Earth Oriented Space Science and Technology

Course Overview

Earth observation satellites help us better understand and monitor our environment. Today, researchers within climatology, oceanography, meteorology as well as national agencies and logistics companies are all dependent on up-to-date satellite data. Design, development and data analysis of respective satellite missions require experts with knowledge not only in spacecraft design and orbit mechanics but also in satellite applications, as well as Earth system science, remote sensing and navigation. From an educational point of view, this diversity is a challenge. Classical university programs cover parts of this spectrum in different disciplines. These are aerospace engineering, electronic engineering or geodesy - just to mention a few - yet there is hardly any connection between these parts. Therefore several institutions in and around Munich decided to combine their expertise and set up a graduate program with the aim of educating Satellite Application Engineers. The result is the ESPACE Masters program, established in 2005. ESPACE benefits from and utilizes its location in Munich with its unique concentration of expertise related to space science and technology. The Earth Oriented Space Science and Technology Masters program at the Technical University of Munich is coordinated with excellent teaching staff from three universities (Technische University Munchen, Ludwig-Maximilian University, University of the Federal Armed Forces) and research institutions (such as the German Aerospace Center, DLR and the German Geodetic Research Institute, DGFI) as well as the space industry (such as EADS or Kayser-Threde).