astronautiikassa

Astronautiikka (Finnish for astronautics) is the field of study and practice concerned with the design, development, testing, and operation of spacecraft and space missions. It combines engineering, physics, and systems science to enable space exploration and utilization. Core areas include propulsion and power systems, spacecraft structures and thermal control, avionics and control systems, guidance, navigation and control, mission design and analysis, orbital mechanics, space environments, and space robotics. Supporting disciplines cover communications, payloads and instruments, life support and human factors for crewed missions, as well as space law, policy, and ethics.

Historically, astronautiikka grew from early 20th-century rocket theory by Tsiolkovsky, Oberth, and Goddard to practical spaceflight in the space age. The field produced satellite technology, crewed programs, and increasingly complex missions. Today it encompasses small satellites and constellations, reusable launch systems, and international collaborations across agencies and industry, with ongoing research in autonomous systems, in-situ resource utilization, and deep-space exploration.

In Finland, the term is used in education and research to refer to this field. Universities and institutes offer programs related to aerospace engineering and space systems, and Finnish researchers participate in European space programs and collaborations with industry partners and space agencies.

See also: spaceflight, aerospace engineering, astrodynamics, satellite, propulsion.