SPACEFLIGHT DYNAMICS

Course 2602

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Professor Bob Warwick

Course Outline

1. Celestial Mechanics

2. Orbital Properties

3. Orbit Specification

4. The Launch Phase

5. Near-Earth Orbital Manoeuvres

6. Orbital Perturbations

7. Deep Space Missions

8. Future Prospects

Further Reading

Spacecraft/Systems

Spacecraft Systems Engineering Fortescue & Stark 629.47

Rocket Prop. & Spacecraft Dyn. Cornelisse,Schoyer,Wakker 629.411

Space Missions Analysis & Design Wertz & Larson 629.41

Rocket and Spacecraft Propulsion Turner 629.475

Celestial Mechanics

Orbital Motion Roy 521.3

Fundamentals of Astrodynamics Bates, Mueller and White 629.411

Adventures in Celestial Mechanics Szebehely 521.1

Spaceflight Dynamics Wiesel 629.41

General Interest

Starflight Handbook Mallove & Matloff 629.4

Websites

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/basics/

Topic I - Celestial Mechanics

1.1 Kepler’s Laws; Newton’s Law of Gravity

1.2 The Many Body Problem

1.3 The Two-Body Problem

Topic 2 - Orbital Properties

2.1 Types of Conic Section

2.2 Dependence on the Initial Conditions

2.3 Measuring the Position in the Orbit

Topic 3 - Orbit Specification

3.1 Reference Frames and Coordinate Systems

3.2 The Orbital Elements

3.3 Orbit Determination

Topic 4 - The Launch Phase

4.1 Launching Spacecraft from the Earth

4.2 Launch Trajectories

4.3 Launch Sites and Ground Stations

Ariane V ECA

21,000 kg to LEO

10,500 kg to GTO

Automated Transfer Vehicle

• First launch – July 25 2007

Ares V & Ares I Launch Systems

Topic 5 - Near-Earth Orbital Manoeuvres

5.1 Adjustment of Orbital Parameters

5.2 Hohmann Transfer to Geosynchronous Orbit

5.3 Transfer to Geostationary Orbit

Topic 6 - Orbital Perturbations

6.1 Effects due to the Earth’s Gravitational Potential

6.2 Atmospheric Drag, Luni-Solar & Other Perturbations

6.3 Station Keeping in Geostationary Orbit

Topic 7 - Deep Space Missions

7.1 Planetary `Spheres of Influence’

7.2 Feasibility Studies of Interplanetary Missions

7.3 Computing Interplanetary Trajectories

Topic 8 - Future Prospects

8.1 Interstellar Missions

8.2 Advanced Propulsion Concepts

8.3 Space Elevators