Master of Space Operations

Gain the Managerial & Technical Skills Required to Plan and Operate Space Systems

From GPS and banking to environmental and emergency management, space systems play an ever-increasing role in our daily lives. UNSW Canberra is home to the largest space capability in the country and our Master of Space Operations will provide you with a high level of understanding of the issues associated with the planning, operation and acquisition of space systems.

The course is designed for postgraduate students who wish to gain a detailed understanding of the technical, strategic and economic drivers required to conceive, design, and operate spacecraft within the rapidly changing global space sector.

World-Class Teaching Facilities

UNSW Canberra has a range of on-site capabilities to enable end-to-end space mission including Australia’s first space mission concurrent engineering design facility. Space facilities also include the Falcon Telescope, a cleanroom, a thermal vacuum chamber laboratory, and satellite ground stations.

Explore our space facilities.

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You can find more information on this degree on the UNSW Handbook.

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What Our Students Say

“Space is a fascinating environment for most academic disciplines and UNSW Canberra has a reputation for word-class engineering research and education. The University is doing pioneering work in Australia to design, build and fly space missions”.

Ben Piggott, Master of Space Operations student

Program Structure

Students undertaking the Master of Space Operations are required to complete 48 Units of Credit (UOC) by completing eight 6-UOC courses from the list in the Handbook entry for the program (see the list in Course Availability below).

In the Master of Space Operations program, students must complete four core courses and four elective courses. Not all elective courses will be available in a particular year.

The courses in the program may be taken in any order but it is recommended that the four core courses are completed first, followed by the four elective courses.

With the approval of the Program Coordinator, students who obtain a distinction average or better in four courses may complete a 12-UOC research project in lieu of two elective courses. The project is recommended for those with a strong interest in pursuing original research in a particular area or intending to undertake a higher-level research qualification.

With the approval of the Program Coordinator, students may take up to two elective courses (12 UOC) from other coursework programs.

Research Project

The option of undertaking a research project worth 12 UOC within the School of SEIT or HASS is available to Masters students who obtain a distinction average or better in four courses and is subject to approval by the Program Coordinator.

The research project can be completed within one session through enrolment in ZEIT8297 Project Report - Systems Engineering (Full Time) or ZHSS8401 Research Project International and Political Studies (Full Year). The research project can be spread across two sessions through enrolment in ZEIT8296 Project Report - Systems Engineering (Part Time) or ZHSS8400 Research Project: IPS (Single Session). Completion of either course results in the achievement of 12 UOC.

The project is recommended for those with a strong interest in pursuing original research in a particular area or intending to undertake a higher research degree qualification.

Course Availability

*Please Note: Program rules are subject to change, students need to follow the program rules set out in the UNSW Handbook of the year they were admitted into the program.

Core		Semester 1 - 2023	Semester 2 - 2023
ZEIT8007	Space Operations	Distance Mode	Not Offered
ZEIT8011	Space Systems Technology	Not Offered	Distance Mode
ZEIT8012	Space Systems Engineering	Distance Mode	Not Offered
ZHSS8504	Space Conflict and Competition	Not Offered	Distance Mode

Electives		Semester 1 - 2023	Semester 2 - 2023
ZEIT8009	Global Navigation Satellite Systems	Not Offered	Distance Mode
ZEIT8018	Cyber Defence: Governance, Management and Acquisition	Distance Mode	Not Offered
ZEIT8032	Information Assurance Principles	Not Offered	Distance Mode
ZEIT8219	Satellite Communications	Distance Mode	Not Offered
ZEIT8221	Spaceborne Imaging Technology	Not Offered	Distance Mode
ZEIT8230	Requirements Practice	Distance Mode	Distance Mode
ZEIT8231	Test and Evaluation	Distance Mode	Not Offered
ZEIT8303	Project Management Body of Knowledge	Distance Mode	Distance Mode
ZEIT8403	Capability Option Analysis	Not Offered	Distance Mode
ZHSS8403	Global Security	Distance Mode	Not Offered
ZHSS8410	Australian Defence Policy: Concepts and Challenges	Not Offered	Distance Mode
ZHSS8435	Contemporary Strategy	Not Offered	Distance Mode
ZHSS8463	International Law in Global Politics	Distance Mode	Not Offered
ZHSS8467	Military Game Changers in 21st Century Warfare	Not Offered	Not Offered
ZPEM8208	Human Factors and the Technological Interface	Distance Mode	Not Offered
ZPEM8310	Understanding Social-Technical Systems: Ideas, Spaces and Cultures	Not Offered	Distance Mode

Entry Requirements

Please refer to the UNSW Handbook for the Entry Requirements.

Recognition for Prior Learning - Professional Development

If you have successfully completed approved professional development courses, you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning towards future study.

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