Browse Hierarchy EMS610U: Spacecraft Design

This module will cover a description of the space environment and its influence on the spacecraft design and materials selection, an in depth description of Keplerian celestial mechanics, co-planar and non-planar orbital transfers involving both impulsive and continuous manoeuvres, and perturbation effects that characterise the real non-Keplerian nature of orbital motion. An introduction to space vehicle propulsion will be presented including a description of launch-vehicle dynamics, the rocket equation and metrics that are used to characterise the fuel requirements over a mission. Chemical propulsion systems and the basics of electric propulsion will be introduced, and the principles and features of a range spacecraft thrusters discussed to facilitate the selection of an appropriate propulsion system for a specific mission.