Faculty for Masdar Institute’s new advanced space technology and systems Master’s concentration received guidance and coaching from experts from the international aerospace firm Orbital ATK ahead of start of classes in September.
Carlos Niederhauser, Master Systems Engineer, and Shahriar Setoodeh, Scientist of Mechanical Analysis, at aerospace leader Orbital ATK, joined other staff members/engineers to lead faculty enrichment seminars at Masdar Institute covering key areas of the new space concentration. Niederhauser and Setoodeh led the on-site lectures at Masdar Institute Auditorium, while others at Class Room 4 were linked through a video tele-conference from Orbital ATK headquarters in Dulles, Virginia, US.
Held over the week from 23 August, the seminar topics included Understanding Space, Orbital Mechanics, Mission Design & Operations, Propulsion Fundamentals, The Natural Space Environment, Thermal Effects, Radio Communications, Launch Vehicle Design, Orbital Debris, Spacecraft Systems Engineering, Attitude Control Systems, Radiation Effects & Mitigation, Command & Data Handling, Power Systems, Mechanical Analysis and Design, Propulsion Technologies, Flight Software, Spacecraft Thermal Control, ‘Integration, Test, and Launch Operations’, Communication Systems, and Introduction to CubeSats.
A provider of space-related systems, Orbital ATK develops new commercially-driven products and services to make space accessible to millions of people on Earth. The company has joined with Yahsat of the UAE and Masdar Institute as a collaboration partner to launch the space concentration, which will be available to a selected group of Master’s students from the Fall term.
The new concentration relates to seven of Masdar Institute’s existing academic programs: MSc in Mechanical Engineering; MSc in Materials Science and Engineering; MSc in Computing and Information Sciences; MSc in Electrical Engineering; MSc in Engineering Systems and Management; MSc in Microsystems Engineering; and MSc in Water and Environmental Engineering.
“The objective of this concentration is to foster the advanced research areas in space science and technology for the development of the UAE National space program and provide the space industry with human resources and infrastructure,” said Dr Youssef Shatilla, Dean of Academic Programs. “The seminar series will surely help enhance our faculty’s preparedness to teach this important and evolving area of science and engineering.”
Space is one of the seven sectors targeted in the UAE National Innovation Strategy and the country has a goal sending an unmanned probe to Mars by 2021. The UAE is one of only nine countries in the world with a space program to explore the Mars, the success of which will make the UAE the first Arab nation to reach the Red Planet.
Clarence Michael
News Writer
23 August 2015
