About SFL: Graduate Studies

The Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) at the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS) seeks outstanding candidates for graduate study at the Masters and Ph.D. levels. Students admitted to the program will have the chance to be involved in actual space missions and gain practical, hands-on space systems engineering experience under the tutelage of our expert staff. UTIAS/SFL seeks students with strong backgrounds in Aerospace, Electrical and Computer Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.

UTIAS/SFL offers students the opportunity to join integrated multi-disciplinary teams that design, build, launch and operate satellites in an average two-year cycle, or the time it takes to complete a Master degree. While at UTIAS/SFL, students are apprentices and work side by side with engineering professionals in small teams to define and realize space missions. In two years, students are exposed to the complete spacecraft development cycle, from mission conception to launch and on-orbit operations. No other program in Canada offers the depth and breadth of this demanding real-world experience.

UTIAS/SFL nanosatellite missions include technology demonstration and space science missions exploiting the latest commercial technologies. These technologies offer high performance and miniaturization not typically available in traditional space missions. Recent missions in the Canadian Advance Nanospace eXperiment (CanX) program include CanX-2, a technology demonstration mission with atmospheric science payloads, CanX-3 (BRITE), a space astronomy mission involving six nanosatellites performing long duration stellar photometry, and CanX-4&5, two identical satellites demonstrating precise on-orbit formation flight. Other missions under development include the CanX-7 mission to demonstrate deorbiting with an atmospheric drag sail.

As part of a tightly integrated design team, students specialize in one of several areas, while actively participating in the design of the complete spacecraft. These areas include but are not limited to:

• On-board computers
• On-board software
• Tracking, telemetry and command (radios, antennas, communications)
• Ground station hardware and software
• Power systems analysis and design
• Thermal analysis and design
• Structural analysis and design
• Attitude control system analysis, simulation and design
• Propulsion
• Payloads (instruments for science and technology demonstration)
• Systems engineering (mission analysis, requirements, design trades, budgeting)

For instructions on how to apply, please refer to the UTIAS Admissions Information