Constellation Operations Course
Online course of 300 hours in constellation operations: 6 modules covering constellation architecture, deployment and commissioning, routine operations, flight safety and sustainability, and constellation management, with an assigned technical tutor.
Constellation Operations Course — studying from the United States
The United States leads global aerospace, anchored by clusters in Seattle, Wichita, Hartford, Huntsville and the Houston area. Major employers such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, RTX and GE Aerospace drive demand for engineers in airframes, propulsion, avionics and systems integration. Urban air mobility and commercial drone operations are expanding quickly, creating new roles in eVTOL design, airspace integration and UAS operations. Civil and military programs both rely heavily on certified design, testing and airworthiness processes, making this a strong field for engineers seeking complex, high-impact work.
Fees for the United States: 890 US$ (US Dollars), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United States
Typical roles
Questions from the United States
Can I study from any state?
Yes. Programmes are 100% online, so you can study from anywhere in the United States with a reliable internet connection.
Is the programme taught in English?
Yes. All programmes are taught in English, with technical materials and assessments delivered in that language.
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
Design the geometry of satellite constellations.
Plan deployment and mass commissioning.
Organise routine operations with a high degree of automation.
Manage conjunctions and avoidance manoeuvres at scale.
Apply debris and spectrum regulations to constellations.
Assess service indicators and reconfigurations after failures.
Prepare a complete concept of operations for a constellation.
Who it's for
- Constellation operations engineers.
- Flight dynamics engineers.
- Flight safety managers.
- Operations automation engineers.
- Mission analysts.
- Operations centre managers.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to join satellite operators.
What you'll work with
- ECSS-E-ST-70C (ground systems and operations)
- ECSS-E-ST-70-11C (space segment operability)
- ISO 24113 (space debris mitigation requirements)
- CCSDS 508.0-B (Conjunction Data Message) (standard format for conjunction data)
- ITU Radio Regulations (international spectrum regulation)
- FCC 22-74 (five-year rule) (post-mission disposal deadline in LEO)
- UN LTS Guidelines (2019) (long-term sustainability of outer space activities)
- Ansys STK
- Orekit
- Yamcs
- GMAT
- Python with poliastro
6 modules
1.1Walker and polar constellations1.2Orbital planes and phasing1.3Continuous coverage and revisit1.4Inter-satellite links1.5Constellation size and cost1.6Staged deployment1.7Communications and observation constellations1.8GNSS constellations1.9Altitude selection and separation rules1.10Workshop: preliminary design of a Walker constellation
2.1Launcher injection and dispensers2.2Separation and initial acquisition2.3Orbit raising and phasing2.4Use of differential nodal precession2.5Mass commissioning2.6Management of defective satellites2.7Rideshare launches2.8Replenishment planning2.9In-orbit spare satellites2.10Practical exercise: phasing plan using differential drift
3.1Station-keeping within a constellation3.2Automated pass planning3.3Fleet management and large-scale telemetry3.4In-flight software updates3.5Power and eclipse management3.6Highly autonomous operations3.7Anomaly detection at scale3.8Fleet operations centres3.9Aggregated telemetry and health indicators3.10Lab: contact planning for 50 satellites
4.1Conjunction assessment4.2Coordinated collision avoidance manoeuvres4.3End-of-life deorbiting4.4Passivation4.5Debris regulations4.6Spectrum coordination4.7Reflectivity and astronomy4.8Data sharing with other operators4.9Ephemeris data for third parties4.10Case study: handling a conjunction alert in a constellation
5.1Service and availability indicators5.2Failure management and reconfiguration5.3Life cycle and replacements5.4Operating costs5.5Operations cybersecurity5.6Lessons from Iridium, OneWeb and Starlink5.7Constellation simulation tools5.8Regulation and licensing5.9Replenishment investment planning5.10Case study: reconfiguration after the loss of a plane
6.1Service definition6.2Constellation design6.3Deployment plan6.4Concept of operations6.5Automation and ground segment6.6Flight safety plan6.7End-of-life plan6.8Performance indicators6.9Report 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 Ansys STK, Orekit, Yamcs, GMAT and Python with poliastro, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: contact planning for a constellation of dozens of satellites, phasing of orbital planes using differential precession and handling of conjunction alerts at fleet scale. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final project.
Standards covered: ECSS-E-ST-70C, ECSS-E-ST-70-11C, ISO 24113, CCSDS 508.0-B (Conjunction Data Message), ITU Radio Regulations, FCC 22-74 (five-year rule), UN LTS Guidelines (2019).
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 Ansys STK, Orekit, Yamcs, GMAT and Python with poliastro, 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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