Digitalisation in Space Research

This introductory module provides insights into digitalisation processes from a manufacturing perspective. Dr. Peter Weckesser discusses approaches taken with new digital workflows in the space industry and introduces key concepts that will be explored throughout the course. The module also addresses the impact of digitalisation on daily life and the potential risks associated with digitalisation in aerospace research.

This module explores how the digital revolution impacts multiple levels of space business and technology. It examines how the emergence of "New Space" is connected to digitalisation, which serves as a game-changer challenging traditional paradigms in spacecraft mission and system design. The module illustrates innovative effects of digitalisation in areas such as earth observation, downstream services, and mission design, while also examining challenges including cyber threats and the increasing strategic and commercial value of the space sector.

This module focuses on how Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) can revolutionize air navigation efficiency and flexibility. It examines the civil aviation market and its navigation context, identifying limitations of conventional navigation means for increasing capacity and performance. The module introduces performance-based navigation (PBN) concepts, GNSS basic positioning principles, and challenges with satellite failures and anomalies. Advanced topics include solution separation statistics with multiple GNSS constellations (ARAIM), limitations of current technology, planning by civil aviation authorities, and the European Galileo GNSS project.

This module examines recent advances in Earth Observation (EO) and explores major trends in the collection, storage, distribution, and analysis of remote sensing data. It introduces complementary data sources including satellites, high-altitude platforms (HAPSs), planes, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The European Copernicus System is presented as the world's largest free and open monitoring system for environmental and security purposes. The module covers cloud-based access, archiving and processing technologies (DaaS, SaaS, PaaS), and the application of Artificial Intelligence for Earth Observation (AI4EO) as a new era in data analysis capable of handling extremely large and diverse data types.