Education
Educational activities include undergraduate and graduate courses and hands-on involvement of students in real space missions:
Nanosatellites
S3L developed the first Belgian nanosatellite, OUFTI-1, launched by the Soyuz rocket from Kourou on April 25, 2016. It is currently developing the OUFTI-NEXT nanosatellite, the mission of which is related to smart irrigation strategies of agricultural fields.
OUFTI-1 nanosatellite
The key objective of the project was to offer a unique hands-on experience to students through the design, implementation and operation of a real satellite. The project started in 2007 and culminated with the launch of OUFTI-1 in April 2016. The payload was a D-STAR repeater and high-efficiency solar cells. The communication with the nanosatellite was established only two hours after the launch; a Russian radio-amateur was the first to receive and decode OUFTI-1 signal. The satellite functioned during 12 days with nominal telemetry, then the contact was lost. One possible cause for the failure of OUFTI-1 is a solar flare that could have damaged the electronics.
Facts and figures:
- First Belgian nanosatellite.
- 1kg (mass), 1l (volume), 1W (power).
- 50 Master theses between 2008 and 2014 at ULiège and other engineering schools (ISIL and Gramme).
- Participating students were hired at NASA, ESA, Thales Alenia Space, QinetiQ, Spacebel, Centre Spatial de Liege.
- Launch vehicle: Soyuz from Kourou, French Guyana.
- Orbit: 683 x 437km, i=98 degrees.
- The satellite was heard throughout the globe (Australia, South Africa, South America, USA, Europe).
- Principal investigators: V. Broun, G. Kerschen, J. Verly.
- Project managers: A. Denis, X. Werner.
- Funding: ESA Fly Your Satellite, Belgian Science Policy.
- Industrial partners: Centre Spatial de Liege, Spacebel, Thales Alenia Space, Deltatec, V2i.
- Several awards: Walloon Medal for Merit (Chevalier du Mérite Wallon), "Liégeois de l'Année", awards for best Master theses.
OUFTI-1 (flight model and exploded view):
Tests of OUFTI-1 (telecommunication tests and thermal vacuum tests at ESA)
Integration of OUFTI-1 in the deployment system (at ESA, Noordwijk)
Right before launch in Kourou 
Launch of OUFTI-1 !
After launch: students receiving the first signal in ULiege's ground station and map showing the locations where OUFTI-1 was heard
Course 1
Satellite engineering
This course is an introduction to spacecraft systems engineering. It presents the fundamental subsystems of a satellite, including propulsion, electrical power, structure, thermal control, attitude control and telecommunications, and analyzes the engineering trades necessary to integrate subsystems successfully into the satellite. Instructors from both academia and industry (e.g., European Space Agency, Thales Alenia Space, Spacebel, and Liege Space Center) deliver lectures in this course.
Optional textbook: P. Fortescue, J. Stark, G. Swinerd, Spacecraft Systems Engineering, 3rd edition, 2003. The book is on reserve at the Bibliothèque des Sciences et Techniques.
Exam: The final grade will be based upon written examination in January. The examination requires both a thorough knowledge and fundamental understanding of the material presented during the lectures. The exam will be closed book. The questionnaire will comprise 30 to 40 questions (including definitions, orders of magnitude, small exercises, equations/figures/tables to recognize and interpret). The exam in August will also be based upon written examination.
Lectures:
2024-2025
SEPTEMBER 18 , B7a A2
Introduction, G. Kerschen (ULiege)
Satellite orbits, G. Kerschen (ULiege)
SEPTEMBER 25, B7a A2
Space environment, D. Grodent (ULiege)
OCTOBER 2: NO LECTURE TO ALLOW YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SWITCH TO SPACE EVENT: https://www.switchtospace.org/
OCTOBER 9, B7a A2
Astronomical space observatories, O. Absil (ULiege)
OCTOBER 16, B7a A2
Earth observation, F. Jonard (ULiege)
OCTOBER 23, B7a A2
Thermal control, Lionel Jacques (CSL)
NOVEMBER 6, B7a A2
Telecommunications, M. Vandroogenbroeck (ULiege)
NOVEMBER 13, B7a A2
Attitude control, L. Kazemi (Arcsec)
NOVEMBER 20, B7a A2
Spacecraft vibration G. Abeloos (Aerospacelab)
NOVEMBER 27, B7a A2
Electrical power systems, exercice, P. Igot (Thales Alenia Space)
DECEMBER 4, B7a A2
Propulsion, K. Hillewaert (ULiege)
ESA academy, M. Alves (ESA)
DECEMBER 11, B7a A2
On board software, P. Parisis (Spacebel)
On-board computer
Nanosatellites, A. Denis (VKI)
DECEMBER 18, B7a A2
Spacecraft systems engineering, J. Tallineau (Veoware)
Course 2
Astrodynamics
Optional textbooks:
J.E. Prussing, B.A. Conway, Orbital Mechanics, Oxford University Press, 2003.
