Master of Science in Space Systems Online

Equip yourself with the high-level technical expertise needed to become a space systems expert with a respected online program that has graduated two NASA astronauts.

Apply By: 5/5/25
Start Class: 5/19/25
Apply Now

Program Overview

What you need to know about the online MS in Space Systems program

If you have an engineering background, you can plan, build and manage all forms of space systems and subsystems with this Master of Science in Space Systems online program. Since Florida Tech professors work in their respective fields, you will benefit from their valuable insight into real-world challenges and opportunities which space systems experts encounter in industry, academia and government roles.

This multidisciplinary program prepares you for the modern space sector with coursework covering space propulsion, space power, space communications and data, spacecraft environment, dynamics and control, and astrodynamics. Ensure your master’s in space systems aligns with your career goals when you select nine credit hours of electives from a variety of career-relevant courses.

As a graduate of this program, you will be prepared to:

  • Identify and interpret the proper trade-off and design requirements needed for successful space environment, space propulsion, space power or space communication system design
  • Understand the conditions needed for positive results in design and analysis of space astrodynamics; integrated space system; and space guidance, navigation and control (GNC)
  • Demonstrate excellent oral presentation and written communication skills
  • Critically analyze space system integration problems at hand and all the associated issues with solving them
  • Draw conclusions about the impacts of design choices for integrated system designs
As a graduate of this program, you will be prepared to:
  • Identify and interpret the proper trade-off and design requirements needed for successful space environment, space propulsion, space power or space communication system design
  • Understand the conditions needed for positive results in design and analysis of space astrodynamics; integrated space system; and space guidance, navigation and control (GNC)
  • Demonstrate excellent oral presentation and written communication skills
  • Critically analyze space system integration problems at hand and all the associated issues with solving them
  • Draw conclusions about the impacts of design choices for integrated system designs

Career opportunities:

  • Space systems engineer
  • Aerospace engineer
  • Space systems operations
  • Space systems researcher
Career opportunities:
  • Space systems engineer
  • Aerospace engineer
  • Space systems operations
  • Space systems researcher

Also available:

At Florida Tech, we offer a variety of in-demand online programs that prepare you with relevant skills for your career of choice. Take a look at our other business programs.

Also available:

At Florida Tech, we offer a variety of in-demand online programs that prepare you with relevant skills for your career of choice. Take a look at our other business programs.

Total Tuition $21,010.11*
Duration As few as 15 months
Credit Hours 33
Apply Now

Need More Information?

Call 833-591-1092 today!

Call 833-591-1092 today!

Tuition

Benefit from budget-friendly tuition

Tuition for the MS in Space Systems is affordable. Take advantage of our pay-by-the-course system, so you can manage your budget as you pursue your degree. Technology fees are included in the total tuition.

View additional tuition information+

Program Per Credit Hour Per Course Per Program
MS Space Systems $636.67 $1,910.01 $21,010.11

*Published tuition costs may differ from a student’s estimated total “cost of attendance,” which includes the amount an online student may choose to spend on expenses such as housing and food, books and supplies, transportation and other personal items or activities per academic year. As a Florida Tech Online student, you will only ever be billed for applicable tuition and fees. All other costs listed below are estimates per academic year required by the federal government to help you budget for your education. For further information regarding program tuition and fees, please reach out to your enrollment representative or refer to the undergraduate or graduate fees policy. View full cost of attendance information.

Potential Expenses Per Year

Program Technology Fees Federal Student Loan Fees Housing & Food Books & Supplies Transport Personal Expenses Total
MS Space Systems (Full-Time) $300 $166 $15,240 $1,200 $1,500 $2,100 $
MS Space Systems (Part-Time) $150 $166 $7,620 $600 $750 $1,050

Tuition breakdown:

Total Tuition $21,010.11*
Per Credit Hour $636.67

Calendar

Take note of these important dates and deadlines

The MS in Space Systems online program is ideal for working students. Choose from multiple start dates and complete your degree at the pace that best fits your schedule.

View full calendar  + 

TermStart DateApp DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlineTuition DeadlineClass End DateTerm Length
Summer 20255/19/255/5/255/12/255/14/255/16/257/13/258 weeks

Now enrolling:

Next Apply Date 5/5/25
Start Class 5/19/25

Ready to take the next steps toward earning your degree?

