Syllabus for Space Technologies and Human Astronautics

Course syllabus

Course-PM
TRA495 Space Technologies and Human Astronautics
Study periods 1–2, 2025, 7.5 hp

This course is offered by the Tracks Initiative, in collaboration with teachers from the Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences, SEE (Space, Earth and Environment), external instructors from analogue astronaut organizations, and invited professionals with expertise in human spaceflight, space systems engineering, life support systems, and analogue mission operations.

Contact details

Course coordinator: Patxi D. R. Acero, patxi@chalmers.se

Examiner: Tomas Gönstedt, tomas.gronstedt@chalmers.se

Lecturers: Patxi D. R. Acero, patxi@chalmers.se

Rüdiger Haas, rudiger.haas@chalmers.se

Nikolaos Divinis,

Vladimir Pletzer

Guest Lecturers: They will be introduced during the course in Canvas

External and Guest lecturers contact details will be presented during their presentation.

Course purpose
This course explores the key systems, environments, and methodologies behind human space missions. It focuses on human centered design for long-duration spaceflight, including life support, space habitats, mission planning, space flights, and the psychological challenges of space exploration.

The course also introduces students to analogue missions, which are simulated space missions on Earth, as a tool for space research and training. Students will work on practical tasks, participate in design challenges, and analyze real-world examples of analogue and orbital missions.

The course promotes collaboration between students from different programs, with a focus on integrating engineering, design, and space experimentation with human factors to build resilient and functional space environments. By the end of the course, students will be able to critically analyze and contribute to the planning and support of human space exploration.

Course schedule
The course runs from week 36 to week 51. The final wrap-up lecture and Q&A will take place in week 50. The final project or report must be submitted no later than week 02 2026.

Note 1: Certain guest lectures and events may occur outside regular class hours. These will be announced in advance.
Note 2: Adjustments to the schedule may occur depending on course progress or external circumstances.

Course schedule document: See TimeEdit

TUESDAY 15:00 - 17:30

WEDNESDAY 13:00 - 15:30

THURSDAY 15:00 - 17:30

Course literature
There is no mandatory textbook. Reading materials, articles, and recommended resources will be provided throughout the course via Canvas.

Course design
The course consists of 6-8 hours per week spread between two (sometimes three) weekly sessions of 2.5 to 3 hours. Exact times and dates will be confirmed in the first week of the course.

Lectures will cover topics such as:

History of human space technologies and space exploration
Introduction to the basics of aerodynamics and aerothermodynamics
Introduction to the basics of orbital mechanics
Satellite technology and planetary observation
Space environment, engineering and human challenges
Introduction spacecraft systems and life support systems.
Astronauts and analogue astronauts, why do we need them?
Space habitat design and space architecture
Psychological and physiological aspects of long-term missions
Analogue mission planning, experiments and logistics
Space law, ethics, and planetary protection
Future trends in exploration (lunar bases, Mars missions, commercial spaceflight)

In addition to theoretical sessions, the course includes:

Guest lectures from analogue astronauts and space professionals
Field visit to Onsala Chalmers Observatory and CPH Planetarium
Interactive workshops and team-based assignments

Lectures
Lecture attendance is not mandatory, but strongly recommended. Certain practical sessions and group workshops will be mandatory, and their attendance will be required for passing the course. Sessions marked with (L) indicate lectures.

Workshops
Workshops marked as (W) will involve practical exercises, simulations, group design tasks, or role-play scenarios (sessions marked with LW will include both lecture and workshop content). These are designed to reinforce the theoretical knowledge and prepare students for the mandatory assignments. Some workshops are mandatory, particularly those that serve as milestones for assessment.

Workshop exercises
Exercises are intended to build familiarity with analogue space tools and methods such as mission timelines, crew coordination, emergency protocols, and habitat system planning. Participation in these workshops is highly recommended to gain the skills required for the mandatory assignments.

Projects and assignments
There will be two mandatory reports: one related to workshop assignments and one focused on the analysis of an analogue mission scenario. Each group will present their findings in a 15 minute presentation. Media slides are the minimum required, though additional materials are welcome.

Groups will be assigned by the course coordinator and will change between assignments to encourage collaboration among students from different disciplines.

Students must show sufficient participation in workshops to be allowed to complete the hands-on assignments independently. Students not reaching this threshold will be provided with an alternative pathway to fulfill the learning outcomes.

