Introduces the concepts of spacecraft orbital mechanics and attitude dynamics. Orbital mechanics is the study of the positional motion, while attitude dynamics describes the orientation of the spacecraft. Topics include: review of rotational kinematics and dynamics, orbital mechanics, gravity turn and trajectory optimization, orbit lifetimes, three-body problem, orbit perturbations, orbit determination, spacecraft dynamics, spinning and three-axis stabilized spacecraft, and attitude determination.
Text: Schaub, H., and Junkins, J.L, “Analytical Mechanics of Space Systems” 2nd Edition, AIAA Educational Series, Reston, VA 2009
- Orbital Dynamics
- Introduction and Vectors
- Introduction to Orbital Dynamics
- Ellipses, Kepler and Newton
- Angular Momentum & Newton’s Law
- The Two-Body Problem
- Kepler’s Equation
- Orbital Coordinate Systems
- Lagrange/Gibbs F and G Solution
- Spacecraft Formation Flying
- Orbita Determination
- Earth-Satellite Operations
- Attitude Dynamics
- Transport Theorem
- Newtonian Mechanics
- Angular Momentum & Kinetic Energy
- Attitude Matrix
- Attitude Representations
- Attitude Kinematics
- Rotational Dynamics
- Inertia and Kinetic Energy
- Euler’s Rotational Equations
- Energy/Momentum Integrals and Attitude Control
- Attitude Determination and Feedback Attitude Control
- Spacecraft Missions
Years Taught: Spring ’07, Spring ’08, Spring’09, Spring ’10, Spring ’11, Spring ’12, Spring ’13, Spring ’14, Spring ’15