The first part of the course aims to provide the students with basic and advanced knowledge of the major problems concerning space instruments construction. Physical environment in space, mechanical and thermal design of the instruments, electronics and related radiation hardness, SEU and latch-up problems, data handling and power supply systems, instrument reliability, project management and control, documentation, quality assurance estimation. The interaction mechanisms relevant for radiation detectors will be discussed as well as the most significant space instruments for Earth observation and cosmic ray, X, gamma detection. Several instruments and probes will be examined in detail. The second part of the course discusses orbital mechanics, rocket and interplanetary probes and the history of space exploration.