M&AE 606, Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics and Mission Design

First Offered Spring 2005

4 Credits

 

Have a look at the detailed Course Syllabus for Spring 2005.

 

Instructor:        Professor Mason A. Peck

212 Upson Hall

ext. 5-4023

mp336@cornell.edu

 

Prerequisites:  Graduate standing or permission of instructor

 

Texts  

  • Required:
    • Hughes, P. C., Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics (2005 reprint from 1986 edition, John Wiley & Sons)
    • Articles and book chapters available on the course home page
  • Optional:
    • Kane, Thomas R., Spacecraft Dynamics, McGraw-Hill College; 1981 (now available online and as softbound print edition via Cornell IFUP; may also be bought through IFUP as a soft-cover reprint for about $20).
    • Articles and book chapters available on the course home page

 

 

This course provides students with a foundation for the design and analysis of contemporary spacecraft.  It focuses on spacecraft dynamics problems, which turn out to be of special relevance to core space-systems areas: mission design, operations, and autonomy.  Since many techniques of modern control are broadly applicable and are somewhat independent of application (spacecraft, aircraft, etc.), this course addresses only those aspects of control that are unique in this context.  The course reflects current industry practice and prepares students for the challenges presented by next-generation spacecraft.  Students will learn to analyze, simulate, and design for performance and operability in key areas: spacecraft/launch-vehicle interface and separation, attitude dynamics of spinning and body-stabilized spacecraft, momentum actuation (including wheels and control-moment gyroscopes), multibody deployments, thruster placement and maneuvering, precision pointing for optical payloads, structural dynamics, fluid-structure interactions, and component alignments.  The course also introduces the problem of attitude estimation, with application to star trackers, sun sensors, and horizon-crossing indicators.  Readings and lectures include examples based on spacecraft flight data.  Lab (or homework) exercises serve as a basis for eventual work in industry or further graduate study.  These exercises will build upon one another: students will evolve MATLAB models of spacecraft linear and nonlinear dynamics that will be quite sophisticated by the end of the semester.

 

Sample Lecture Presentations on Technology (not all lectures are in this format, however)

Pointing Design and Estimation

Deployment Technologies (related videos: 1 2 3 4 5)

 

 

Sample Homeworks

HW 3

HW 5

HW 8

 

Sample Homework Solutions

HW 3

HW 5

HW 8

 

Sample Prelim

 

Sample Prelim Solution