits using classical elements.
Model the main orbital perturbations.
Select suitable orbits for each application.
Calculate impulsive manoeuvres and delta-v budgets.
Analyse relative motion and rendezvous manoeuvres.
Plan low-thrust manoeuvres and orbit station-keeping.
Determine orbits from observations.
Who it's for
- Flight dynamics engineers.
- Mission analysts.
- Satellite operations engineers.
- GNC engineers.
- Orbit determination specialists.
- Space systems consultants.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the space sector.
What you'll work with
- ISO 24113 (space debris mitigation requirements)
- CCSDS 502.0-B (Orbit Data Messages)
- IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines (inter-agency debris mitigation guidelines)
- ECSS-U-AS-10C (space sustainability: debris mitigation)
- CCSDS 508.0-B (Conjunction Data Message)
- NASA-STD-8719.14 (process for limiting orbital debris)
- GMAT
- STK
- Orekit
- poliastro
- MATLAB
8 modules
1.1Kepler's laws and gravitation1.2Constants of motion1.3Conic sections1.4Kepler's equation1.5Classical orbital elements1.6State vectors1.7Conversion between elements and state1.8Time scales and reference frames1.9True, eccentric and mean anomalies1.10Practical exercise: Keplerian propagation in Python
2.1Earth oblateness and J22.2Atmospheric drag2.3Solar radiation pressure2.4Third body: Sun and Moon2.5Gauss and Lagrange planetary equations2.6Mean and osculating elements2.7SGP4 model and TLEs2.8High-precision numerical propagation2.9Numerical integrators2.10Lab: comparison between SGP4 and numerical propagation
3.1LEO, MEO and GEO orbits3.2Sun-synchronous orbits3.3Molniya and Tundra orbits3.4Repeat ground track3.5Frozen orbits3.6Coverage and revisit3.7Eclipses and seasons3.8Visibility from ground stations3.9Orbit selection criteria3.10Workshop: design of a sun-synchronous orbit
4.1Hohmann transfer4.2Bi-elliptic transfer4.3Plane change4.4Combined manoeuvres4.5Phasing manoeuvres4.6Tsiolkovsky equation4.7Delta-v budget4.8Gravity losses4.9Finite-thrust manoeuvres4.10Practical exercise: delta-v budget from GTO to GEO
5.1Clohessy-Wiltshire equations5.2LVLH reference frame5.3Approach phases5.4Rendezvous manoeuvres5.5Lambert's problem5.6Formation flying5.7On-orbit inspection5.8Proximity operations safety5.9Docking with the ISS5.10Lab: approach using the Clohessy-Wiltshire equations
6.1Continuous thrust and spirals6.2Electric orbit raising to GEO6.3North-south and east-west station-keeping6.4Station-keeping in low Earth orbit6.5Trajectory optimisation6.6Phase control in constellations6.7Orbit raising after injection6.8End-of-life manoeuvres6.9Propellant consumption6.10Case study: station-keeping of a geostationary satellite
7.1Observables: range, Doppler and angles7.2Onboard GNSS navigation7.3Least-squares estimation7.4Extended Kalman filter7.5Covariance and realism7.6CCSDS orbit messages7.7Manoeuvre planning and calibration7.8Deorbiting and mitigation rules7.9Coordination with space surveillance7.10Practical exercise: orbit determination with GNSS data
8.1Mission requirements8.2Orbit selection8.3Perturbation analysis8.4Injection and transfer strategy8.5Station-keeping plan8.6Delta-v budget8.7End-of-life plan8.8Conclusions8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
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 it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is GMAT, STK, Orekit, poliastro and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for orbit propagation with analytical and numerical models, delta-v budget calculation and orbit determination with GNSS data. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: ISO 24113, CCSDS 502.0-B, IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines, ECSS-U-AS-10C, CCSDS 508.0-B, NASA-STD-8719.14.
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.
- 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 GMAT, STK, Orekit, poliastro 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.
Related programmes
Diploma in Tactical Prediction and Aeronautical Nowcasting
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in tactical forecasting and aeronautical nowcasting. 8 modules covering very short-range forecasting, weather radar and satellite observation, nowcasting techniques, tactical…
Diploma in FPGA/ASIC Safety-Critical and Avionics CEM
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in safety-critical FPGA/ASIC and avionics EMC: 8 modules covering FPGA and ASIC technologies, safe programmable logic design, atmospheric radiation effects,…
Diploma in Campaign Planning and Flight Data Analysis
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in flight test campaign planning and flight data analysis. 8 modules covering flight test methodology, test planning and risk, performance…
More in Aerospace, UAM, Drones & Space
All Aerospace, UAM, Drones & Space programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships