Knowledge: advanced mathematics and physics contents to get high-level skills for working in space industries

Innovation: devise of new methods with strong technology impact in space sciences

Experience: to start a career working in a challenging context

Interaction: making connections with top experts of academies, space industries and space agencies

• Alberto Anfossi
  Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo
  
  
• Vivina Barutello,
  Department of mathematics, University of Turin
  
  
• Mario Edoardo Bertaina,
  Department of physics, University of Turin
  
  
• Raffaella Bonino,
  Department of physics, University of Turin
  
  
• Stefano Camera,
  Department of physics, University of Turin
  
  
• Camilla Colombo,
  Department of aerospace sciences and technologies, Polytechnic of Milan
  
  
• Luca Derosa,
  iMEX.A
  
  
• Alessandra De Rossi,
  Department of mathematics, University of Turin
  
  
• Lorenzo Fatibene,
  Department of mathematics, University of Turin
  
  
• Davide Ferrario,
  Department of mathematics and applications, University of Milano Bicocca
  
  
• Silvano Fineschi
  INAF, Turin
  
  
• Giovanni F. Gronchi,
  Department of mathematics, University of Pise
  
  
• Mario Lattanzi
  INAF, Turin
  
  
• Maria Antonietta Perino
  Thales Alenia Space
  
  
• Simona Perotto,
  Department of mathematics, Polytechnic of Milan
  
  
• Alessandro Portaluri,
  Department of agricultural, forest and food sciences, University of Turin
  
  
• Ferdinando Ricchiuti,
  CSP Innovazione nelle ICT
  
  
• Laura Sacerdote,
  Department of mathematics, University of Turin
  
  
• Susanna Terracini,
  Department of mathematics, University of Turin
  
  
• Francesco Vaccarino,
  Department of mathematics, Polytechnic of Turin
  
  
• Ezio Venturino,
  Department of mathematics, University of Turin
  
  
• Ermanno Vercellin
  Department of physics, University of Turin
  
  
• Cristina Zucca,
  Department of mathematics, University of Turin
  
  
  
  
  

• Vivina Barutello,
  Department of mathematics, University of Turin
  
  
• Mario Edoardo Bertaina,
  Department of physics, University of Turin
  
  
• Mariateresa Crosta,
  INAF, Turin
  
  
• Lorenzo Fatibene,
  Department of mathematics, University of Turin
  
  
• Luca Latronico,
  INAF, Turin
  
  
• Dario Martelli,
  Department of mathematics, University of Turin
  
  
• Simona Perotto,
  Department of mathematics, Polytechnic of Milan
  
  
• Susanna Terracini,
  Department of mathematics, University of Turin
  
  
• Cristina Zucca,
  Department of mathematics, University of Turin
  
  
• Davide Gandolfi
  Department of physics, University of Turin

Coordinator: Matteo Luca Ruggiero

• Department of Physics       
• INAF 
• INFN
• ASI
• INRIM
• Thales Alenia Space
• ALTEC SpA - Torino 
• iMEX.A
• Aiko
• Hipparcos
• Nanoracks

What is this master?

The Master in Mathematical and physical methods for space sciences is a one year curriculum which aims to provide students with advanced education for professions in the specific field of the space; this field requires a high level of qualification and it is characterized by a strong interaction between academic research and industrial issues. One of the purposes of the master is to introduce in the field of the space people with solid knowledge in mathematics and physics.

The emphasis of the course topics will be both theoretical and applied, providing the capability of discerning, combining and applying the most useful and modern methods available in mathematics and physics.

A strong point of the Master are the innovative teaching and assessment methods, including the use of a portfolio of the competences of the students and of a e-learning platform.

The Master draws inspiration from an analogous programme offered at the University of Roma Tor Vergata and is currently the only offer of this type in the north of Italy.

Why should I be willing to enroll to this master?

Space related industries and space agencies are attractive workplaces, where people with different educational background cooperate to solve challenging problems. To work in such contexts is a great opportunity to use advanced mathematical and physical contents in a business environment and to do research out of the academy.

Whom is the Master's Degree aimed at?

The Master is aimed at highly motivated students who have obtained or are close to obtaining a master degree (laurea magistrale for students in italian universities) in mathematics, physics or engineering and who are interested in working in a challenging and exciting industrial themes.

Students are expected to be oriented to develop critical capabilities and problem solving skills, to be interested in working in international and challenging contexts and to be able to teamwork.

At the end of the Master the students will have a high-level scientific competences and valuable technological knowledges.

They will be ready to be introduced in a business environment and develop a professional career with a strong interaction between academic research and industrial issues.

During the Master students will develop specific expertise in mathematical and physical topics, including astrophysics, gravitational astronomy and metrology for astrophysics, celestial and relativistic mechanics, astrodynamics, data analysis, from physical, numerical, statistical and topological points of view, detectors and space equipment. Courses in mission design and machine learning will complete the preparation.

They will experience working in group, writing reports and projects and making a presentation. A portfolio collecting the most important works will be produced.

At the end of the program the students will have transversal skills, as communication abilities, problem solving and a high attitude to learning and working in multidisciplinary environment.

