Spacecraft Operations Course
Learn from the Experts
The Spacecraft Operations Course presents an integrated approach to spacecraft operations and an insight into the various satellite subsystems operations and their interdependencies. The course is of great value to a broad range of companies and organizations involved in the area of spaceflight, including manufacturers, users, insurers and operators.
GSOC aims to share space expertise with people from all areas of the space industry, public agencies and others who would like to enhance their knowledge about spacecraft operations and ground segment design. GSOC has been cooperating with partners like ESA and CNES who contribute lectures to the course.
Courses in 2025
- May 5-9, 2025 (waiting list only)
- Nov, 17 - 21, 2025 (waiting list only)
Course Content
Satellite Mission Operations
Preparation and Execution | Flight Procedures | Operational Aspects | Subsystems | Attitude and Orbit Control | Propulsion | Power and Thermal | Mission Planning
Flight Dynamics
Orbital Dynamics | Attitude Dynamics
Ground Segment
Ground Data System | Ground Station Design and Operations
Special Topics
On-Orbit Servicing | Repeater Operations | Human Spaceflight Mission Operations | Interplanetary Operations |Cubesat Operations
Site Tours
GSOC Control and System Rooms | Weilheim Ground Station
On-Console Trainings
Voice Communications | Flight Procedure Generation | Flight Dynamics | Mission Planning | LEOP Control Room Simulation
Detailed Information
The course is held twice a year - spring and mid October - established since 2000.
Fee in 2025: 2700 Euro including
- Lectures and on-console trainings
- Welcome cocktail on Monday
- Social event (dinner) on Thursday
- Course documentation (hardcover book)
- Bus transfer to Weilheim and back
- as well as lunch and coffee breaks
Duration: Whole day course Monday - Friday
- Lectures between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
- Loosened up by on-console trainings,
- as well as lunch and coffee breaks
Locations:
- GSOC Oberpfaffenhofen, lecture hall and control rooms, Münchner Str. 20, 82234 Wessling
- Ground Station Weilheim, Reichenbergstraße 8, 82407 Weilheim
Registration: via contact form on the bottom of this page.
- Selection on a ‚first come - first served‘ basis
- Maximum number of attendees: 18
Location and accommodation
The Oberpfaffenhofen site of DLR is located approx. 25 km west of Munich, Germany. Please check the map for more details. Accommodation is available in the area around Oberpfaffenhofen or in downtown Munich. Attendees should make their own arrangements. If you need more information please contact us.
The second edition of the technical book "Spacecraft Operations " has just been published (July 2022). It was primarily written by experts from the German Space Operations Center (GSOC). In addition, there are contributions from the European Space Operations Center (ESOC), the University of Southampton, and the industry. The publication has been updated to reflect the current highly dynamic space exploration landscape. It also includes four new chapters that give more detailed attention particularly to the areas of flight procedures, ground station operations, software and systems, and the "human factor" in spaceflight.
- Bound Edition: 595 pages
- Publisher: Springer; 2nd Edition 2022
- Language: Englisch
- Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-88592-2
- eBook ISBN:978-3-030-88593-9