A professional development programme providing learners with a clear understanding of space missions, the factors which drive activities in space, and a working knowledge of the science, engineering and regulation of space missions.
Join the programme, on site at our sector-leading Space Park Leicester, and participate in seven weeks of training spread over 6 months. Alternatively, choose individual courses, according to your needs and interests.
Who’s the programme for?
Technical and non-technical professionals who want to develop a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to design, build, launch and operate a space mission, including regulatory aspects.
Each course is offered in a modular format by internationally respected space sector partners, allowing learners to choose as many or as few courses as they need. Additionally, participants can earn formal recognition for their learning through CPD credits.
Choose between the full 7-week programme or attending specific courses.
Fundamentals of Space is a professional development programme designed to provide learners with a clear understanding of the origins and applications of space missions, the national and international factors which drive activities in space, and a clear working knowledge of the science, engineering and regulation of spaceflight, and space missions.
The course comprises 7 weeks of training, delivered over a 6 month period, and delivered in-person at Space Park Leicester.
Each week-long course is themed and divided into two modules, addressing different aspects of the theme. You can choose to attend as many or as few weeks as you prefer, although we strongly encourage learners to attend both modules in a given week.
The course has been designed to be accessible for individuals with mathematics abilities comparable to A-level.
There are no formal entry requirements but the programme has been designed with the following audiences in mind:
Individuals with technical backgrounds
By selecting all courses, the programme provides a flexible conversion for technical professionals moving, or planning to move, into the space sector.
Organisations moving into the space sector
The programme supports management or technical leads who understand how to successfully produce and deploy products in space, including the legal and regulatory requirements.
Individuals who require rapid upskilling in certain roles
The programme can help upskill individuals for difficult-to-recruit roles such as Systems Engineering and Spacecraft Operations.
Individuals in supporting roles
The course will help improve knowledge and understanding of a space-related business for individuals not directly involved in delivery (e.g. marketing).
Fundamentals of Space – Proposed Dates for 2025
Week 1 – Commercial, Scientific & Strategic Use of Space
Dates: 16th June – 20th June 2025
Week 2 – Technical Challenges of Space
Dates: 7th July – 11th July 2025
Week 3 – Space Communications & Regulations
Dates: 8th Sept – 12th September 2025
Week 4 – Spacecraft Systems Engineering
Dates: 6th Oct – 10th October 2025
Week 5 – Newspace Mission Operations
Dates: 20th Oct – 24th October
Weeks 6 – Space Politics & Sustainability
Dates: 10th Nov – 14th November
Week 7 – The Business of the Space Economy
Dates: 8th Dec – 12th December
There are no assessments for each course. The programme is designed with some understanding of the financial and time constraints faced by learners who are already in full time employment, so preparatory activities are kept to a minimum and limited to a small number of suggested articles to read.
We are accrediting our modules with CPD-UK, which provides certification of professional learning courses that is recognised by a large number of UK employers. Learners will receive CPD-UK certificates on completion of each module.
Each course is delivered by a team comprising individuals with extensive experience in the development, management, delivery and operation of spacecraft payloads and missions, from small technology demonstrators to large international missions, and authoring of regulations and legislation governing international space operations.
The programme is led by the University of Leicester, with over 6 decades of experience in space, including significant roles in major missions including James Webb Space Telescope, JUICE, BepiColombo, and Earth Observation missions, working with ESA, NASA, JAXA and a wide range of international industry and academic partners.
The University has “end-to-end” capability, covering the earliest phases of concept development, including fundamental scientific and engineering drivers, through to assembly, integration and testing, launch support, operations and data exploitation.
The course team are all involved in the development and delivery of skills and training at Undergraduate, Postgraduate and CPD levels, and know how to turn professional experience into engaging, effective teaching. The team includes Professor Anu Ojha, who holds an honorary professorship in the University’s School of Physics & Astronomy; Anu has been involved in the development of the UK’s National Space Strategy, and has sat on a number of committees and advisory bodies, including the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council, and ESA’s Human Spaceflight and Exploration Science Advisory Committee (HESAC).
Alden Legal is a specialist legal consultancy internationally known for their satellite, space and communications law and regulatory expertise.
They specialise in providing legal, regulatory, policy and consulting advice in Europe; working at the cutting edge of commercial, transactional, regulatory, policy and national security issues in the satellite, space, communications and applications industries.
Alden advises on ground-breaking technological applications and complex areas such as the regulatory and commercial aspects of innovative technology, including in-orbit servicing, large constellations, aeronautical services and new applications.
They are involved in the drafting of national space and communication laws, and launch and spectrum regulations.
Led by Managing Partner Joanne Wheeler MBE, Alden brings in in-depth understanding of the legal, regulatory and policy considerations required by companies in the sector, as well as developments surrounding space sustainability, and the importance of adopting a holistic approach to training.
Alden has devised and developed several training courses for SMEs, the Space Export Academy and are experienced in providing executive training to companies.
Meridian Space Command services the emerging space industry (e.g. start-ups) through a unique “Partnership As A Service” model, enabling low-TRL technology projects to secure funding for, and complete, UK Technology Demonstration Missions, enabling maturing of concepts and technologies to TRL~6 and onward expansion to commercial markets.
It also provides end-to-end solutions for Mission Management, Operations, Software, Audits, and has experience in running educational short-courses to train the next generation of Newspace Mission Operators.
Sam has extensive experience as a Mission Director ranging from startups (e.g. ispace) to agencies (e.g. NASA, where he was Mission Director for the NASA/DLR airborne Infrared astronomical observatory, SOFIA), creating and advancing mission operations teams, infrastructure, procedures, software, practices, education, certifications and strategic partnerships, taking the operations branch from zero through IPO.
Sam will consolidate these experiences into an intensive short course for the purposes of the Intended Learning Outcomes, where the participants become the operations team of simulated newspace missions, getting hands-on with all aspects of a mission’s end-to-end design, readiness, execution and audit.
Leveraging Sam’s strategic partnerships, course participants will be exposed to the latest software tools that newspace companies are investing heavily in as their operational backbone. This increases alignment between developing the operational skillset of the next generation and the need from newspace companies.
The 7 week programme in total costs £8,750 with each course individually costing £1,500.
Discounts are available if booking more than 1 course at the same time, as outlined below:
1 course booked
£1,500
2 courses booked
£2,925
3 courses booked
£4,275
4 courses booked
£5,550
5 courses booked
£6,750
6 courses booked
£7,875
7 courses (full programme) booked
£8,750 (saving £1,750)
Choose between the full 7-week programme or attending specific courses.
To enquire about this programme or your professional space skills requirements, including bespoke training courses for your organisation, please email: skills@space-park.co.uk
