EAS 4510 - Astrodynamics
Spring 2018

COURSE INSTRUCTOR

Instructor: Dr. Anil V. Rao, MAE-A 314, E-mail: anilvrao@ufl.edu. Tel: 352-392-5523 (Office); (352) 672-1529 (Mobile, for Calls and Texts). All contact methods are acceptable!

COURSE OBJECTIVES

  • Characterize and understand the key properties of the motion of a spacecraft in orbit under central body gravitation.
  • Design basic impulsive in-plane and out-of-plane maneuvers to transfer a spacecraft between two orbits.
  • Perform preliminary analysis for space missions including missions where a spacecraft is transferred between two bodies.
  • Understand the motion of a spacecraft under the influence of non-central gravity perturbations.

IMPORTANT NOTE

I consider it an honor and a privilege to be able to teach all of you, and I intend to provide the best instruction possible in order to enable you to learn the material well. If you cannot make office hours, please contact me and we will set up a time for you to get help. Regardless of how busy I am with other things, I will do what I am able to make myself available.

APPROXIMATE SCHEDULE FOR MATERIAL

Topic

Review of Newtonian
Mechanics

Motion of a Spacecraft Under Central Body Gravitation

Parameterization of Orbit in Space Using Position and Velocity

Determination of Position and Velocity from Orbital Elements

Determination of Time
on an Orbit and Position on an Orbit Given Time

In-Plane and Out-of-Plane
Impulsive and Non-Impulsive
Orbital Transfer

Inter-Body Trajectories and Orbital Transfer Between Two Bodies

Non-Central
Body Gravitation

Material Covered

Particle Kinematics and Kinetics, Rigid Body Kinematics and Kinetics

Formulation and Solution of Two-Body Differential Equation

Computation of Orbital
Elements from Position and Velocity

Computation of Position and Velocity Given Orbital Elements

Definition of Eccentric Anomaly. Solution of Kepler's Equation Using Eccentric Anomaly

Hohmann/Bi-Elliptic Transfer; Phase / Apsis / Inclination Change; Rocket Equation

Patched-Conics; Launch Windows; Mid-Course Corrections; Fly-Bys

Perturbations, Rendezvous, and Relative Motion

Schedule

Weeks
1 and 2

Week
3

Week
4

Week
5

Weeks
6 and 7

Weeks
8 Through 10

Weeks
11 and 12

Weeks
13 and 14

COURSE LOCATIONS AND CLASS PERIODS

MWF Period 6 (12:50 PM to 1:40 PM). Room: Little Hall 109

OFFICE HOURS

Name

Office Hours

E-mail Address



Anil Rao (Instructor)

MW: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
or by appointment. Please do not hesitate to contact me by e-mail, mobile phone, or text message if you need help!

Joseph Eide
(Teaching Assistant)

TBD

Note: if for some reason you are unable to make my office hours, you can always schedule an appointment at a time that is mutually agreeable to both you and I.

TEXTBOOK

Curtis, H. D., Orbital Mechanics for Engineering Students, Third Edition. Elsevier/Butterworth-Heinemann, ISBN: 0080977472. Both printed and electronic version of this book are available.

COURSE NOTES

I have created a set of typeset notes for the course. These notes are continually being updated. The current version of the notes are available by clicking here.

PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

You must be fluent in at least one of the following programming languages: C, C++, Java, or MATLAB, but it is strongly preferred that all programming be done in MATLAB. Whichever programming language you choose, you must have access to the requisite software or compilers required to use that programming language.

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

The homework will consist of three major homework assignments and a final project. All assignments are due at 5:00 PM on the due date and must be submitted through the Canvas course page on the University of Florida E-learning website.

