Fault Management and Autonomy for Space Systems – Online Short Course (Starts 7 April 2026) 7 April 2026 - 12 May 2026 Online

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Fault Management and Autonomy for Space Systems – Online Short Course (Starts 7 April 2026)


  • From 7 April – 12 May 2026 (6 Weeks, 6 Classes, 12 Classroom Hours, approximately 24 Total Hours)
  • Every Tuesday from 6–8 p.m. Eastern Time (all sessions will be recorded and available for replay; course notes will be available for download)
  • In this new essential course, in partnership with Johns Hopkins University, students will learn to apply systems engineering expertise to architect and analyze fault management strategies to safeguard space missions.
  • All students will receive an AIAA Certificate of Completion and an additional Certificate of Completion from Johns Hopkins University.at the end of the course.

OVERVIEW

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the fundamental principles of fault management engineering as applied to space systems. It examines the distinct perspective of the fault management engineer relative to systems engineers and discipline specialists, and it elucidates the integral role of fault management throughout the mission design life cycle.

Fault management is a systems engineering discipline that defines the functional requirements distributed across spacecraft hardware, software, autonomy systems, and ground operations to enable the detection, isolation, and recovery from anomalies that disrupt nominal operations. Students will gain an understanding of the fundamental principles of fault management architecture—including driving requirements, redundancy concepts, safing and operational modes, ground intervention strategies, and critical sequence management—and how these elements inform the overall fault management design.

The course will also address analytical methodologies used in fault analysis, trade studies, and requirements allocation, while emphasizing the responsibilities of the fault management engineer from project inception through design, integration and testing, launch, and flight operations. Case studies and examples from actual space missions will be used to illustrate diverse fault management implementations and the engineering decisions influenced by technical, cost, and schedule constraints.

Between classes, students will have optional self-paced readings, exercises, knowledge checks, etc. available in the Johns Hopkins learning platform to enhance the course experience.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

  • By the end of this course, you will be able to:
  • Describe and compare key strategies and approaches for developing comprehensive fault management concepts for space systems.
  • Identify and interpret mission-driving requirements, critical operational sequences, and design concepts related to redundancy, safing and operational modes, and ground intervention.
  • Evaluate and analyze system reliability, redundancy configurations, and potential failure modes to conduct informed trade studies that guide fault management design decisions.
  • Apply autonomy engineering principles to develop and implement autonomy constructs that support and enhance fault management architectures.
  • Design, justify, and present a complete fault management concept for a representative space mission, integrating analytical methods, design principles, and operational considerations.

AUDIENCE

  • Primary Audience: Engineers and technical professionals from government, industry, and academia involved in the design, development, testing, or operation of space systems who wish to expand their expertise in fault management.
  • Secondary Audience: Mission operations personnel, systems engineers, reliability engineers, and project managers supporting NASA, DoD, or commercial space missions who seek to strengthen their understanding of fault management architecture, analysis, and implementation.
  • Tertiary Audience: Graduate students, early-career professionals, and others with an interest in spacecraft reliability, autonomy, or mission assurance who want to gain insight into the role of fault management in successful mission execution.

COURSE FEES (Sign-In To Register)
– AIAA Member Price: $1595 USD
– Non-Member Price: $1795 USD

Course Series: In Spring 2026, AIAA and Johns Hopkins University are offering a series of courses focused on Space Systems Engineering. While courses are completely self-contained and can be taken on their own, those students wishing to deepen their knowledge may be interested in additional course study:

CANCELLATION POLICY: A refund less a $50.00 cancellation fee will be assessed for all cancellations made in writing prior to5 days before the start of the event. After that time, no refunds will be provided.

CONTACT:  Please contact Lisa Le or Customer Service if you have any questions about the course or group discounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

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