Mubody is an astrodynamics open-source Python library focused on the libration points. Such points result from the equilibrium of the gravitational forces between two massive bodies as the Sun and Earth, for example. The library is mainly intended for the generation of orbits in these regions, which is not a straightforward process, specially if perturbations are considered. Currently, the library allows to generate Lissajous orbits in the second Lagrange point of the Sun-Earth system under the influence of perturbations such as the Earth orbit eccentricity. The next milestone, as a result of a master student work, is the incorporation of Halo orbits and the expansion to all three collinear libration points from any two massive bodies of the Solar System. This tool has been developed as part of a PhD, motivated by the need of performing mission analysis in libration point regions. Nevertheless, since its creation it has also proven to be an excellent academic tool for both enhancing the library itself and using its results for further studies (collision risk, thermal analysis, formation flight control, etc). As a result, the tool has rapidly evolved, building onto the knowledge and experience that the students gather while working on their academic projects (bachelor’s degree dissertations, master theses, subjects, internships). The participation on the library development provides students with experience in orbital mechanics, software design, version control and it compels them to ensure that their work can be readily used by others as it is properly documented. The project is hosted in GitLab under a MIT licence

Model-driven engineering (MDE) has become a leading methodology for the design and development of Real-Time Embedded Systems (RTES). It makes use of automatic code generation tools to reduce time, cost and effort associated with writing and maintaining software. However, automatic code generators tend to produce poor quality and inefficient code, which is unacceptable for safety critical systems. The verification and validation of such systems are crucial activities that require high-level code quality and coverage enforced by standards such as DO-178C/ED-12C for airborne software or ECSS in the European space domain. Simulink is a modelling tool offered by MathWorks widely used in the aerospace sector to develop and simulate models. The QGen tool-suite offers a C and Ada code generator appropriate for Simulink and Stateflow models. In this paper, we evaluate QGen aiming to demonstrate its applicability in embedded software products, its integrability in other modelling tools, and the quality of the autogenerated software. To that end, a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPI) have been defined to measure quantitative values mostly obtained with open-source tools. The evaluation adopts the Attitude Control System from the UPMSat-2 satellite as the technology demonstrator and its simulation and control Simulink models serve as evaluation models for this analysis. The contribution of this study has been to establish a quantitative methodology for the evaluation of the QGen tool-suite based on software metrics at varying granularity levels such as model and source code. This methodology should help the researchers to identify further metrics and use them to analyze not only automatic code generators, but also to establish a criterion to assess the technology readiness of other software products and tools.

Resumen-El objetivo de PIRAMIDE ha sido potenciar los resultados académicos de los estudiantes de grado y máster mediante la investigación en ingeniería espacial. Este proyecto ha sido llevado a cabo por profesores del Instituto IDR/UPM y del grupo STRAST. El programa se estructuró en cinco estudios diferentes: 1) Diseño de una misión espacial (fase 0/A) en una Instalación de Diseño Concurrente (CDF); 2) Selección y estudio de un ordenador de a bordo para una misión CubeSat; 3) Metodologías de diseño inteligente aplicadas a la ingeniería gráfica; 4) Análisis de sistemas de potencia para aplicaciones espaciales; y 5) Diseño de un Subsistema de Control y Determinación de Actitud (ADCS) de una nave espacial. En el presente trabajo se analizan los resultados de realizar 5 encuestas a los alumnos para cada uno de los casos de estudio que componen PIRAMIDE y una encuesta al profesorado. Además, se incluye un análisis crítico con las lecciones aprendidas que podrían ayudar a diseñar mejores proyectos de innovación educativa en el futuro.

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This work describes the successful education experience for five years of space engineering education at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), Madrid, Spain. The MSc. in Space Systems (MUSE, Máster Universitario en Sistemas Espaciales) is a 2-year and 120-ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) master program organized by the Microgravity Institute ‘Ignacio Da Riva’ (IDR/UPM), a research institute of UPM with extensive experience in the space sector. The teaching methodology is oriented to Project Based Learning (PBL), taking advantage of the IDR/UPM Institute experience. The main purposes are to share the IDR/UPM knowledge with the students and promote their collaboration with several space scientific institutions, both national and international. In the present work, the most relevant characteristics of this master program are described, highlighting the importance of the student’s participation in actual missions. In addition, to offer practical cases in all aspects of satellite development, the IDR/UPM decided to create its own satellite development program, the UPMSats. The latest, the UPMSat-2, is an educational, scientific, and in-orbit technological demonstration microsatellite (50 kg-class) that was launched in September 2020 on-board a Vega launcher (VV-16 flight). MUSE students have participated in all phases of the mission, from design to integration, calibration, and testing, and (at present) in-orbit operation. The construction of a microsatellite, although it exceeds in time the academic duration of the master, has proven to be a very interesting and versatile tool for PBL education, since it provides practical cases at all levels of development. Furthermore, the continuity of the project encourages graduated students to continue their education with a Ph.D. and the collaboration of master and doctoral students. These reasons have made MUSE one of the most successful academic programs in space systems engineering in Spain, with high employment rates in the most prestigious space engineering institutions