Case studies semester project
The Space Systems semester project lets students apply the concepts of both Core Course 1 and 2 in real space missions, gaining hands-on experience in systems engineering and teamwork either at ETH Zurich or in collaboration with external research institution or industrial partner.
Steps to follow
- Carefully read the Space System project guidelines below.
- Find a project and (co-)supervisor(s) in accordance with the guidelines.
- Register for 651-7003-01L Case Studies Semester Project in myStudies incl. all details.
- Fill out the document Download Task description case studies semester project (PDF, 60 KB) and review it with your supervisor for approval.
- Upload the approved document as the task description in myStudies.
- Registration for the project in myStudies is only final once approved by your supervisor in eDoz.
- Contact for administrative questions.
Preliminary guidelines for the semester project
The space system project provides students with the opportunity to engage directly with the development of a real-world space mission or parts thereof. It serves as a practical extension of the foundational concepts introduced in Core Course 1 and the data techniques of Core Course 2, enabling students to apply their knowledge in a realistic, mission-driven context. Through this experience, students will gain exposure to the decision-making processes, systems engineering principles, and collaborative dynamics that define participation in large-scale space projects.
Projects must be embedded within the framework of an actual space initiative, either at ETH Zurich or in collaboration with an external research institution or industrial partner.
Students are expected to work at least 180 hours on the project, e.g.
- one day per week for 6 months
- 1.5 days per week for a semester (15 weeks)
- 4-6 full weeks
The student and the supervisor agree on a timeline for the project. Within two weeks after project start (or one week in case of a full-time project), this timeline needs to be handed in in written form with the project description.
- The time for handing in the final report
- The date and time of the intermediate presentation
To encourage accountability, these time slots should be fixed at the time of handing in the project description.
The students hold a (graded) intermediate presentation after about 50% of the total time. This presentation should be given to the research group in which the project in conducted.
It should be attended by at least one tutor of the Master's in Space Systems.
The presentation should be 10-15 minutes long and present:
- The context of the project
- The agreed outcomes
- Initial results
- At least one slide on challenges faced so far.
ETH-based research projects
These projects are conducted within a research group at ETH and contribute to an ongoing space mission or conceptual mission study. Students will work as part of an academic team focused on mission design, technology development, or scientific investigation.
Externally supervised projects
Projects may also be carried out at external institutions, including research centers or companies, in Switzerland or abroad. In such cases, the project must be academically supervised by an ETH professor who can assess the scientific and technical quality of the host institution and ensure the relevance of the project to the MSc programme.
Self-proposed projects
Student teams (maximum 5 students, minimum 2) may propose their own project concept, especially if oriented toward commercialization or the development of novel space technologies. These projects require a clear mission objective and should demonstrate feasibility, innovation potential, and relevance to the space sector.
Mission projects must be directly related to the formulation, development, or implementation of a space mission or system. Qualifying projects include:
- Robotic or crewed space missions
- Commercial applications utilizing space-derived data
- Development of hardware or software components intended for future space missions
Projects may involve systems modeling, engineering analysis, scientific data interpretation, economic feasibility studies, or laboratory experimentation.
Non-eligible projects
Projects that do not exhibit a direct connection to space mission planning or implementation are not permitted, even if they utilize space-derived data. Generic research activities lacking clear application to future mission development will not be approved.
The final decision on eligibility is done by the scientific coordinator of the programme.
Projects need one supervisor affiliated with ETH Zurich.
Internal projects can be supervised by professors from all departments at ETH and researchers who are on the departments’ lists of eligible MSc thesis supervisors.
External projects and self-proposed projects need an additional supervisor at ETH, who ensures alignment of the project with the goals of the course. This supervisor needs to be from the tutor list of the MSc Space Systems.
At the start of the project, your supervisor will define the required deliverables. These will be either:
- A written report (approx. 20 pages), or
- A hardware/software product with supporting documentation,
- Declaration of originality.
Scientific Integrity
All submitted work must follow the principles of scientific integrity. A signed declaration of originality is mandatory for all written work at ETH Zurich.