R.H. Battin, An Introduction to the Mathematics and Methods of Astrodynamics, AIAA Education Series, 1999.
These textbooks are not considered as course material, but they can help you acquire a better understanding of the concepts discussed during the lectures. They are on reserve in my office.
Exam: The final grade will be based upon the course project (30%) and the oral examination (70%):
1. The objective of the project is the development of an orbital propagator in the Matlab environment. This propagator should provide a realistic approximation of spacecraft trajectories around the Earth. Eventually, the predictions of your propagator should be compared against the real trajectory of a satellite in low Earth orbit. The project will be carried out by groups of two students. Grading will be based on the results you will obtain and on your personal interpretation of these results.
2. The oral examination requires both a thorough knowledge and fundamental understanding of the material presented during the lectures. The exam will be closed book. The questionnaire will comprise approx. 10-15 questions.
Lectures:
SEPTEMBER 17: NO LECTURE
SEPTEMBER 24, B37 -1/33, 9.00am
Introduction
The two-body problem
OCTOBER 1, B37 -1/33, 9.00am
The orbit in time and space
OCTOBER 8, B37 -1/33, 10.00am
The three-body problem
OCTOBER 15, B37 -1/33, 9.00am
Dominant perturbations
OCTOBER 22, B37 -1/33, 9.00am
Numerical and analytical propagation
OCTOBER 29: NO LECTURE
NOVEMBER 5, B37 -1/33, 9.00am
Orbital maneuvers I
Orbital maneuvers II
NOVEMBER 12, B37 -1/33, 10.00am
Asteroids
DECEMBER 3, B37 -1/33, 9.00am
Interplanetary transfers
DECEMBER 17, B37 -1/33, 8.30am
Project defense
10-minute presentation for each group.
Course 3
Nonlinear vibrations of aerospace structures
With continual interest in expanding the performance envelope of engineering systems, structural nonlinearities, which include friction, contact, nonlinear materials and large-displacement-related effects, are increasingly encountered in real-world applications. For instance, the vibration tests of two Airbus aircraft, namely the A400M and the A350XWB, revealed nonlinearities in engine mounts, hydraulic actuators, landing gears and in the auxiliary power unit.
This course covers the various aspects of the vibration engineering practice from the analysis of measured data to the simulation using a finite element model. Theoretical, numerical and experimental approaches are described to learn how to recognize, model and understand nonlinear behavior. Hands-on practice with the Nonlinear Identification to Design (NI2D) software serve to illustrate the new methods, concepts and tools. Two real aerospace applications, namely a F-16 aircraft and an Airbus Defence and Space satellite, are also studied thoroughly.
Exam: The final grade will be based upon a course project (100%). The objective of this project is to have you acquainted with state-of-the-art techniques in the area of nonlinear vibrations. To progress in this direction, you will study a nonlinear mechanical system possessing a few degrees of freedom, the nonlinearities of which will be unknown to you. You will carry out the complete process from measurements to design, i.e., the identification of the nonlinearities based on measured data, the upgrading of the linear model with the identified nonlinearities, the calculation of nonlinear modes and frequency responses and the optimization of the system's design. The different methods will have to be implemented in Matlab. If you do not successfully complete the project, you will have oral examination in August/September. The oral exam will be closed book. The questionnaire will comprise approx. 10-15 questions.
Lectures:
SEPTEMBER 16: NO LECTURE
SEPTEMBER 23 (GK), 13.45
Introduction to nonlinearities and to the NI2D software, free response
SEPTEMBER 30 (GK), 13.45
Forced response
OCTOBER 7 (GK), 13.45
Nonlinear modes I
OCTOBER 14 (GK), 13.45
Nonlinear modes II
OCTOBER 21 (GR), 13.45
Mathematical modeling, numerical computation and periodic solutions: lecture, tutorial and data
NOVEMBER 4 (GR), 13.45
Introduction to system identification and nonlinearity detection: lecture
NOVEMBER 18 (GR), 13.45
Nonlinear characterization: lecture, tutorial and data
NOVEMBER 25 (GR), 13.45
Nonlinear parameter estimation: lecture, tutorial and data
DECEMBER 2 (GR), 13.45
Bifurcations: lecture and tutorial
DECEMBER 9
No lecture
DECEMBER 16, 13.45
Project defense