The final assignment does not include workshop activity but requires analysis and reporting on one of the external activities or missions discussed in the course.

Attendance and participation
Active participation will be considered in the final grading. This includes attendance, engagement, contribution during class, group collaboration, feedback exchange, and initiative shown throughout the course. A student may miss up to 20 percent of the lectures without penalty.

Examination
There will be no final written examination. The course grade will be based on the following components:

Progress tests along the course
Mandatory assignments and presentations
Workshop exercises and practical work
Attendance and active participation

Progress Tests:

The course includes four mandatory progress tests, which together account for 50% of the final grade. These tests are designed to monitor student learning progressively, ensuring that knowledge is developed step by step rather than being evaluated only at the end of the course.

Each progress test will be in place after one or two main topics have been completed. This structure allows students to concentrate on demonstrating their proficiency of smaller, well defined portions of the syllabus, providing a clearer picture of their understanding at different stages of the course.

The format of the tests will be primarily multiple-choice questions. However, students may also be required to provide a brief explanation for their chosen answer or perform a short calculation to justify their response.

By distributing the assessment across four tests, the evaluation process becomes more balanced and reduces the pressure typically associated with a single final exam. At the same time, it promotes consistent study habits and allows for regular feedback on areas that may need further attention.

The progress tests therefore serve several purposes:

To provide a continuous measure of student understanding.
To encourage consistent preparation and engagement with the material.
To support the development of reasoning and problem-solving skills.
To ensure that students remain on track throughout the course.

As the progress tests are mandatory, absence without valid justification will directly affect the final grade.

Grades:

Final grades will follow the standard scale: Fail, Three, Four, Five.

Assignments are graded numerically over 10 points

Workshop exercises are graded Pass (5) or No pass (0).

Progress test are graded over 100 points.

Course Evaluation

The final grade $G$ is calculated as:

$G_{\text{base}} = 0.40\,\overline{T} \;+\; 0.30\,PR \;+\; 0.10\,P \;+\; 0.20\,E$ $LaTeX: 𝐺=𝑚𝑖𝑛(100,𝐺_{𝑏ase}+𝐵_{𝐴})$

$LaTeX: 𝐺_{𝑏ase}=0.50𝑇_{𝑎vg}+0.30𝑃𝑅+0.10𝑃+0.10𝐺𝑃$

Where:
G = Final grade
$G_{ba se}$
T_avg = Average of the 4 best progress tests, each with a minimum of 40% (50% to pass)E = Workshop exercises
PR = Project presentation + final written report
P = Active participation
GP=General performance throughout the course
B_A= Attendance bonus (0–10 points). Attendance is not mandatory but can increase the final grade up to 10 points.

1) Progress Tests (50%)

$T_1, T_2, T_3, T_4$ : five progress tests (0–100).
Only four tests are mandatory, and the best three scores are used.
A test can only count if the grade is at least 40% of the maximum points.
To pass the progress tests requirement, the average of the best three tests $\overline{T}$ must be ≥ 50%.

$\overline{T} = \frac{T_{(1)} + T_{(2)} + T_{(3)}}{3}, \quad T_{(i)} \geq 40$

(where $T_{(1)} \geq T_{(2)} \geq T_{(3)}≥T(3)≥T(3)$ are the four best valid scores).

Eligibility for Simulation: Students with $\overline{T} \geq 50\%$ qualify for the Simulation. Students below this threshold will be assigned to Mission Control.

2) Project Presentation and Final Report (30%)

$P R \in [0, 100]$

Evaluation of the final project presentation and the written report.

3) Active Participation (10%)

$P \in [0, 100]$

Assessment of student engagement and contributions during lectures, workshops, and discussions.

4) General Performance during the course (10%)

$GP = 0.10 P e$

$GP: General Performance during the course (0–100).$

5) Attendance Bonus (up to +10%)

$B_A \in [0,10]$

Attendance is not mandatory, but regular attendance can provide a bonus of up to 10 points added after calculating $G_{\text{base}}$ . The final grade is capped at 100. Students can achieve the maximum grade without this bonus.

Passing Conditions

A student passes the course if $G \geq 50$ .
To qualify for the Simulation, the student must achieve $\overline{T} \geq 50$ . Otherwise, the student will participate in Mission Control.

Reassessment: Students failing assessments may, at the examiner’s discretion, be asked to resubmit them with corrections.