Spacecraft Engineering: Enhancing Student Engagement by Connecting with the Real World

A new course in spacecraft engineering for final-year studies was piloted in 2012 at the University of New South Wales' School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering. The course was designed to promote student engagement with the subject by relying heavily on real-world applications of the topics covered. Exam problems were based on actual space missions launched the same week; tutorials included the use of industry-standard software to complement lectures; group assignments covered missions of historical significance; a guest lecture by an industry professional allowed the students to understand the complexities inherent in space mission design; and a field trip to two working space facilities provided an opportunity for students to learn about local involvement in the space industry. The goal was to take a potentially esoteric subject that could easily be taught in an entirely theoretical manner, detached from any meaning to the students, and teach it in a way that demonstrates the direct application of the topics to real-world practice. Student satisfaction as reported in Course and Teaching Evaluation and Improvement was excellent, and there is considerable interest among the graduates of the course to continue in postgraduate research related to spacecraft engineering.