Aerospace Engineering
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DepartmentAntanas Gustaitis' Aviation Institute
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Program code6211EX060
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Field of studyEngineering
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QualificationMaster of Engineering Sciences
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Duration2
Students can join individually or with an existing team, collaborating to develop prototypes guided by experienced entrepreneurs, research mentors, and the Futurepreneurs startup acceleration programme.
Fun fact
Aerospace innovation is inherently interdisciplinary. Each student brings a unique strength — whether in electronics, mechanics, computer science, transport, or aeronautics — and together, teams turn diverse knowledge into a powerful competitive advantage.
The Master’s in Aerospace Engineering prepares visionary engineers with the expertise to design, test, and innovate across the rapidly evolving aeronautics and space industries. Driven by engineering curiosity and the freedom to create, this programme is like a two-year innovation sprint — a research-based hackathon where you design and build real prototypes that define the future of flight.
About
Students work alongside experts and researchers to develop high-impact projects in one of four key fields:
- Drones (UAVs)
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles already play crucial roles in agriculture, monitoring, inspection, and logistics — yet their full potential is still emerging. Students explore automation, aerodynamics, payload design, propulsion systems, and reliability, developing next-generation UAVs tailored to specific business or societal needs.
- Nanosatellites
Small satellite technology is revolutionising access to space. Today, over half of all nanosatellites serve commercial purposes, and their share continues to grow. Students examine the mechanical, electronic, and informational systems of nanosatellites, tackling real-world challenges in design, production, and system integration for Earth observation and telecommunications.
- 3D-Printed Aeronautical Systems
Additive manufacturing is reshaping how aircraft and components are made. 3D printing allows faster, lighter, and more cost-efficient production — cutting both manufacturing time and fuel consumption. Students explore design optimisation, materials testing, and production of 3D-printed components, gaining hands-on experience in one of aviation’s most transformative technologies.
- Military Aeronautics Innovations
The defense sector often pioneers breakthroughs later adopted by civilian industries — drones being a prime example. Students collaborate with defense specialists to address public safety and military challenges, design and test research-based solutions, and contribute to the next generation of aeronautical innovation.
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What will I be able to do?
Graduates will be capable of designing and improving aerospace systems and components, leading interdisciplinary research, and transforming results into practical innovations and prototypes.
Upon completion, graduates will be able to:
• Understand and apply the principles of aeronautical engineering
• Conduct analytical, modelling, and experimental research; critically evaluate and apply results in prototype development.
• Evaluate and implement new aviation engineering methods and problem-solving techniques
• Identify complex engineering problems and develop creative, research-based solutions
• Design and manage projects in uncertain or evolving technological environments
• Assess the environmental and social impact of engineering decision
• Lead interdisciplinary teams and understand commercialisation and startup development
• Link technological innovation with its economic and strategic implications. -
What are my career opportunities?
Graduates are prepared for diverse and ambitious careers, including:
• Founding a startup based on their prototype or research
• Working in aviation, aerospace, or defence industries
• Applying drone-based and satellite innovations in energy, agriculture, logistics, and public security sectors
• Designing aircraft, spacecraft, or aeronautical systems
• Pursuing advanced scientific research or doctoral studies.
Study subjects
1 Semester
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AIAIM22101 6 credits
Introduction to UAV Technology
Module aim
To provide the knowledge regarding autonomous aerial vehicles technologies and systems, principles of operations, which on its turn will allow students to select the further direction during the master studies. To motivate students to investigate and research new technologies and systems, motivate the innovative thinking, search for new scientific knowledge
Module description
During the course students get familiar with main elements of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles elements of technology like: powerplants, energy storage and supply, attitude and position determination systems and algorithms, thermal systems, radio communication systems, surveillance systems etc. With the increase of implementation of UAVs all over the world this knowledge becomes of extreme importance.
Students must attend at least 60% of the time scheduled practical lectures.
Students must attend at least 80% of the time scheduled laboratory work. -
AIAIM22203 6 credits
Microsatellite Engineering
Module aim
To learn how to design key microsatellite subsystems that will satisfy overall spacecraft system and mission requirements.
Module description
During the course students are taught how to design a microsatellite starting from a set of mission and system requirements and ending with preliminary design of major satellite subsystems. This course is prepared as a natural extension of spacecraft systems engineering course and continues with more focus to actual subsystem design and analysis. As a result, students will understand the purpose and importance of good system design practises as well as learn about the implementation aspects of spacecraft subsystems.
Students must attend at least 60% of the time scheduled practical lectures.
Students must attend at least 80% of the time scheduled laboratory work. -
AIAIM25000 6 credits
Fundamentals of Research and Innovation
Module aim
The course aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary for research and innovation developement.
Module description
The module is about the methodological bases of science and innovations. Discribed scientific methodology category, their characteristics and interfaces. Physical methodological bases of science and physical modeling of technical processes, The similarity theory. The similarity criteria and their application in mechanics, aerodynamics, hydrodynamics. Dimensional analysis and its practical application. Statistical evaluation of experimental data. Regression analysis. Physical processes in a semi-empirical statistical modeling. Received distributions of fitness evaluation criterion and the correlation coefficient Chi square. Pafentology law. Research and presentation of the results. Innovation, the concept of the importance of their species. Conservative and radical innovation. Innovative process steps. Idea Generation, Evaluation and selection. Innovative projects. Intellectual property protection.
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AIAIM24101 6 credits
Remote Monitoring
Module aim
To provide the knowledge regarding autonomous aerial vehicles and autonomous space vehicles technologies and systems, principles of operations, which on its turn will allow students to select the further direction during the master studies. To motivate students to investigate and research new technologies and systems, motivate the innovative thinking, search for new scientific knowledge
Module description
During the course students get familiar with main elements of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Automated Space Vehicles elements of technology like: powerplants, energy storage and supply, attitude and position determination systems and algorithms, thermal systems, radio communication systems, surveillance systems etc. Since in these days similar systems and algorithms on Unmanned Aerial Systems and Space Vehicles are used, the course includes both subjects.
Students must attend at least 60% of the time scheduled practical lectures.
Students must attend at least 80% of the time scheduled laboratory work. -
AIAIM22184 6 credits
Research Work 1
Module aim
Thorough analysis of scientific and technical sources dealing with the theme of final master thesis and formulation of problems for the next reseach stage.
Module description
Selection of problem to be solved in master thesis. Review of literature according the problem of master thesis. Preparation of summary of the review. Formulation of the task of master thesis.
2 Semester
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AIAIM19201 9 credits
Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE)
Module aim
To provide knowledge on backgrounds of Finite Elements Method, FEM based computational technology and application to engineering (incl. aerospace structures) problems. To get the ability and skills to practical application the FEM software.
Module description
Concept of finite element method. Definitions. Standard discrete system. Diskretization of continua. Interpolation functions. Two-dimensional elements. Three-dimensional elements. Thin walled elements. Non-linear and time dependent problems. Applications to aerospace structures. Data procession technologies. Elements types and discretization procedures.
Students must attend at least 60% of the time scheduled practical lectures.
Students must attend at least 80% of the time scheduled laboratory work. -
AIAIM22200 6 credits
Astrodynamics
Module aim
Astrodynamics is the keystone of every space mission, thus the aim of the course is to provide the fundamental knowledge regarding body motion subject to gravitational and other forces. Students will learn to describe and analyze spacecraft trajectories, focusing on the mathematics and physics behind these concepts. The acquired knowledge will be applied by simulating body motion in Matlab and Simulink.
Module description
During the course students get familiar with the fundamentals of astrodynamics: body motion subject to gravitational and other (thrust and aerodynamic drag) forces, reference frames and orbital elements, two-, three-body problems are analyzed, including interplanetary trajectories and relative spacecraft motion.
Students must attend at least 60% of the time scheduled practical lectures.
Students must attend at least 80% of the time scheduled laboratory work. -
AIAIM22202 6 credits
Unmanned Aerial vehicle Systems
Module aim
To provide students with the knowledge regarding the systems of autonomous aerial vehicles, principles of their operations and ways to improve that. To motivate students to investigate and research new technologies and systems, motivate thr innovative thinking, search for new scientific knowledge.
Module description
During the course students will get familiar with the main systems of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, their functioning, influence on the performances on operations of entire vehicle, fault diagnostics etc. Such systems as: aircraft control, electrical, powerplant, position determination, safe emergency landing etc. will be discussed.
Students must attend at least 60% of the time scheduled practical lectures.
Students must attend at least 80% of the time scheduled laboratory work. -
AIAIM17188 3 credits
Research Work 2
Module aim
Analysis of theoretical methods and their application for the selected problem.
Module description
Analysis of theoretical methods and their application for the selected problem.
Students must attend at least 60% of the time scheduled practical lectures.
Students must attend at least 80% of the time scheduled laboratory work.
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AIAIM22204 6 credits
Autonomous control of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Module aim
To provide knowledge on control systems of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and especially automated control systems implemented on mentioned vehicles. To motivate students to investigate and research new technologies and systems, motivate the innovative thinking, search for new scientific knowledge.
Module description
During the course students get familiar with control systems and their elements of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, with the special emphasis on the automation and automated systems implemented on these vehicles. Since implementation of UAVs is based on maximal automation of their systems, these questions are covered in the module.
Students must attend at least 60% of the time scheduled practical lectures.
Students must attend at least 80% of the time scheduled laboratory work. -
ELKRM17215 6 credits
Microcontrollers and Their Programming
Module aim
To learn the principles of development of microcontroller-based devices dedicated to the scientific investigations. To choose the microcontroller and other elements for the microcontroller-based devices and to create the microcontroller programs using C programming language. To be able to substantiate solutions working individually or in the team
Module description
The knowledge about the main microcontroller families and their characteristics are obtained in the course of Microcontrollers and their Programming. The PIC18 microcontroller family has been studied. The representative of this family microcontroller PIC18F47K42 is studied in details. The development board dedicated to the design of electronic equipments based on the PIC18 family microcontrollers and C compiller MicroC PRO for PIC used for the creating of PIC microcontroller programs using C programming language have been studied as well. The development of concrete microcontroller programs dedicated to the processing of the analogue signals transmitted by the sensors and programs that are used for the time measurement, which can be employed during the research work, is studied.
Students must complete no less than 80% of the scheduled laboratory works -
AIAIM22100 6 credits
Spacecraft System Engineering
Module aim
To understand and learn how to practically apply systems engineering methodology in the design process of a spacecraft.
Module description
During the course students get familiar with main elements of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Automated Space Vehicles elements of technology like: powerplants, energy storage and supply, attitude and position determination systems and algorithms, thermal systems, radio communication systems, surveillance systems etc. Since in these days similar systems and algorithms on Unmanned Aerial Systems and Space Vehicles are used, the course includes both subjects.
Students must attend at least 60% of the time scheduled practical lectures.
Students must attend at least 80% of the time scheduled laboratory work.
3 Semester
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AIAIM23300 6 credits
Aerospace Structures and Materials
Module aim
To provide the knowledge regarding to space environment for common materials, will lern, evaluate and analyzed material selection with space related situations, will be able select appropriate material for specific requirements, moreover, students will be introduce to various manufacturing technologies, be able correctly chose design for related manufactured technology.
Module description
During the course, students are introduced to the main materials used in the space environment and their processing technologies, such as computer machine tool processing technology, casting, composite materials production, casting, vacuuming, extrusion, 3D technologies and others. The prevailing environment in space and the design challenges it poses will also be assessed.
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FMMMM24301 6 credits
Numerical Methods
Module aim
The goal is to introduce the basic numerical methods and to learn how to apply these methods for solution of specific problems.
Module description
In this course students learn the concepts of computer arithmetic, stability and computational complexity of numerical algorithms. Students learn numerical methods for solving nonlinear equations and systems of equations, direct and iterative methods for solving linear systems of equations, finite difference method for solving differential equations, interpolation and approximation methods, and numerical integration methods.
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AIAIM19303 6 credits
Research Work 3
Module aim
To develop skills to do computational or experimental usearch on the selected issue.
Module description
Computational or experimental research on the selected problem.
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ELEIM17351 9 credits
Discrete Control Systems
Module aim
Learn to design and analyze discrete control systems, design controllers matching specifications of discrete control system, apply those for control of various dynamic systems and get ability to use advanced informational technologies, design systems with incompletely defined information.
Module description
Subject “Discrete control systems” provides knowledge about design strategies of discrete control systems, block diagrams, the basis of mathematical models of systems: differential equations of discrete systems, discrete Laplace transform, transfer functions and stability analysis in frequency domain (Mikhailov, Nyquist methods) and Bode diagrams; and knowledge, required for system synthesis: principles of designing of proportional, integral, integral proportional and proportional integral derivative controllers and compensating elements; knowledge about modeling of transient processes using MATLAB software.
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ELKRM17101 9 credits
Radio Communications and Their Applications
Module aim
To provide knowledge about modern radio communication systems and their practical applications.
Module description
The study course provides knowledge about data transmission systems, their block diagram and processes. Also this subject will enable students to better understand the wireless radio communication (WRC) technologies, to learn about recent and future trends of WRC technologies. Implementation of these systems in the SDR transceivers is analyzed.
Students must participate in no less than 60% of the scheduled practical works -
ELESM17101 9 credits
Signals and Signal Processing
Module aim
Increasing of knowledge and skills in theoretical analysis of signals and their processing methods in newest technology. Be able to explain the proposed solution, self-employed or diverse.
Module description
The course of Signals and Processing provides knowledge on the basic items of signal theory: the analysis techniques of signals changing in electronic circuits, dynamic signals mapping, geometrical methods of signal theory, orthogonal signals theory, methods of calculating the amount of information. The mathematical models of fixed range signals and their associated sampling theorem, analytical signal, Gilbert’s transformation are analyzed. During the study of discrete signals and their processing the students learn to make mathematical models of discrete signals and calculate the signal characteristics. The skills to analyze creation, processing and utilization of digital signals are acquired. Analog-digital and digital-analog converters, the fast Fourier transform and its applications, digital filtering algorithms in time and frequency domain, the digital device speed are analyzed. Students must complete all scheduled laboratory work.
Students must attend at least 60% of the practical exercises (practical work) and at least half of the lectures according to the semester schedule.
4 Semester
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AIAIM17195 30 credits
Master Graduation Thesis
Module aim
Completion of the research work. Analysis and generalization of results. Preparation and defense of the prepared Master Thesis in order to substantiate that the obtained competence corresponds to the Aeronautical Engineering Master level.
Module description
Completion of the research work preparation of Master thesis report. Analysis and generalization of the results. Preparation of the material the scientific conference (or a paper for a scientific journal). Preparation and defense of the prepared Master Thesis in order to substantiate that the obtained knowledge, experience and competence corresponding to the Aeronautical Engineering Master level. The prepared conference report or paper must be presented in an appendix of the Master thesis.
Students must attend at least 60% of the time scheduled practical lectures.
Students must attend at least 80% of the time scheduled laboratory work.
Statistics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Enrolled students | 9 |
| Enrolled to FT | 9 |
| Min FT grade | 9.24 |