Space Missions: The Executive Guide to Space
3-day course
If you’re working within the space sector, or have dreamed of joining it, this space industry primer programme offered by the University of Leicester and partners could launch your space career to new heights.
Start date:
Course information
Taught by Space Park Leicester
Course description
Course description
The Executive Guide to Space will provide a strategic overview of the Space industry and landscape. It will explore the technical and engineering challenges of building something to operate in space, providing insights to all aspects of a space mission.
Equipping attendees with vital context and awareness around what is required for successful entry into the space industry. The course material provides a high-lever overview well suited to those looking to support space activities within their business or organisation.
The Executive Guide to Space is delivered 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, alongside the design, operation and analysis in many of the of the 100+ space mission the University of Leicester has been involved in. The course is delivered in the state-of-the-art Space Park Leicester facility, the multi-disciplinary home of space science in the heart of Leicester’s Space City Campus.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
There are no formal Entry requirements.
The course has been designed as an executive overview so some knowledge technical knowledge may be helpful but it is not required.
English Language Requirements
If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.
Fees and funding
Fees and funding
UK Students
The 3-day programme costs £1,000. Lunch and refreshments are provided each day.
Upon booking please enquire about our local hotel rates for discounted overnight options during the attendance of the course.
International Students
Fees for international students are the same as UK student fees.
Facilities
Facilities
Our Executive guide to Space course is delivered at Space Park Leicester, a world leading hub for space research, innovation, and enterprise. Officially opened by British astronaut Tim Peake in March 2022, Space Park builds on Leicester’s 60-plus year heritage as an international participant in space science and exploration, and a major collaborator with international space agencies, research institutes and industry.
This £100 million development is the world’s first science and innovation park dedicated to – and specifically designed for – space-related companies and researchers. Offering 9,700 square metres of laboratories, workshops, offices, teaching spaces, manufacturing facilities and specialist computational environments including a Concurrent Design Facility and a Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality lab, focussing primarily on research, development and applications of space
Delegates attending The Executive Guide to space at Space Park Leicester will also have an opportunity to tour the facilities.
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
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).
Course structure
Day 1 – The Space Landscape and Systems Engineering
Day 1 – The Space Landscape and Systems Engineering
The programme begins by establishing the current space landscape, the strategic importance and the opportunities within the space sector. Take an inspirational journey through the history of space exploration and the applications driving global space industries. This will be followed by investigation the engineering challenges involved in creating space hardware. Hear from experts on the adaptations required to operate outside of the Earth’s atmosphere.
The modules listed reflect those currently available to students. Every year, we review our modules and their content to ensure that our courses maintain the best academic and student experience possible. Whilst this does mean elements of your course may change in future academic years, it ensures your course is giving you a research-inspired education and preparing you for your future.
Day 2 – The Technical Challenges of the Space Environment
Day 2 – The Technical Challenges of the Space Environment
The focus for this day will be looking into the space environment and what makes space such a hostile and unique environment to operate in. Discover how this environment can be dealt with and considerations and processes to employ that will ensure the best possible chance of success in future missions.
Discover the methods used to get into space and navigate the landscape. Discuss the importance of positioning space hardware in the right space and gain an understanding of how space is laid out.
The modules listed reflect those currently available to students. Every year, we review our modules and their content to ensure that our courses maintain the best academic and student experience possible. Whilst this does mean elements of your course may change in future academic years, it ensures your course is giving you a research-inspired education and preparing you for your future.
Day 3 – Space Regulations, Communications and the political Landscape
Day 3 – Space Regulations, Communications and the political Landscape
Led by international space law experts Alden Legal, day 3 will see us delve into the complex regulatory environment of space. Discover the national and international legal frameworks that support space operations and here from the experts how position your operation successfully within it.
Gain useful insights into reserving space communication channels while also investigating legal requirements on space sustainability and environmental impact.
The modules listed reflect those currently available to students. Every year, we review our modules and their content to ensure that our courses maintain the best academic and student experience possible. Whilst this does mean elements of your course may change in future academic years, it ensures your course is giving you a research-inspired education and preparing you for your future.
Why Leicester
This 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 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 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.
Teaching and learning
There are no assessments for this 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.
Delivery partners include Alden Legal. Alden 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.
Key dates
This course will take place across three days:
- Tuesday 24 to Thursday 26 March 2026 inclusive.
Apply now
| Course | Qualification | Duration | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course Space Missions: The Executive Guide to Space | Qualification CPD | Duration 3 day course | Availability Apply Now |
