Diploma in Space Debris Mitigation and End of Life
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in space debris mitigation and end of life: 8 modules covering the debris environment, mitigation regulations, design for mitigation, disposal strategies, re-entry risk, collision avoidance and mitigation planning, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Characterise the space debris environment and its evolution.
Interpret international mitigation standards and guidelines.
Apply design criteria for debris mitigation.
Plan end-of-life strategies for different orbits.
Assess casualty risk from re-entries.
Manage conjunctions and manoeuvre decisions.
Prepare a mitigation plan that complies with regulations.
Who it's for
- Space sustainability engineers responsible for debris compliance.
- Space debris analysts working with environment models and catalogues.
- Mission systems engineers who must build end-of-life requirements into the design.
- Flight dynamics analysts handling disposal manoeuvres and conjunctions.
- Space regulation consultants preparing licensing dossiers.
- Satellite operations engineers managing collision avoidance.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to join space agencies.
What you'll work with
- ISO 24113:2023 (space debris mitigation requirements)
- IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines (inter-agency mitigation guidelines)
- COPUOS Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines, 2007 (UN mitigation guidelines)
- ESA Space Debris Mitigation Requirements, ESSB-ST-U-007 (ESA mitigation requirements)
- ECSS-U-AS-10C (adoption of ISO 24113 for space sustainability)
- ISO 27852 (estimation of orbit lifetime)
- ISO 16164 (disposal of satellites operating in or crossing LEO)
- 47 CFR 25.114 and 25.283 (FCC satellite licensing and end-of-life rules)
- DRAMA
- ESABASE2
- MASTER
- STK
- DAS
8 modules
1.1Object population and catalogues1.2Debris sources: fragmentations and missions1.3Distribution in LEO, MEO and GEO1.4Kessler syndrome and collision cascades1.5MASTER and ORDEM models1.6Micrometeoroids and small debris1.7Space surveillance and tracking1.8Historical fragmentation events1.9ESA's annual space environment report1.10Workshop: querying debris fluxes with models
2.1IADC mitigation guidelines2.2COPUOS mitigation guidelines2.3ISO 24113 standard2.4ESA space debris policy2.5The FCC five-year rule2.6French Space Operations Act2.7Passivation and orbit protection requirements2.8LEO and GEO protected regions2.9Zero Debris initiative2.10Practical: compliance check against mitigation requirements
3.1Prevention of object release3.2Passivation of batteries and tanks3.3Prevention of on-orbit explosions3.4Design for demise on re-entry3.5Whipple shielding against impacts3.6Reliability of end-of-life functions3.7Interfaces for active removal3.8Selection of demisable materials3.9Probability of successful disposal3.10Lab: impact risk analysis with ESABASE2
4.1Controlled and uncontrolled re-entry4.2Graveyard orbits in GEO4.3Direct and indirect propulsive deorbiting4.4Drag sails and electrodynamic tethers4.5Orbital lifetime reduction by drag4.6Planning of disposal manoeuvres4.7Propellant reserve for end of life4.8Constellations and mass disposal4.9Launchers and upper stages4.10Practical: orbital lifetime calculation with DRAMA
5.1Physics of atmospheric re-entry5.2Fragmentation and component survivability5.3DRAMA and DAS tools5.4The 1/10,000 casualty risk threshold5.5Impact zones in the South Pacific5.6Re-entry prediction5.7Notable re-entry cases5.8Risk to aviation5.9Communicating risk to the public5.10Case study: casualty risk assessment of a re-entry
6.1Conjunctions and CDM messages6.2Probability of collision6.3Manoeuvre decision thresholds6.4Coordination between operators6.5Collision avoidance services6.6Manoeuvre automation in constellations6.7Covariance uncertainty6.8Operational costs of avoidance6.9Active debris removal6.10Case study: manoeuvre decision following a CDM
7.1Content of the mitigation plan7.2End-of-life report7.3Fragmentation risk assessment7.4Disposal probability calculations7.5Documentation for licensing7.6Review by agencies and regulators7.7Space sustainability indicators7.8Space Sustainability Rating7.9Lessons from real dossiers7.10Workshop: drafting a mitigation plan
8.1Mission description8.2Analysis of the orbital environment8.3Design measures for mitigation8.4Disposal strategy8.5Re-entry and risk assessment8.6Collision avoidance plan8.7Complete mitigation plan8.8Verification of regulatory compliance8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Training is 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is DRAMA, ESABASE2, MASTER, STK and DAS, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: orbital lifetime assessment and disposal strategies, casualty risk analysis for re-entry, and drafting of mitigation plans for licensing. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: ISO 24113:2023, IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines, COPUOS Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines (2007), ESA Space Debris Mitigation Requirements (ESSB-ST-U-007), ECSS-U-AS-10C, ISO 27852, ISO 16164, 47 CFR 25.114 and 25.283 (FCC).
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer able to run the programme's software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with DRAMA, ESABASE2, MASTER, STK and DAS, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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