Apply Now

Admissions

Start your online master’s in space systems journey

At Florida Tech, we’ve streamlined the admission process to help you get started quickly. Please read the requirements for the MS in Space Systems online program.

View all admission requirements +

  • Application for admissions
  • Earned bachelor's degree in engineering or science from an accredited college or university
  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities
  • Current résumé
  • Undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 on 4.0 scale

Official transcripts, test scores and other documents should be sent to:

Mail address:
Office of Admissions
150 W. University Blvd.
Melbourne, FL 32901

Admission Requirements

  • No application fee
  • No GMAT/GRE
  • GPA of 3.0 or above

Courses

Explore your space system master’s online courses

For the MS in Space Systems online, the curriculum comprises 33 space systems master's course credit hours.

Expand All
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Includes systems engineering, space flight history, space environment, astrodynamics, rocket propulsion, launch vehicle selection, space telecommunications, remote sensing, spacecraft configuration, structures, materials, power and thermal systems, launch and space mission operations, spacecraft navigation, guidance, control and military space applications.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Includes principles of rocket propulsion, liquid and solid chemical rockets, throttling and thrust vectoring, electric and electromagnetic propulsion, solar sailing, space tethers and nuclear radioisotope, fission reactor and fusion propulsion systems.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Includes energy conversion and storage in space; chemical, mechanical and thermal energy storage; fuel cell types; photovoltaic cells, thermionic, thermoelectric and radioisotope thermoelectric generators; power generators; space nuclear technology; and space station energy system design.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Reliable spacecraft telecommunication systems via radio frequency links with small performance margins. Digital modulation techniques, noise temperature, channel capacity and data/waveform coding techniques for BER improvement. Methods of data acquisition, storage and processing.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The pre- and post-launch interactions between a space vehicle and its environment, including atmospheric density and composition; gravity and free-fall; mechanical, thermal electromagnetic field and energetic particle stresses; space debris impacts; and conducting space tether applications.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Includes two- and three-body orbital problems, sun-synchronous mapping orbits, geostationary orbit and perturbations, out-of-plane orbital transfers, orbital rendezvous, ballistic missile problems and patched conic and gravity-assist interplanetary trajectories.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Studies the dynamics of spacecraft attitude motion and pointing controls. Includes coordinate conversions, spacecraft principle axes, attitude control thrusters, spin and momentum exchange devices. Also includes spacecraft control transfer functions, disturbance torques and stability.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The competitive design, by student teams, of a space mission specified by the instructor. Candidate mission subjects include astronomy, communications, human space missions, planetary and interplanetary robotic exploration and remote sensing.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Includes economic considerations of space processing and Earth resources observation; history of in-space experimentation and developments; definition of Earth’s orbital environment and its attendant commercial advantages; launch operations and landing/retrieval; financial/profit considerations of operating in space; and current commercial space opportunities and risks.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Design of structures of adequate strength and stability with little weight margin. Tension, torsion, compound stresses, simple and composite beams, thin- and thick-walled cylinders and buckling. Properties of space-qualified materials, deterioration, damage, outgassing, oxidation, radiation resistance.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The principles and practice of electronic, inertial and stellar navigation, onboard and ground-controlled; attitude control methods and systems; and orbital guidance technology and systems.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The role of astronauts in space. Astronaut and cosmonaut achievements in space research, extravehicular activity, long-duration space flight and lunar exploration. The space shuttle, space stations, future space habitats, lunar bases and expansion into heliocentric space.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Principles and applications of remote sensing from the atmosphere and space; sensors for various wavelengths, imaging systems, data handling, image reconstruction and processing; contemporary remote sensing applications; geographic information systems and nonterrestrial atmospheres.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Overviews typical mission operations, from prelaunch through launch, tracking, orbit modification, spacecraft deployment and checkout. Range tracking, telemetry, safety instrumentation, transition to on-orbit communications, and tracking and data relay satellite system.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Principles of robotics, artificial intelligence and remotely controlled exploration, operation, observation and manipulation. Design of equipment for processing, manufacturing, maintaining and repairing equipment in space, and in lunar and planetary environments.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Emphasizes the physiologic capabilities and limitations of astronauts. Reviews data for each phase of space flight from the U.S. and Russian space programs. Previews human participation in long-duration space station, lunar and planetary missions.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Individual study of specific problems in space systems.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Individual work under the direction of a member of the graduate faculty on a selected topic in the field of space systems.
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