Space Systems Operations (International)
Program Officer
CDR Michael Moran
Spanagel Hall, Room 102B
(831) 656-2817, DSN 756-2817
michael.g.moran@nps.edu
Academic Associate
Steve Tackett, Lecturer
Spanagel Hall, Room 230
(831) 656-2944, DSN 756-2944
shtacket@nps.edu
Brief Overview
The Space Systems Operations (International) program is designed to provide international officers with knowledge of military opportunities and applications in space. It is also available to US citizens who may not have a security clearance. Students are provided instruction about the operation, tasking, and employment of space surveillance, communications, navigation, and atmospheric/oceanographic/environmental sensing systems as well as payload design and integration — specifically for the exploitation of Space and Information products. For a complete description, see the Space Systems Operations section of the catalog.
Requirements for Entry
This program is open to International Officers and US personnel. Admission requires a baccalaureate degree with above-average grades, completion of mathematics through differential equations and integral calculus, plus at least one course in calculus-based physics. An APC of 223 is required for direct entry. Students lacking this background may matriculate through the one-quarter Engineering Science program (Curriculum 460).
Convenes
Fall
Program Length
18 Months
Typical Course of Study - Space Systems Operations (International)
Quarter 1
IT1600 | Communication Skills for International Officers | | 3 | 0 |
IT1500 | Informational Program Seminar for International Officers | | 4 | 0 |
SS3011 | Space Technology and Applications | | 3 | 0 |
SS4000 | Space Systems Seminars | | 0 | 1 |
SS1100 | Intro to Programming for Space Applications | | 2 | 2 |
Quarter 2
SS3400 | Orbital Mechanics, Launch and Space Operations | | 4 | 2 |
SS3610 | Space Communications Systems: Fundamentals and Analysis | | 4 | 2 |
NS4677 | Space and International Security | | 4 | 0 |
PH3052 | Physics of Space and Airborne Sensor Systems | | 4 | 0 |
SS4000 | Space Systems Seminars | | 0 | 1 |
Quarter 3
SS1810 | Thesis Proposal Preparation | | 1 | 0 |
SS3041 | Space Systems and Operations I | | 4 | 2 |
IT1700 | Academic Writing for International Officers | | 3 | 0 |
SE3100 | Fundamentals of Systems Engineering | | 3 | 2 |
SS3600 | Space Systems Modeling and Simulation | | 2 | 3 |
SS4000 | Space Systems Seminars | | 0 | 1 |
Quarter 4
SS1810 | Thesis Proposal Preparation | | 1 | 0 |
PH2514 | Introduction to the Space Environment | | 4 | 0 |
SS0810 | Space Systems Thesis Research | | 0 | 8 |
SS4000 | Space Systems Seminars | | 0 | 1 |
AE4830 | Spacecraft Systems I | | 3 | 2 |
Quarter 5
AE4831 | Spacecraft Systems II | | 3 | 2 |
SS0810 | Space Systems Thesis Research | | 0 | 8 |
MN3301 | Acquisition of Defense Systems | | 4 | 0 |
SS4000 | Space Systems Seminars | | 0 | 1 |
Quarter 6
SS0810 | Space Systems Thesis Research | | 0 | 8 |
IS3502 | Network Operations I | | 4 | 2 |
SS4000 | Space Systems Seminars | | 0 | 1 |
ELECT | Elective (4000 level) | | | |
ELECT | Elective (4000 level) | | | |