University of Leicester reaches for the stars, launches space mission course for professionals

The University of Leicester has announced a new professional development course designed to help individuals and organisations transition into the space sector. 

"Fundamentals of Sustainable Space Engineering, Law, and Operations" is for professionals from technical, corporate, and commercial backgrounds who want to develop skills related to space missions.

The course covers the entire lifecycle of a space mission, from initial concept through to operations, with a focus on technical, legal, and regulatory aspects. It responds to the UK space sector's need for skilled workers, highlighted by the 2023 Space Sector Skills Survey, which identified significant challenges in recruiting for senior positions.

Professor Nigel Bannister, Deputy Director of Space Park Leicester and course leader, explained the necessity of the training: 

“The 2023 Space Sector Skills Survey highlighted difficulties recruiting into senior posts in the space industry, with Brexit impacting the availability of skilled staff. This is an enormous challenge for the UK space sector, but it’s also an opportunity. People working areas such as the aerospace, automotive, and oil and gas industries, already have many of the core technical competencies used in the space sector. What they lack is the space context, which presents unique challenges.

 “For example, the environmental conditions that drive design, cost and risk; approaches to designing, building and testing spacecraft to ensure successful deployment and operation; the legal and regulatory requirements that are an essential part of developing and deploying systems in space, and key considerations surrounding commercial opportunities and the development of business cases for space and space-enabled applications.

 “That’s what this course is designed to provide in an engaging and exciting way.”

Course content and delivery

Supported by a £450,000 grant from the UK Space Agency’s Training Programmes Fund, the course offers seven weeks of face-to-face instruction at Space Park Leicester, the university's £100 million science and innovation park. 

Bernice Huntley, Future Workforce Lead at the UK Space Agency, emphasised the agency's role in supporting the course: 

"The UK Space Agency is committed to providing a skilled, diverse, and sustainable workforce for the UK space sector. This course, supported by our Training Programmes Fund, gives professional learners a clear understanding of space missions and the national and international factors driving space activities."“The Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 Report highlights the key skills gaps that the UK space sector faces. With respect to training programmes, time, budget, and a lack of availability of training were all reported as barriers to accessing training to develop the current workforce’s skills.

 “The UK Space Agency made funds available via its Training Programmes Fund to address these barriers. We are therefore delighted that the University of Leicester was awarded a grant to develop its Fundamentals of sustainable Space Engineering, Law and Operations course to provide professional learners with a clear understanding of space missions, the national and international factors which drive activities in space, and a clear working knowledge of the science, engineering and regulation of spaceflight, and space missions.”

Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of space missions, including data applications, technical concepts, and regulatory frameworks. The programme also includes sessions led by Alden Legal, focusing on space law and sustainability, and Meridian Space Command, covering the design and operation of New Space missions.

Joanne Wheeler MBE, Managing Partner at Alden Legal, noted the importance of the course’s industry relevance: 

“Credible, professional training from people who have genuine experience is rare, especially in the space industry. The University of Leicester have pulled together an excellent professional training course covering the entire space mission lifecycle, including regulatory, spectrum, commercial and legal issues.”

Industry and legal expertise

Participants will learn from experts with decades of experience in the space industry, drawing from major missions such as the James Webb Space Telescope, JUICE, and Earth Observation projects. 

This makes the course particularly valuable for professionals looking to understand not only the technical aspects of space missions but also the legal and regulatory frameworks governing space activity.

Sam Richards, Director of Meridian Space Command, added: 

"Meridian Space Command is thrilled to collaborate on this innovative program with the University of Leicester and Alden Legal, equipping participants with the critical mission operational skills and space domain knowledge to excel in this rapidly growing industry. We are delighted to receive the UK Space Agency's support in the funding of this program, testament to the needs throughout the UK and global space sector."