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LDE Space Fundamentals and Interactions

Vak
2025-2026

Please note: the text below is subject to minor changes.

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

Exploration of various space disciplines with a focus on the integration of space exploration and applications, technological innovation and engineering progress, commercial and entrepreneurial dynamics, and legal, societal, and governance framework. Fostering of interdisciplinary understanding of the space sector's impact on society.

Disciplines

  1. Space Applications & Exploration
  2. Space Business & Innovation
  3. Space Law, Governance & Society
  4. Space Engineering & Technology

Skills

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

Number of students

Minimum of 35 and maximum 60.

Description

The LDE Space Fundamentals and Interactions consist of 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 LDE Space Challenge.

Course objectives

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

  • Identify the key aspects of each discipline and their relevance to space programmes and projects.

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

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

  • Adress complex questions related to a space challenge through an interdisciplinary lens and with the aim to developing actionable and context-specific solutions.

Programme and timetable

Classes run from 19:00 to 21:00 hrs. on Wednesdays. Lectures will take place on different locations at Leiden University, TU Delft, and Erasmus University.

General Introduction

  • November 12th - Kick-off honours programme

Module “Applications and Exploration”

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

  • 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

  • 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”

  • 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.

  • Space Business
    Dr. René Olie (EUR) & 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.

  • 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"

  • Space Engineering fundamentals
    Sevket Uludag (TUD) (& Ir. Peter Batenburg): In this lecture the fundamentals of space engineering will be addressed. 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

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

  • 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"

  • 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.

  • Space law through examples
    Dr. Dimitra Stefoudi (UL) & 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.

  • 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

  • Ethics of space activities
    This debate session focuses on the ethics of space activities. Students 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 (spread over the duration of the LDE Space Fundamentals & Interactions).

Assessment methods

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.

Students will be evaluated through intermediary quizzes, short essays, and creative assignments designed to assess their understanding of the lecture content in the Fundamentals and Interactions. Students can only pass this course after successful completion of all partial assignments.

Students will be assessed individually on the basis of a pass/fail grade. A passing grade is required, in order to continue to the LDE Space Challenge. In case of a failing grade, an alternative assignment will be given.

Please note the attendance requirement for this course. During the fundamentals, students are allowed to miss two sessions at most and with prior explanation. Please note you cannot miss more than one session per module during the fundamentals.

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 2025-2026 is open from 1 September (9:00 hrs) until 5 October (22:00 hrs) through the Honours Academy of Leiden University. The application form will be published on their student website.

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

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

Contact

Programme coordinator: Dr. Dimitra Stefoudi, LDESpaceSocietyHonours@ha.leidenuniv.nl.