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LDE Space Fundamentals and Interactions

Vak
2024-2025

Dit vak wordt alleen in het Engels aangeboden.

Admission requirements

This course is part of the LDE Space & Society Honours Programme (Leiden-Delft-Erasmus) and is therefore only open to students that are enrolled in this programme.

Topics

Space disciplines fundamentals and interactions, interdisciplinary system thinking, space for society

Disciplines

  • Space Law

  • Space Governance & Society

  • Space Engineering & Technology

  • Space Applications & Exploration

  • Space Business & Innovation

Skills

  1. Researching
  2. Collaborating
  3. Societal awareness
  4. Reflecting
  5. Independent learning

Number of students

Minimum of 24 and maximum 45.

Description

Space Disciplines and Interactions Fundamentals

The programme consists of lectures by expert lecturers from the three universities, as well as invited guest speakers, to introduce students to the fundamentals of the various space disciplines, how these disciplines interact with each other, and how they affect the development of the space sector. The lecture programme consists of four modules:
1. Space Applications & Exploration
2. Space Business & Innovation
3. Space Law, Governance & Society
4. Space Engineering & Technology

In each module, students are introduced to key elements and insights, in order to gain a broad understanding of each discipline. They are also guided to explore the interaction among the disciplines through practical examples and discussion. Combined, the modules offer an outlook on the drivers and boundaries that shape space activities, as well as an overview of global advancements in the space sector and the technologies that rely on it. This fundamental knowledge prepares the students for working on the practical part of the programme, the space challenge.

The assessment of the LDE Space Fundamentals and Interactions will be based on methods that evaluate the understanding of the main concepts of each discipline and the analysis of the contribution and impact of each discipline on a space programme or project.

Course objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Identify the key aspects from each discipline and their relevance to space programmes or projects

  • Understand the interactions between the disciplines and their influence on the development of space activities

  • Analyse a space project/challenge to identify synergies and overlaps among the various disciplines

Programme and timetable

Classes run from 19:00 to 21:00 hrs. on Wednesdays. Lectures will take place on different locations. They will cover a variety of content and include active engagement through various activities.

General Introduction

  • November 13th (The Hague, Wijnhaven) - Kick-off honours programme

Module “Applications and Exploration”

  • November 20th (Delft) – Earth Observation
    Dr. Joris Timmermans (TUD): This lecture will cover how earth observation techniques are presently applied to monitor sustainable development goals.

  • November 27th (Leiden) – Space Exploration
    Dr. Dap Hartmann (TUD) : This lecture addresses the exploration of the universe. Topics that will be addressed include astronomy, planetary sciences, Moon and Mars missions

  • February 5th (Delft) – Space Applications & Exploration (interactions)
    Dr. Joris Timmermans(TUD): This lecture will focus on applying observation techniques (discussed in previous lectures) to solve real-life challenges, regarding sustainable development goals, and space entrepreneurship.

Module “Business & Innovation”

  • December 4th (Delft) – Space Technology Innovation
    Dr. Dap Hartmann (TUD): This lecture addresses the business and management aspect of technology innovation and how this applies to the space sector.

  • December 11th (Rotterdam) – Space Business
    Dr. René Olie & Dr. Willem Hulsink (EUR): In this session, we discuss the fundamentals of business models, how they are applied in the space sector, and how they drive success.

  • February 12th (Rotterdam) – Space Business & Innovation (interactions)
    Dr. René Olie (EUR), Dr. Willem Hulsink (EUR) & Dr. Dap Hartmann (TUD): We will discuss how the business & innovation aspects of space activities interact with the other disciplines

Module “Engineering & Technology"

  • December 18th (Delft) – Space Engineering fundamentals
    Sevket Uludag (& Ir. Peter Batenburg): In this lecture the fundamentals of space engineering will be adressed. We will discuss the subsystems of a space craft, the fundamentals of propulsion and orbital mechanics and how system engineering is applied to make a reliant system design

  • January 8th (Delft) – Space technologies
    Sevket Uludag & Dr. Joris Timmermans (TUD): This lecture addresses the fundamentals as well as the capabilities and limitations of of Satellite remote sensing using different types of sensors
    Is.

  • February 19th (Delft) – Space Engineering & Technology & interactions
    Sevket Uludag (TUD), Ir. Peter Batenburg (LDE) (& Dr. Joris Timmermans (TUD)): We will discuss how the engineering & technology aspects of space activities interact with the other disciplines.

Module “Law, Governance & Society"

  • January 15th (Leiden University Law Faculty (KOG)) – Space law fundamentals Dr. Tanja Masson-Zwaan (UL) (&Dr. Dimitra Stefoudi (UL)): This lecture will discuss the history of space law & policy, particularly focusing on the UN Space treaties and international instruments related to space activities. It will also address the impact of space law on the development of the space sector.

  • January 22nd (The Hague, Wijnhaven) – Space law through examples
    Dr. Dimitra Stefoudi & Dr. Tanja Masson-Zwaan (UL): This class will explain the application of space law in practice, through examples from various types of space activities. It will also elaborate on national space regulation.

  • February 26th (Leiden University Law Faculty (KOG)) –Space governance and society
    Dr. Dimitra Stefoudi (UL) & Ir. Peter Batenburg (LDE): The governance of space activities and the role of space for society will form the topic of this lecture, which will touch upon the societal benefits of space technology, space cooperation initiatives, and international organisations active in the area of space.

Ethics and debate session

  • March 12th (Delft) – Ethics of space activities
    We will have a debate session on the ethics of space activities. We will analyse several statements from the different disciplines. The students are asked to be actively involved in these discussions.

Reading list

The reading list for the four modules will be announced
Further literature will be announced in class or via Brightspace.

Course load and teaching method

This course is worth 7 ECTS, which means the total course load equals 196 hours:

  • Seminars: 14 seminars of 2 hours (participation is mandatory)

  • Preparation for seminars: approx. 6 hours per seminar (6 hours).

  • Assignment: approximately 84 hours

Assessment methods
The assessment will be based on several components that address specific case studies to be selected in class.

  • Participation assessed continually through participation in seminars

  • Assignment: Space interdisciplinary topic assessment

    • Identifying and listing key aspects of each module’s disciplines for the selected topic
    • Identifying interactions between the listed modules ’key aspects
    • Analysing to identify potential areas of conflicts
    • Evaluating overall situation of the topic
    • Creating recommendations

Students could only pass this course after successful completion of all partial assignments.

The assessment methods will be further explained in the first session of the class.

Brightspace

The Brightspace environment of Leiden University will be used in this course. Students will be enrolled to the Brightspace module by the organisation of the course.

Registration process

To participate in this course, you need to apply for the LDE Space & Society Honours Programme. The application for 2024-2025 is open from 2 September (9:00 hrs) until 6 October (22:00 hrs) through the Honours Academy of Leiden University. The application form will be published on their student website.

  • Please note: it is not possible to follow (part of) this programme online.

  • Please note: students are not required to register through uSis for this course. Your registration will be done centrally.

Contact

Programme coordinator: Peter Batenburg, LDESpaceSocietyHonours@ha.leidenuniv.nl.