The MS ASTE Program is designed for those with B.S. degrees in science and engineering who work or wish to work in the space sector of the space/defense/aerospace industry, government research and development centers and laboratories, and academia.

The MS ASTE Program combines science and engineering fundamentals with specialized courses taught by VSOE Astronautics faculty and adjunct faculty and lecturers from leading space companies and government space R&D centers (Boeing, Lockheed-Martin, Northrop-Grumman, Aerospace Corporation, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Raytheon, Microcosm, Space Environment Technologies, and others).

MS ASTE Frequently Asked Questions

MS ASTE course schedule

Astronautical Engineering
Astronautical Engineering encompasses the dynamic and cutting-edge fields of advanced science and space technology. Space is increasingly important for our economy and national security as well as exploration. The United States depends on space assets more than any other nation on earth, and we lead the world in exploration and utilization of space. Space engineers design and build rockets and space launchers, communications and direct TV and radio broadcasting satellites, space navigational systems (such as GPS), remote sensing satellites, scientific and application satellites and their sensors, manned space vehicles, space stations, and planetary probes. They operate complex earth-orbiting space systems and rovers on Mars from sophisticated ground control centers. There is no better academic degree than Astronautical Engineering in which to obtain the education and to acquire the skills needed for space engineers.

USC MS ASTE program is a unique space engineering program in the United States. See MS ASTE rational, history, and focus.

The program is among largest in the country, with more than 260 Master's degrees awarded from 2005-2012 (on average, 38 annually during the last 6 academic years) . The flagship course ASTE520 Spacecraft Design had almost 1100 graduate students enrolled during the last ten years . See MS ASTE Statistics. 

The program meets a challenge to improve space engineering education in the United States. See Space Education Challenge.

In addition to full-time on-campus students, the MS ASTE program reaches - through the VSOE's Distance Education Network (DEN) - students across the United States and at military installations abroad. See MS ASTE Statistics.

USC astronauts - Trojans in space

• Full-time on-campus students – 20-35% of students
• Working full-time and studying part-time students (through VSOE Distance Education Network) – 65-80%
• Active duty military (Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corp)]
• Student background.
  The MS ASTE Program is designed for those with B.S. degrees in science and engineering who work or wish to work in the space sector of the space/defense/aerospace industry, government research and development centers and laboratories, and academia. Therfeore, one does not have to have a BS degree astronautical engineering to be admitted to the program. Our current students have (BS and some MS) degrees in a stronautical engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, computer engineering, other areas (chemical, systems, industrial, etc) of engineering as well as in physics, astronomy, applied physics, mathematic, and other areas of science (including medical doctors); also those planning apply for astronaut training. Some engineers with MS degrees consider MS ASTE as a pathway to positions in system engineering of space systems.

Applying astronautics coursework to analisys of    
North Korean satellite launch in December 2012  

Coursework requirement

Total of 27 units or 9 courses (one course is usually 3 units)

Four (4) required astronautics courses

• Spacecraft Systems Design
• Space Environment and Spacecraft Interactions
• Spacecraft Propulsion
• Orbital Mechanics

Two (2) core elective courses (selected from the list of astronautics core courses)

 Two (2) technical elective courses (selected from courses in astronautical engineering and/or from other science/engineering graduate courses)

The Master of Science Program in Astronautical Engineering never limits choice of technical elective courses to those offered by the home department but rather encourages students to choose engineering and science graduate courses best meeting their educational objectives

One (1) engineering mathematics course

MS Thesis is optional (possible but not required)

Space mission and orbital mechanics videos
list as pdf

Astronautics courses

• Spacecraft System Design
• Space Environment and Spacecraft Interactions
• Orbital Mechanics I, II
• Space Navigation: Principles and Practice
• Space System Navigation
• Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics
• Spacecraft Attitude Control
• Spacecraft Structural Dynamics
• Spacecraft Structural Strength and Materials
• Spacecraft Propulsion
• Liquid Rocket Propulsion
• Advanced Spacecraft Propulsion
• Physical Gas Dynamics I, II
• Design of Low Cost Space Missions
• Space Studio Architecting
• Spacecraft Power Systems
• Spacecraft Thermal Control
• Systems for Remote Sensing from Space
• Spacecraft Sensors
• Fundamentals of Space Mission Safety

Areas of concentration

Presently, Astronautics faculty suggests the following areas of concentration

• spacecraft propulsion
• spacecraft dynamics
• space systems design
• spacecraft design
• space applications

Contacts

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The Astronautical Engineering Department (ASTE) of the Viterbi School of Engineering (VSOE) at the University of Southern California (USC) offers MS ASTE degree as part of a comprehensive set of degrees (BS, BS Minor, MS, Engineer, PhD, and Certificate) in astronautics and space technology.

Program admission, curriculum, faculty - see ASTE's MS ASTE web site.

The true story ... Now it can be told

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Sputnik 1                                              Explorer 1                                    Vanguard 1

Recommended science and engineering books on Astronautics, Spacecraft, and Space Technology
Books, textbooks, monographs, tutorials, college textbooks

Recommended books on history of astronautics, rocketry, spaceflight, and space technology

Space mission and orbital mechanics instructional videos  (list as pdf)
(Global Positioning System GPS constellation; geostationary orbit GEO; orbit circularization by atmospheric drag; Molniya orbit; regression of nodes; prograde, retrograde, and sun-synchronous orbits; rotation of apsides; Molniya communication relay; effect of solar radiation pressure; space and rocket history; and other videos)

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