BASILES NG : a Space Simulator for Engineers at the University of Liège in Partnership with SPACEBEL
A strengthened collaboration between the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering and SPACEBEL
Since the 2025–2026 academic year, the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering of the University of Liège has integrated the BASILES NG software into the astrodynamics course of the Master of Aerospace Engineering, under the coordination of Professor Gaëtan Kerschen.
Developed by SPACEBEL for and with the CNES, BASILES NG is an open simulation framework designed for the development and representation of complex simulation systems in the space domain.
Training engineers with professional tools
The integration of BASILES NG enables second-year Master’s students in Aerospace Engineering to:
- Design and analyse the mission of a “classical” satellite
- Work within an environment aligned with industrial standards
- Use professional tools such as VTS (Visualisation Tool for Space Data)
- Develop and operate advanced simulation models
The course is structured around a project-based approach, carried out in small groups and supervised by a teaching assistant. This format strengthens students’ autonomy, systems engineering skills, and practical understanding of space mission design.
Full academic access to the software ecosystem
A non-exclusive licence agreement between the CNES and the University of Liège grants access, for strictly academic purposes, to:
- The BASILES NG source code
- Simulation and visualisation components
- Associated Python libraries
- Complementary tools (including Grafana)
- Full technical documentation
This provides students with hands-on exposure to a high-level, industry-developed simulation environment.
A sustainable academic–industry partnership
This initiative reflects a strong and lasting synergy between the Department and key actors of the European space sector.
As part of this collaboration, two engineers from SPACEBEL serve as co-lecturers for the Astrodynamics course over a five-year period, further strengthening the bridge between academic teaching and industrial practice.
Strengthening space engineering education at ULiège
By integrating BASILES NG into its curriculum, the Department:
- Reinforces its position in advanced space engineering education
- Exposes students to real industrial standards and tools
- Enhances graduate employability in the space sector
- Develops strategic partnerships with institutional and industrial stakeholders
This initiative reflects the Department’s commitment to delivering high-level education that is closely connected to the evolving needs of the space industry.