• If you are a prospective student and you need more information on the programme or
  If you are an industry or a company working in the aerospace sector and you are willing to collaborate with MPM Space Sciences: 
  Please contact mpmspacesciences@unito.it

• For any queries on administrative matter: 
  Please send to admin.mpmmaster@unito.it

Applications are open to anyone holding or being close to obtaining an italian Master degree in one of the following classes:

• LM17 Fisica
• LM40 Matematica
• 25/S - LM-20 Ingegneria Aereospaziale Astronautica
• LM27 Ingegneria delle Telecomunicazioni
• LM29 Ingegneria Elettronica
• LM32 Ingegneria Informatica
• LM33 Ingegneria Meccanica
• LM44 Modellistica matematico-fisica per l’ingegneria
• LM58 Scienze dell'Universo

Graduating students may also be admitted to enroll in the master's program: the possession of the required qualification must be achieved within four months from the closing date for enrollment

The programme consists of some courses, several seminars, the ASI week, an internship and a final examination.
All the activities will contribute to the production of the portfolio of the student.

Courses

The courses are divided in three groups:

Group 1 – Foundations

• Mission design – 4 credits, mandatory
• Relativistic mechanics and astrophysics for space sciences – 5 credits,mandatory
• Analytical methods for the space – 4 credits

Group 2 – Core topics

• Celestial mechanics and astrodynamics – 6 credits, mandatory
• Detectors and space equipment – 4 credits, mandatory
• Gravitational metrology for astrophysics and cosmology – 4 credits

Group 3 – Data analysis and modeling

• Data analysis – 6 credits, mandatory
• Innovative mathematical methods – 3 credits, mandatory
• Machine learning – 4 credits, mandatory

Each credit corresponds to 25 hours of commitment of the student, 8 of which will be in the classroom.

Courses 

Seminars
Students are required to attend several seminars during the first semester of the year; the aim of the seminars is to complete their preparation with some deepening on very specific topics or on complementary arguments.

ASI week
In spring students will participate to dedicated activities (laboratories, seminars, conferences) under the supervision of ASI researchers

Internship
Students are required to do an internship in the second part of the master. The duration of the internship is about 500 hours. At the end of the internship students will write a report of their activity.

Final examination
The final examination consists in a discussion of the experience and the results of the internship. Students will prepare an executive summary of their work, including technical and scientifical aspects. Some companies require an extended confidential version, for internal use.

Here is the list of internship-themes of the past years.

A.a. 2019-20

• Light Deflection Differential Measurements for Relativistic Astrometric Observation in Space: Compound Shell Observations Method (INAF)

• Validation for AI Planning Systems (AIKO)

• Machine Learning Models for Space Weather Forecast Services (ALTEC)

• Light Deflection Differential Measurements of Compound Relativistic Astrometric Observations (INAF)

• Towards improved Deep Learning validation methods (AIKO)

• An Information Bottleneck approach over Deep Learning Image Classifiers (TASI)

• Optimization of resources in the agricultural ecosystem using Space-Born SAR technology: the nitrogen fertilization through precision agriculture (TASI)

A.a. 2020-21

• Light Deflection Measurements for Relativistic Astrometric Observation in Space: the Jupiter case (INAF)

• Exploiting SFB decomposition to study the observable "photometric galaxy clustering" (INFN)

• Stack-CNN trigger algorithm for detection and tracking of SD from space (INFN)

• Determination of on-orbit Resident Space Object (RSO) orbital parameters using space-based optical sensors (EICAS)

• Analysis of weak relativistic effects for relativistic astrometry applied to space-time navigation (INAF)

• Rover path planning with graph neural networks (AIKO)

• Analysis and simulation of space environments and effects on cots imaging detectors (EICAS)

• Mathematical investigation of the role of singularities on learning processes (TASI)

• Precision farming and sustainability: prospective of optimizations for new SAR & Optical satellite constellations (TASI)

• Study of Weak Lensing Cosmic Shear via Fourier-Bessel Decomposition for Euclid (INFN)

A.a. 2021-22

• Micro Satellites constellation for Earth Observation: A Scheduler optimized to drought emergency management for Italian agriculture (TASI)

• Analysis of Euclid system performance through VIS image quality metrics (TASI-INAF)

• Design and Development of Sensors for Space Applications (INRiM)

• Data Quality and Instrument Performance Monitoring for the Metis Instrument (ALTEC)

• Implementation of General relativistic formulas for spacetime navigation and test of fundamental physics with higher accuracy space mission (INAF)

• Design, set up and testing of thermal straps for TVAC testing of the HERMES payload (INFN-INAF)

Courses usually start in November.

Courses attendance is compulsory.

Students must attend at least the 70% of the lessons.

In 2023-24, the tuition fees are 3500 euros per year, to be payed in four instalments:

• 500 euros, within November 2nd, 2023
• 1000 euros, within December 31st, 2023
• 1000 euros, within February 25th, 2024
• 1000 euros, within March 31st, 2024

The top six students in the ranking established by the evaluation committee will have a scholarship of 3000€.

Courses and seminars are usually scheduled in the period November - February. The rest of the academic year will be devoted to the internship.

The final examination is usually planned in September/October.

Classes will take place will take place at the Department of Mathematics of the University of Turin, via Carlo Alberto 10, Turin.

Distant learning will be activated in case of limiting movement.