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Spacecraft Engineering Focus
Exploring space, the prospect of traveling beyond the confines of Earth inspires many engineers like no other endeavor. This degree will appeal to those with a passion for spacecraft. Along with the early contributions of Newton, Kepler, Euler, and Hamilton, the past century of practical, predictive, and speculative work in space travel constitutes a body of work that can guide us toward new discoveries.
The spacecraft engineering-focused MEng Degree is all about how to build spacecraft--and why. It is designed to extend an undergraduate aerospace or mechanical engineering degree to allow students to focus on conceiving, designing, implementing, and operating satellites, rockets, and other space systems. At Cornell, faculty research groups in this area are addressing formation flight, space-borne robots, celestial mechanics, space propulsion, space-system architecture, adaptive control, and in-orbit inspection and repair. MEng students at Cornell have participated in the design and construction of four spacecraft (the ICE Cubesat, two CUSat inspection satellites, and the Violet satellite) and the development of high-agility space-borne robotic arms. Programs like these and others are available for MEng research projects.
![An artist’s rendering of the deployment of ChipSats from a shoebox-sized CubeSat. NASA has confirmed that in March short telemetry signals from the ChipSats were received by a ground station at Cornell.](/sites/default/files/styles/width_990/public/departments/MAE/0603_kicksat_deploy.jpg?itok=Ns77IPfP)
Cracker-sized satellites demonstrate new space tech
![Dozens of oil tankers and commercial cargo ships line up at Great Bitter Lake to enter the Suez Canal in this March 25 satellite image provided by Ursa Space.](/sites/default/files/styles/width_990/public/departments/MAE/0427_space1_0.jpg?itok=a-CF0O1o)
Cosmos unveils space-tech business, science opportunities
![Star trails are pictured over Gemini North, located near Hilo, Hawaii. The observatory will be home to the Gemini Planet Imager, which is being upgraded by a team that includes assistant professor Dmitry Savransky.](/sites/default/files/styles/width_990/public/departments/MAE/0108_gemini_0.jpg?itok=k0uULMSu)
Telescope upgrade, move will aid in search for exoplanets
![Swati Mohan '04 at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory mission control on Feb. 18, prior to the Perseverance landing.](/sites/default/files/styles/width_990/public/departments/MAE/0222_mohan1_0.jpg?itok=sAd-CZy9)