MAE 3060 - Spacecraft Engineering

Spring. 3 credits.

Prerequisite: TAM 2030 or junior or senior MAE or ECE students or permission of instructor.

Staff.

Introduction to spacecraft engineering from concept design through launch and in-orbit operations. Topics include space missions, space environment, orbital mechanics, and systems engineering. Most spacecraft subsystems are introduced including propulsion, attitude determination and control, structure, thermal design, and communications. Earth-orbiting satellites and interplanetary probes are considered. Discussions of current problems and trends in space technology and professional practice.

Outcome 1: Students will understand, at a higher systems level, space missions and systems, and how the space environment and mission requirements drive spacecraft design.

Outcome 2: Students will understand the application of Kepler’s laws for orbital motion, how to propagate an orbit, and calculate parameters associated with mission operations, including launch, insertion, and interplanetary transfers.

Outcome 3: Students will understand the basic fundamentals of spacecraft subsystems, including propulsion, attitude determination and control, power, structures, thermal, communications, and command and data handling.

Outcome 4: Students will be able to simulate a spacecraft in orbit using state of the art tools, and identify and characterize subsystems for a preliminary spacecraft design.