Space Track, the space course of IMT Atlantique

Space Track

The space course  of IMT Atlantique, Space Track, is a two-month training program for space engineering, design, and management of space projects. It involves engineers and researchers from CNES, CEA, IMT Atlantique, and IRISPACE’s partners from companies and schools. It takes place in the months of April-May (S4B2) and allows if needed the validation of 15 ECTS.
Space Track relies on the activities and expertise of the University Space Center (USC) of the Regional Institute of Space Innovation (IRISPACE), a platform led by IMT Atlantique that structures the space sector in the Brittany region.

Space track course

A comprehensive initiation to the needs of space engineering

Space Track is structured around four Teaching Units :

  • TU A - SPACE INT
  • TU B - SPACE DAT
  • TU C - SPACE SYS
  • TU D - GROUND SEGMENT
  • CubeSat mission
TU A - SPACE INT provides an introduction to the space domain, its ecosystem, and its economy. It helps understand the challenges and constraints of the space environment and design a mission.
  • History, Economy, Legal
  • Constraints of space environment
  • Orbitography
  • Theorical principle of space systems
  • Development of a space mission

Goal: Be able to contextualize a satellite mission and describe the different stages of a satellite mission.

TU B - SPACE DAT covers the main space applications, including Earth observation, navigation, and telecommunications. It allows grasping the methods and using real space data.
  • Overview of space application
  • Processing of various data
  • Understanding of physical principles from earth to sensors
  • Retrieve information from space sensors and system

Goal: Be able to propose a space mission: describe the mission in terms of needs, assesses the environment and its constraints and identify possible concepts.

TU C - SPACE SYS focuses on the functioning of the satellite, its subsystems, its design, and sizing. This UE allows grasping the complexity of a spacecraft.
  • Introduction
  • Embedded system
  • Antennas
  • Electrical architecture
  • Mechanical architecture
  • Thermal architecture

Goal: Be able to initiate a phase 0 of a cubesat: decribe and modeling a cubesat in relation to the chosen mission.

TU D – GROUND SEGMENT is a practical project for the design and manufacture of an antenna for satellite data reception. Receive data from satellites in orbit with the system you have designed yourself.
  • Simulation software

The CubeSat mission is a cross-cutting project in which you design a CubeSat mission in phase 0/A. Draw on the modules covered to imagine your own mission.

Why follow the Space Track?

  • Do you want to work in the space industry?
    Space Track provides you with practical understanding of various aspects of a mission through experts from CNES, companies, and laboratories within the schools. 
  • Do you want to do an internship in the field?
    Have dedicated time to work on your topic and make it easier to find an internship, even a short one (2-3 months). Take advantage of the network of IRISPACE members to identify and contact players in the sector.

In close connection with IRISPACE, contribute to the activites of the USC through projects that help contribute to the development of the first CubeSat of IRISPACE.

Practical Information

  • Courses taught in English
  • When: from 2 April to 31 May 2024
  • Number of places: 10
  • Price: exceptionally for this year 2024, €0
  • Information requests and Application (CV and covering letter) to candidature-sta@imt-atlantique.fr

A short space engineering programme