SPACECRAFT STRUCTURES AND MECHANISMS - 2026/7
Module code: ENGM322
Module Overview
Spacecraft can range from small unmanned microsatellites through to large complex manned craft such as the international space station. Structure is the physical platform that supports and integrates sub-systems and payloads. As such, it is of fundamental importance for any spacecraft. Through a series of lectures and exercises, this module gives the students an understanding of the issues that must be addressed in the design and analysis of spacecraft structures and mechanisms.
Module provider
Mechanical Engineering Sciences
Module Leader
VIQUERAT Andrew (Mech Eng Sci)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 7
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Overall student workload
Independent Learning Hours: 74
Lecture Hours: 26
Tutorial Hours: 11
Practical/Performance Hours: 2
Guided Learning: 11
Captured Content: 26
Module Availability
Semester 2
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
None
Module content
Indicative content includes the following.
- Typical spacecraft structural layouts
- Typical structural components
- Typical spacecraft mechanisms
- Launch and operational environment
- Overview of materials typically used in spacecraft structures
- Vibration response
- Overview of structural analysis techniques for spacecraft structures, including FEM
- Structural thermal response
Assessment pattern
| Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Vibration Test Report | 20 |
| Examination | 2 Hour Examination | 80 |
Alternative Assessment
Coursework: Vibration Test Report based on an existing set of experimental data.
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy for this module is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate knowledge and application of the module content as described above.
The summative assessment for this module consists of the following:
- Practical data collection task and an accompanying piece of written coursework.
- examination to be completed in person.
The examination will contain a selection of questions designed to assess the breadth and depth of knowledge that the students have gained by studying the module. The examination also verifies the assimilation of appropriate terminology, and the capability to apply specific structural design methodologies.
Formative assessment and feedback:
For the module, students will receive formative assessment and feedback in the following ways:
- During live sessions, by question-and-answer sessions.
- During tutorials/tutorial classes, students are given exercises which they try to solve independently
- By means of unassessed tutorial problem sheets (with answers/model solutions), similar to homework and the students are given the solutions at a later date.
- During meetings with the lecturer or at the end of face-to-face sessions, the lecturer is available for one-to one Q&A with the students to clarify any doubt they may have regarding to the material that was presented during the lectures.
Module aims
- To provide an overview of the issues that need to be addressed in the design of spacecraft structures and mechanisms.
- To provide students with an appreciation and understanding of the development of the whole spacecraft structural design process.
- To provide the student with the ability to apply this knowledge to practical applications.
Learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Having successfully completed the module, the student will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the development of the spacecraft structural design, starting from the definition of the structural requirements to the final structural test campaign. The students will also gain a good understanding of the basic principles of spacecraft mechanisms design. | CPT | M5 |
| 002 | Having successfully completed the module, the student will be able to understand the mechanical design requirements quoted in launchers user manuals. | CK | M1, M2 |
| 003 | Calculate preliminary loads on the spacecraft. | CKT | M3 |
| 004 | Select appropriately the materials and structural parameters to meet basic requirements. | CK | M13 |
| 005 | Perform a preliminary structural design/analysis of some spacecraft elements. | CK | M6 |
| 006 | Analyse data from experimental testing and compare them with theoretical predictions. | CK | M2 |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Methods of Teaching / Learning
The learning and teaching strategy is designed to achieve the following aims:
- To provide students with an overview of issues that need to be addressed in the design of spacecraft structures and mechanisms, giving them an appreciation and understanding of the development of the whole spacecraft structural design process.
- To provide the student knowledge and skills which are relevant for a future employment in industry or other institutions.
Learning and teaching methods include the following:
- Teaching is primarily by face-to-face lecture sessions and tutorials. Learning takes place through lectures, tutorials, and exercises. Some of the example problems come from real industrial applications.
- The students are invited to participate to the face-to-face lecture sessions raising questions, and at the end of these lectures the lecturer is available for one-to one Q&A with the students to clarify any doubt they may have regarding to the material presented during lectures.
- A practical component is included in which students undertake a vibration testing procedure in small groups.
Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.
Reading list
https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ENGM322
Other information
This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills and capabilities in the areas of Digital Capabilities, Employability, Global and Cultural Capabilities and Sustainability. Digital Capabilities: Throughout this module students learn to navigate and utilise the Virtual Learning Environment @ Surrey (SurreyLearn) and other digital resources and online videos (e.g., YouTube) to aid their learning and undertake research. Students are also encouraged to use current media such as Teams and Zoom, and cloud/file sharing for communication and team working. Employability: Throughout this module, students will be taught by, and exposed to, a variety of internal and external invited speakers, exposing them to the variety of technical issues that professionals have in their workplace. The tasks and assessments undertaken across the module are specifically chosen to equip students with knowledge and skills that are key to the role of modern spacecraft structure engineers. Key to this, students will develop the ability to critically appraise evidence and the appropriate application of this knowledge in the design of future spacecraft structures and mechanisms, and by advancing research or creating new enterprises. Global and Cultural Capabilities: the programme is taught in an interactive and collaborative way, in a cohort that commonly represents a wealth of nationalities and backgrounds. Students are encouraged to engage with, and learn from, diverse perspectives through interaction and teamwork. Sustainability: Students will be supported to address sustainability considerations in problem-solving activities. The effectiveness of innovative material solutions to sustainable issues will be inherent in the design of future composite spacecraft structures. This module is run in the second semester of the fourth (final) year for various School of Engineering and EEE programmes, and it is related to other space modules such as EEE3040 (Space System Design) and EEEM057 (Space Environment and Protection).
Programmes this module appears in
| Programme | Semester | Classification | Qualifying conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Mechanical Engineering MSc | 2 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Aerospace Engineering MEng | 2 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2026/7 academic year.