Aerospace Satellite Engineering

Aerospace satellite engineering is a highly specialised field that combines the principles of aerospace engineering with the specific demands of designing, building, and operating satellites and the ground systems that support them. Satellites underpin a remarkable range of modern services, from global navigation and weather forecasting to telecommunications, Earth observation, and scientific research. The engineering challenges involved in making systems that must function reliably in the harsh environment of space, with no possibility of maintenance, while managing extreme mass and power constraints, are among the most demanding in the engineering profession.

At the University of Northumbria at Newcastle, this extended degree programme gives you an additional year of structured study compared to the standard three-year format, providing extra time to develop the breadth of knowledge and practical skills that aerospace satellite engineering requires. You will study the core engineering principles of aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, and control systems alongside the specific technologies of satellite design, including orbital mechanics, communication systems, power generation, and payload integration. The programme includes a sandwich year in industry, a year abroad, and work placement opportunities, all of which develop your professional experience and your understanding of how this specialised engineering field is practised globally.

Northumbria's connections to the space and aerospace sector in the North East and to international partners support this professional dimension.

Graduates find employment in the space industry, which is growing rapidly in the UK and internationally. Roles in satellite design and manufacturing companies, launch service providers, ground station operations, and the agencies and organisations that use satellite data are all potential destinations. Defence, telecommunications, Earth observation, and scientific research organisations all operate satellite systems and require engineering talent to develop and maintain them.

The UK Space Agency and organisations such as the European Space Agency provide public sector career paths. Some graduates continue to postgraduate study in aerospace or astronautical engineering, or move into research roles within the university sector or industrial research departments.