• Welcome to TSTI's online learning center!

    Here students who have taken one of TSTI's popular on-site courses will be able to provide feedback, receive their course certificate and have access to the course handout and resources. 

    If you're just browsing, check out our course descriptions, take the TSTI-Q challenge below, or visit our website for more information.

    TSTI is a proud academic partner with Stevens Institute of Technology. Many of our courses are available through Stevens for graduate credit as part of a graduate certificate in Space Systems Engineering or a Masters Degree.

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Available courses

This course examines the real-world application of the entire space systems engineering discipline. Taking a process-oriented approach, the course starts with basic mission objectives and examines the principles and practical methods for mission design and operations in depth. Interactive discussions focus on initial requirements definition, operations concept development, architecture trade-offs, payload design, bus sizing, subsystem definition, system manufacturing, verification and operations. Most of the material presented in the course comes from Space Mission Analysis and Design. This is a hands-on course with a focus on applications. Design exercises are conducted to give first-hand experience with the techniques presented. With over 1000 alumni, this course is designed for systems engineers and project managers who are responsible for the detailed design and operation of space systems.

This course explores the challenge of designing and implementing space mission operations in a practical, cost-effective way in the real-world. Taking a functional approach, the course provides an in-depth view of the entirety of space mission operations, including the concept of operations and all functions that are performed in support of a space mission. Interactive discussions focus on initial requirements definition, operations concept development, functional allocation among spacecraft, payload, ground system and operators.  Students get extensive experience with a variety of mission operations modeling tools to understand physical constraints and appreciate the impact of programmatic trade-offs. Case studies of ongoing NASA, and commercial missions are examined.

Based on the award-winning text Understanding Space: An Introduction to Astronautics, this is the same course presented to over 20,000 space professionals from NASA, NRO, ESA, US Air Force, and major companies in the space industry. Previously this course was only available to aerospace organizations and their personnel onsite. Now it is available to all space professionals and the general public through this unique online course! This course is designed to make you “space smart,” by building your understanding and appreciation for the complex requirements of space missions.  All topics are reinforced with hands-on exercises using Systems Tool Kit® (STK)!

Based on the award-winning text Understanding Space: An Introduction to Astronautics, this is the same course presented to over 20,000 space professionals from NASA, NRO, ESA, US Air Force, and major companies in the space industry. Previously this course was only available to aerospace organizations and their personnel onsite. Now it is available to all space professionals and the general public through this unique online course! This course is designed to make you “space smart,” by building your understanding and appreciation for the complex requirements of space missions.

This course provides the conceptual framework for developing human space missions starting from a blank sheet of paper.  It describes and teaches the manned space mission design and analysis process.  The entire course is process oriented to equip each participant with the practical tools to complete a conceptual design and analyze the impacts of evolving requirements.  This course is designed for program managers, engineers and scientists who need to understand the complete process involved in designing human space missions.

Applied Model-Based Systems Engineering

This course discusses fundamentals of systems engineering. Initial focus is on need identification and problems definition. Thereafter, synthesis, analysis, and evaluation activities during conceptual and preliminary system design phases are discussed and articulated through examples and case studies. Emphasis is placed on enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of deployed systems while concurrently reducing their operation and support costs. Accordingly, course participants are introduced to methods that influence system design and architecture from a long-term operation and support perspective.

This course discusses fundamentals of systems engineering. Initial focus is on need identification and problems definition. Thereafter, synthesis, analysis, and evaluation activities during conceptual and preliminary system design phases are discussed and articulated through examples and case studies. Emphasis is placed on enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of deployed systems while concurrently reducing their operation and support costs. Accordingly, course participants are introduced to methods that influence system design and architecture from a long-term operation and support perspective.

This course examines the real-world application of the entire space systems engineering discipline. Taking a process-oriented approach, the course starts with basic mission objectives and examines the principles and practical methods for mission design and operations in depth. Interactive discussions focus on initial requirements definition, operations concept development, architecture trade-offs, payload design, bus sizing, subsystem definition, system manufacturing, verification and operations. Most of the material presented in the course comes from Space Mission Analysis and Design (provided to participants) and Cost-Effective Space Mission Operations. This is a hands-on course with a focus on applications. Design exercises are conducted to give first-hand experience with the techniques presented. With over 1000 alumni, this course is designed for systems engineers and project managers who are responsible for the detailed design and operation of space systems.

This course examines the real-world application of the entire space systems engineering discipline. Taking a process-oriented approach, the course starts with basic mission objectives and examines the principles and practical methods for mission design and operations in depth. Interactive discussions focus on initial requirements definition, operations concept development, architecture trade-offs, payload design, bus sizing, subsystem definition, system manufacturing, verification and operations. Most of the material presented in the course comes from Space Mission Analysis and Design (provided to participants) and Cost-Effective Space Mission Operations. This is a hands-on course with a focus on applications. Design exercises are conducted to give first-hand experience with the techniques presented. With over 1000 alumni, this course is designed for systems engineers and project managers who are responsible for the detailed design and operation of space systems.

