This paper describes the SpaceTech program, a postgraduate program which aims to provide the best education in space systems and business engineering worldwide. The program focuses on mid-career working professionals and is structured around a real-life engineering challenge, the Central Case Project.

SpaceTech is an international postgraduate master program for experienced high potentials seeking expertise in space systems and business engineering. This flexible 10-month program is organized in five 2-week sessions that take place in attractive space centers in Europe. The SpaceTech program is in operation for over ten years and is one of the few executive training programs specializing in space systems and business engineering and is internationally recognized for training of the future leaders in the space field. SpaceTech has successfully created a multicultural multidisciplinary network and teaching environment. It is a truly international institute, as it attracts a number of well-known, well-respected and highly competent faculty as well as participants from many parts of the world. Successful participation in the SpaceTech program is awarded by the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) with a Master degree in Space Systems Engineering.

Participants of the SpaceTech program are professionals with, on average, a working experience between 5 and 15 years. By participating in the SpaceTech program, one aims to gain a complete yet detailed overview of the entire space arena and to increase ones business skills. Other benefits include development of management and leadership capabilities, the ability to work in an international environment, remote and on-site, as well as building an easy accessible global network. The program is organized such that it allows high potentials to participate with minimum disturbance to their normal jobs.

The program has a carefully selected content which consist of seven modules: Space Mission Analysis & Design, advanced Systems Engineering, Business Engineering, Interpersonal Skills & Leadership Development and the traditional space applications, Earth Observation, Telecommunication and Navigation.

The heart of the SpaceTech program is the Central Case Project (CCP), which is an end-to-end design project that aims at the formation of a credible, virtual, space-related business. The CCP is a learning laboratory were the participants work in a truly international and multicultural team. It allows participants to exercise space systems engineering fundamentals as well as marketing and business engineering tools. Participants learn to link mission and system design to the potential return to investors. Moreover, they develop an instinct for profitable business cases. The CCP also forms the playground where participants can put the taught interpersonal skills into practice.

SpaceTech is a program organized by the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering of TU Delft. Besides the core organization, the SpaceTech program incorporates a number of bodies to maintain the high quality and standards of the program. The most important of these are the Curriculum Committee consisting of highly experienced professionals in the taught disciplines, the Advisory Board which advises on industry’s needs for education for space systems engineers and the SpaceTech Alumni Association which provides a platform to maintain and expand a graduate’s global network.