Space engineering brings together a number of multidisciplinary engineering fields in order to create and develop high-performance system components and space systems.
Typical areas that space engineering is applied in are the engineering of space vehicles, space mission, space instrumentation, along with other components like actuators, sensors, propulsion, vehicle control, mechanisms, systems engineering and distributed space systems.
Space engineering is an important field that has been responsible for many common devices used globally today.
Scientists working at NASA are credited with inventing memory foam, thermometers, and LED lighting.
Satellites were also invented by space engineers, which has led to the development of other modern devices and technologies like GPS, mobile phones, and some television programming.
Space engineering is a field that especially needs to be cognizant of technological advances. Digitalization, AI and digital twins are all playing a part in helping space engineering evolve. In space engineering, applying state-of-the-art technologies is daily business.
This is not a field where participants become bored. For example, there are no shortage of challenges in the field of space engineering.
One particularly harrowing challenge for space engineers has been how to protect equipment in space due to extreme temperature variance. In fact, in spacecraft construction, even components like tape can require cutting-edge technology.
The solution was to find or create materials that can withstand the extreme temperatures of space. Kevlar, for instance, is a material more frequently associated with its use in bulletproof garments for the military and police. However, Kevlar has several properties that make it ideal for use in spacecraft.
Because of Kevlar’s strength to resist bullets, this material makes it perfect for standing up to impacts from meteors and space junk. Additionally, Kevlar weighs little compared to its durability. It also can experience extreme temperatures without damage to its structure or changing its form.
Another ongoing and increasingly important challenge in the realm of space engineering is developing methods for mitigating the impact of space debris on spacecraft and satellites. One idea is to employ laser orbital debris removal. This is a process that allows giant high-powered lasers on Earth to fire toward space debris, causing the junk to lose velocity and fall safely into Earth’s atmosphere.
Another creative solution includes the use of the Sticky Boom, a robotic arm system that extends up to 100 feet and uses an adhesive gripper to clamp onto debris.
Space engineering is different from other engineering fields because it requires a high level of technical expertise and specialized knowledge of the unique challenges and conditions that exist in the space environment.
These challenges include extreme temperature fluctuations, the vacuum of space, high levels of radiation, and the need to design systems that can function independently without the support of Earth-based infrastructure.
Space Engineering Training Courses by Tonex
Tonex offers over a dozen courses in Space Engineering, where participants are equipped with the technical skills required to design solutions to complex problems.
Attendees will also learn to combine unique technical skills and space-based assets while utilizing the principles of systems engineering to make an impact.
Learn from real space missions, starting with initial concept design leading to hardware and software design, manufacturing, testing and in-orbit operations.
Some of our most popular Space Engineering courses include:
CubeSat Systems Engineering Workshop
Space Mission Operations Workshop
Applied Space Systems Engineering
Introduction to Human Spaceflight
Designing Space Missions and Systems
All Tonex Space Engineering courses involve 2-days of intense training.