Basic Elements of a Space Mission (2h):
Introduction to space missions, fundamentals of spacecraft types, introduction to orbits (Kepler’s laws, orbital elements), launch vehicle types, mission operations, mission management, space systems engineering and architecture
Space
Mission
Design Fundamentals (2h):
Introduction to space systems engineering process, introduction to space mission objectives and requirements definition, derivation of space mission design budgets (mass, power, RF), systems constraints.
Environmental Impacts on Design (2h):
Brief assessment of pre-launch, launch and space environments and effects on space mission design. Understanding the physics and design impact of vibration, loading, forces, accelerations, EMC, vacuum, thermal and radiation disturbances on spacecraft design.
Overview of Spacecraft Subsystems (4h):
Fundamentals of space system design, design aspects, physics and work principles of satellite command and data handling, power, attitude and orbit control subsystems satellite structures and mechanisms, payload systems. Introduction to spacecraft dynamics, adaptation of Newton’s laws for space/launch vehicles, introduction to satellite and launch vehicle mechanics (forces, torques, stress, acceleration, vibrations) and electronics design for space of key satellite subsystems (satellite solar panels, battery technologies, on board computers, memory storage in space, data handling).
Spacecraft Design and Sizing (4h):
Spacecraft requirements, system constraints and design process. Spacecraft configuration – size, mass, geometry, power, TTC, OBDH, ADCS. Design budgets. Design of spacecraft bus. Integration and interfaces. Practical examples, satellite model/simulator experiments.
Payload Design and Sizing (4h):
Overview of payload design and sizing. A planetary mission case study.
Computer-Aided Design/Modelling (2h):
Computer-aided systems engineering, concurrent engineering, MCAD/ECAD, STK
