Exploration of the Solar System: Foundations of Space Industry
PostgraduateCUR-NPSC50012025
Previously CUR-SPC500
Explore space—from the inner planets, to the gas giants, and ice worlds. You’ll get to know terminology, datasets, and best practices used by today’s space industry. Topics span space history through to the range of current space agencies around the world.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 24 Aug 2025
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Start dates
- 3 Mar 2025,
- 1 Sept 2025
- Price from
- $3,464
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Exploration of the Solar System: Foundations of Space Industry
About this subject
At the completion of this subject students will be able to:
- examine, review, and compare methods of the exploration of the solar system (ancient to modern)
- describe space mission science objectives and relate to instrument payloads
- evaluate and relate mission science to engineering advances and spin-offs
- analyse and interpret mission data; derive and critique properties of solar system bodies in a written report, demonstrating academic integrity and referencing conventions to acknowledge the original source of information
- assess planetary environments and plan for sustainable human presence in space
- Background, vocabulary, and definitions related to the methods of exploration of the solar system.
- Relationship between science and payload – building the transition from basic to applied.
- Track spin-off technologies from space to private sector.
- Analyse and interpret mission instrument data.
- Assessment of habitability for humans in space.
This subject will track the origin and evolution of the space industry from the point of view of exploration of the solar system. We will focus on the multi-disciplinary investigation of all Solar System bodies, from the Sun to the Oort cloud and beyond. We will cover the history of space exploration from ancient to modern times, using ground and space-based methods, including instrument payload and science objectives. The subject will also detail the spin-offs from space-related engineering and science that have benefitted humanity and the economy through this pathway. Other topics introduced will include planetary and space resources, human presence in space, and the future of space exploration.
Please Note: If it’s your first time studying a Curtin University subject you’ll need to complete their compulsory ‘Academic Integrity Program’. It only takes two hours to complete online, and provides you with vital information about studying with Curtin University. The Academic Integrity Program is compulsory, so if it’s not completed your subject grades will be withheld.
Find out more about the Academic Integritymodule.
- Laboratory exercises/activities (40%)
- Assessment of space resources project report (40%)
- Challenges of human presence in space presentation (20%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted into a degree.
Equivalent subjects
You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:
CUR-SPC500-Exploration of the Solar System: Foundations of Space Industry (no longer available)
Others
Students must have a Bachelor Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) discipline with a minimum completion of high school mathematics.
Additional requirements
- Equipment requirements - Audio video equipment required. Provide communication method.
- Other requirements - Access to the Internet.
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.