MEng: Space Engineering

The Master of Engineering Degree in Space Engineering

Creating Real-World Experiences for Space Systems Students

The MEng program focuses on developing systems engineering skills for future space systems engineers. Our students’ coursework involves real-world space missions, some of which have lead to significant follow-up efforts outside the program. Download PDF [269KB]

Program Overview

The successful integration of the scientific, engineering, and management principles used in space systems requires highly capable professionals. In particular, to be able to understand complete space systems, managers must have a broad multidisciplinary background. The MEng program in Space Engineering develops both the theoretical and applied aspects of space engineering, while providing opportunities for hands-on experience at various levels via joint projects with government laboratories and industry.

The program is designed to provide a broad interdisciplinary education in the scientific, engineering and management aspects of complex space systems, while developing specific disciplinary skills of your choosing and systems engineering management. If you are interested in studying the scientific, engineering and management aspects of space engineering, this joint Aerospace Engineering/Climate & Space Department program allows you to structure it to your specific area of interest.

Program Objectives

1. To provide a comprehensive knowledge of space science and engineering and their interrelationship.
2. To increase your knowledge depth in a space-related discipline beyond the baccalaureate level.
3. To develop the systems skills necessary for conceiving, designing, manufacturing, managing, and operating complex space systems.
4. To provide practical hands-on experience in space system design, project development and project management.

Program Advisor

Professor Nilton Renno
Email: nrenno@umich.edu

Student Projects

• S3FL – The Student Space Systems Fabrication Laboratory (S3FL) is an organization dedicated to providing students with practical space systems design and fabrication experience not readily available through the academic curriculum.

• University of Michigan: CubeSat Program – The University of Michigan CubeSat Program aims to design, build, test and fly an imager satellite. 

• MichSpace Blog 

• XSAS Microgravity Project

MEng Program Concentrations

While your specific curriculum will be developed through discussion with program advisors, curriculum templates have been developed. You will need a minimum of 31 credits for graduation.

1. Space Science Concentration Program
2. Propulsion Concentration Program
3. Plasma Electrodynamics & Sensors
4. Instrumentation & Sensor Payloads
5. Launch Vehicles
6. Telemetry & Spacecraft Communication
7. Astrodynamics
8. Computer Control & Data Handling

Space Engineering Course Categories

Core Courses (20 credit hours)

The five core courses and seminar course required of all program students cover aspects of space engineering that are considered fundamental and necessary parts of MEng educational program. Relevant aspects of underlying physical phenomena such as gaskinetic theory, space plasma physics, and magnetospheric physics are covered in these courses. Engineering courses offer hands-on projects focusing on technology development and space systems design. These projects are developed in partnership with the Space Physics Research Laboratory (SPRL), industry and government laboratories. The purpose of the projects is to provide practical experience in application of the concepts developed in class to a real-life space system projects. Space policy and management classes teach the systems approach to conceiving, designing, manufacturing, managing, and operating complex space systems. The purpose of these classes is to expose students to some of the common space systems problems and the management methods used mitigate them. These classes are developed and taught with help from visitors from industry and government laboratories.

1. 478 (Space Environment)
2. 581 (Space Systems Management)
3. 582 (Spacecraft Technology)
4. AERO 583 (Space Systems Design)
5. 590 or AERO 590 (Space Systems Projects)
6. Climate/Space 749 or Aero 585 Seminar

Concentration Elective Courses (6 credit hours)

Students select two courses from a limited number of space engineering-specific courses. These courses allow students to tailor the program to their individual interests while maintaining a focus on key aspects of space engineering.

1. AERO 535 (Space Propulsion)
2. AERO 548 (Astrodynamics)
3. AERO 575 (Flight and Trajectory Optimization)
4. 584 (Space Instrumentation)
5. 585 (Introduction to Remote Sensing and Inversion Theory)
6. ENGR 520 (Entrepreneurial Business Fundamentals for Scientists & Engineers)
7. ENGR 599 (Design for Safety and Reliability).

Breadth Elective Courses (6 credit hours)

Students select two courses from a large list of technical courses with topics related to the needs of space engineering and space science. These courses allow students acquire advanced graduate level knowledge in areas relevant to space engineering.

Visit the Courses section for a complete list of Climate & Space course descriptions. Courses are subject to change, so please see your advisor.

MEng Space Engineering Ambassadors

• • Alex Mednick

Mechanical Engineering from Lafayette College

• • Ezekiel Willett

Aerospace Engineering from MIT

• • Stuart Gegenheimer

Physics and astrophysics from the University of California, Berkeley

• • Emanuela della Bosca

Graduate student

• • Anny Lin

Graduate student

• • Robin Leiter

Graduate student

General Admission Information

The deadline for the MEng student cohort (Program Code 01866) for Winter is October 1.  The deadline for the Fall MEng student cohort (Program Code 01866) is February 1. It is recommended that you submit your application early to ensure that it is ready for evaluation by the deadline. If your application will be delayed significantly, please contact Sandra Pytlinski to discuss your situation. Information about the cost of attending the University of Michigan is available at The Office of Registrar.

All MEng students are admitted to the program through the College of Engineering. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale is required. All international students need to provide TOEFL, MELAB, or IELTS scores. However, if you’ve graduated from an undergraduate program where the language of instruction is exclusively English, then the TOEFL requirement is waived.

Funding

Need-based funding may be available, usually in the form of a student loan, through the University’s Office of Financial Aid, (734) 763-6600. There are application materials required to complete this process.