Assignment

Assignment

Due Date

Homework #1

Homework #2

Course Notes:
Chapter 1 Problems

Course Notes:
Chapter 2 Problems

2 February 2018

28 February 2018

Homework #3

Course Notes:
Chapter 3 Problems

14 March 2018

Homework #4

Course Notes:
Chapter 5 Problems

11 April 2018

Homework #5

Bonus #1:
STK Level 1
Certification

Bonus #1:
STK Level 2
Certification

TBD

Register at https://www.agi.com/training#cert to Complete Training

Register at https://www.agi.com/training#cert to Complete Training

25 April 2018

Final
Day
of Class

Final
Day
of Class

EXAM SCHEDULE, FORMAT, AND EXPECTATIONS

Quiz

Contents

Due Date

Quiz #1

Quiz #2

Based on HW #1

Based on HW #2

5 February 2018

28 February 2018

Quiz #3

Based on HW #3

21 March 2018

Quiz #4

Based on HW #4

28 March 2018

Quiz #5

Based on HW #5

23 April 2018

EXAM FORMAT


The course will have five quizzes. All quizzes will be held in class a duration of 45 minutes for each exam. It is important to note that in this course you will be examined on a balance of both theory and problem solving. Specifically, each exam will consist of 40 percent theory and 60 percent problem-solving. Because of the manner in which the exams are structured, it is extremely important that you understand the theory in addition to just being able to solve problems. Furthermore, because the homework questions take a great deal of time and thought, I urge each of you to do the assignments on the schedule I provide and not wait until the last minute to complete the assignments. If you procrastinate on completing the homework assignments, it will be reflected in your quiz scores.

MATERIALS PERMITTED FOR USE DURING EXAMS

All quizzes are closed book, closed notes, and the only electronic aid permitted is a calculator.

ATTENDANCE RULES

Regular attendance is expected of all students. All attendance rules will be follow the official University of Florida Attendance Policies as found by clicking here. Attendance will be monitored via in-class quizzes that will not be announced in advance of the lecture (see grading below).

MAKE-UP QUIZ POLICIES

The following list comprises the only legitimate reasons to request a make-up for a quiz: (1) a student illness with a note from a physician that the student was ill on the date of the exam; (2) a family emergency that requires immediate attention; (3) a legitimate absence based on the University of Florida approved absences for University related participation in extra-curricular activities; (4) University of Florida exam policies based on a conflict with an exam in another course. Because the quizzes are being held in class, no make-up will be permitted for any exams in other courses that may be held that same day.

COURSE GRADING

Item

Homework
Assignments

Quizzes

Bonus #1

Bonus #2

Total

Percent Value

5 @ 12 Percent = 60 Percent
(Lowest Quiz Score Dropped; Highest Quiz Score Counted Twice)

5 @ 8 Percent = 40 Percent

10 Percent

10 Percent

100 Percent + 20 Percent Bonus

IMPORTANT NOTE: The unannounced in-class quizzes are purely for attendance purposes. As such, these in-class quizzes will not be graded (they are purely self-diagnostic so that each of you can get a sense as to whether or not you understand a particular concept), but missing a quiz on account of an unexcused absence will result in a lowering of a student's final grade in the manner described above (that is, a deduction of one step for each missed quiz on account of an unexcused absence).

GRADING SCALE

Grades in this course are determined using the following scale:

Letter Grade

A

A-

B+

B

B-

C+

C

C-

D+

D

D-

E

Score Range

1 Standard Deviation Above Course Median and Higher

2/3 to 1 Standard Deviation Above Course Median

1/3 to 2/3 Standard Deviation Above Course Median

0 to 1/3 Standard Deviation Above Course Median

0 to 1/3 Standard Deviation Below Course Median

1/3 to 2/3 Standard Deviation Below Course Median

2/3 to 1 Standard Deviation Below Course Median

1 to 1 1/3 Standard Deviation Below Course Median

1 1/3 to 1 2/3 Standard Deviation Below Course Median

1 2/3 to 2 Standard Deviation Below Course Median

2 to 2 1/3 Standard Deviation Below Course Median

2 1/3 Standard Deviation Below Course Median and Lower

NOTES ON ASSIGNMENT OF FINAL LETTER GRADES

  • I reserve the right to uniformly raise the letter grade associated with the median score in the course to higher than the scoring system shown above. For example, if I decide to increase the letter grade associated with the median score in the course from the B-/B boundary (shown above) to the B/B+ boundary, then the letter grades associated with all ranges will be increased by the same amount as the increase in the letter grade associated with the median score in the course. In no case will the final letter grade in the course be lower than those given by the cutoffs shown above.
  • Scores that lie exactly at a boundary between two adjacent ranges will be awarded the higher grade. For example, a final score of exactly 1/3 standard deviation above the median will be awarded a grade of "B" while a final score of exactly 1/3 standard deviation below the median will be awarded a grade of "B-".
  • The grading scale shown above does not include any deductions for missed in-class quizzes ("Course Grading" above).
  • Finally, it is noted that while your individual scores for assignments, exams, and quizzes will be posted on E-learning (Canvas), the Canvas portal may not accurately reflect a student's relative standing in the class. Regardless of the information that is seen in Canvas, computation of final grades will be based on the criteria set forth above and a student's grade will only be final when grades have been computed at the end of the semester.