This 3 to 5 day course (tailorable) provides the conceptual framework for developing space missions of manned spacecraft starting from a blank sheet of paper. It describes and teaches the manned space mission design and analysis process. The entire course is process oriented to equip each participant with practical tools to complete a conceptual design and analyze the impacts of evolving requirements.

The goal of this course is to meet the following learning objectives: Define mission needs, goals, objectives and ConOps for a CubeSat mission to satisfy a Pre-Phase A requirements.  Develop and organize detailed mission and system requirements as required by a Phase A System Requirements Review (SRR). Describe the tools and techniques needed to develop the complete preliminary design for a CubeSat and conduct a Phase B preliminary design review (PDR). Evaluate the typical products produced for a critical design review (CDR) at the end of Phase D including system specifications and test plans. Implement a typical assembly, integration and test plan for a representative CubeSat system to apply the flow down from requirements to verification activities. Conduct simulated operations using a representative CubeSat system to develop and apply operational planning and procedures implementation.

In this hands-on course students are given the opportunity to design a complete space mission starting from a blank sheet of paper. Using Satellite Took Kit (STK) and Space Mission Analysis and Design (SMAD) Worksheet, students are able to start from first principles to follow the systems engineering process from scope, to requirements to mission design. Making and evaluating complex trade-offs, the course culminates in a Mission Concept Review.

This workshop provides an integrated view of space launch and transportation systems (SLaTS) design and operations, from customer needs, objectives and requirements, through launch and transportation system design, development, test and manufacturing to creating operations concepts and infrastructure capabilities.  In the workshop you will take a fresh look at space launch and transportation systems by emphasizing a process-oriented approach for creating cost-effective concepts to meet customer needs and objectives. The process describes how to translate SLaTS objectives, requirements, and constraints into viable and cost-effective operations concepts. Discussions on vehicle design present practical, detailed approaches and tools to analyze and design manned and unmanned, reusable and expendable vehicles for Earth and other planets, including architecture and configuration, payloads, and vehicle subsystems.

This course explores the challenge of designing and implementing space mission operations in a practical, cost-effective way in the real-world. Taking a functional approach, the course provides an in-depth view of the entirety of space mission operations, including the concept of operations and all functions that are performed in support of a space mission. The course focuses on initial requirements definition, operations concept development, functional allocation among spacecraft, payload, ground system and operators. You will gain hands-on experience with a variety of mission operations modeling tools to understand physical constraints and appreciate the impact of programmatic trade-offs. Case studies of ongoing civil and commercial missions will be examined. 

This three-day course provides an integrated view of space science mission design and operations from conceptual design and requirements definition, through spacecraft design, development, and test, to development of mission operations concepts and ground infrastructure capabilities.

This exciting hands-on course provides participants with the processes, information, and tools necessary to implement (or evaluate) a credible verification and validation program. Emphasis is on practice over theory using the EyasSAT™ educational satellite system. Participants are introduced to the hardware and software associated with a system of interest, along with an end-to-end set of requirements, constraints, plans and procedures.

This course is a companion to the popular Understanding Space On-site course. If you take the on-site course, you automatically qualify to register for this online course.

ASCEND is an Intensive Space Professional Development Program consisting of five consecutive courses designed to help you and your small satellite team ascend the ladder to space.  Modeled after SpaceTech, NASA SEPMAP, Indonesian SSEDP, Angolan Operator Development and other TSTI programs based on years of experience.

Systems Engineering and Project Management Advancement Program (SEPMAP) is an intensive and comprehensive training program during which selected participants will cover a broad range of project management and systems engineering topics during several course as well as apply these principles and practices to an integrated flight project.

The SSEDP applies valuable and proven lectures, materials, tools and techniques from previous offerings as appropriate for the new scope of the program. To improve learning and better engage participants, a competitive, hands-on, project is included to provide participants with the opportunity to apply their learning and obtain real-world experience.
The goal for participants is to complete an end-to-end lifecycle project and complete a “drive-off” at the end that represents the operational phase of the project. The project, requiring hardware and software development, will be introduced in the beginning of the SSEDP in order to challenge participants, facilitate discussions and motivate the lectures and workshop activities.
The project requires teams’ vehicle(s) to navigate a precise route on an identified (safe and unpopulated) area of sponsor's campus and, possibly, dispense RFID sensors along the route. The nature of the route, time constraints, obstacles and other requirements will drive the solution to some sort of small remote-controlled or autonomous surface rover.

This project will provide hands-on experience for teams and team members, and provide context for the proposed just-in-time learning modules. We recommend regularly scheduled monthly lectures and workshops as shown below. In addition, the table provides estimated duration, proposed timeframe, comments, and identifies topics that may require some development.

This course provides a centralized location for a variety of resources useful for all Astro students

This portal contains all certification tests required to receive TSTI badges.

This course contains content for the Saudi Space Commission Technical Learning Path.  It includes supporting content and evaluations for the following on-site courses:  Designing Space Missions and Systems (DSM), Space System Verification and Validation (SVV), Space Mission Operations (SMO) and Mission Design Exercise.

This course contains content for the Saudi Space Commission Space-In-General Learning Path.  It includes supporting content and evaluations for the following on-site courses:  Understanding Space (US), Applied Space Systems Engineering (ASSE), Business Engineering and Mission Design Exercise.