EAS4510 - Astrodynamics
Spring 2020
COURSE INSTRUCTOR
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
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
OFFICE HOURS
Name
Hours and Location
E-mail Address
Anil Rao (Instructor)
Monday/Wednesday/Friday:
2:00 PM — 4:00 PM
Tuesday/Thursday
10:00 AM — 12:00 PM
Location: Reitz Union Food Court
Note: I am also most definitely available by appointment or via e-mail, mobile phone, or text message. Please do not hesitate to contact me by any of these methods if you need help!
TEXTBOOK
2. MATLAB for Dummies, Second Edition, John Wiley & Sons, 2014.
COURSE NOTES
PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS
Assignment
Assignment
Due Date
Homework #0
Homework #1
Homework #2
Background Material
Chapter 1 Problems
Chapter 2 Problems
17 January 2020
3 February 2020
24 February 2020
Homework #3
Chapter 3 Problems
20 March 2020
Homework #4
Homework #5
Chapter 5 Problems
Chapter 6 Problems
8 April 2020
22 April 2020
Bonus #1
Bonus #2
STK Level 1 Certification
STK Level 2 Certification
24 April 2020
24 April 2020
MINI-PROJECT SCHEDULE
Mini-Project
Contents
Date Assigned
Date Due
Mini-Project #1
Mini-Project #2
Mini-Project #3
Mini-Project #4
Material Through HW #1
Material Through HW #2
Material Through HW #3
Material Through HW #4
3 February 2020
24 February 2020
23 March 2020
13 April 2020
10 February 2020
2 March 2020
30 March 2020
20 April 2020
IN-CLASS QUIZ SCHEDULE
In-Class Quiz
Contents
Date
In-Class
Quiz #1
In-Class
Quiz #2
In-Class
Quiz #3
Based on Material
Through HW #1
Based on Material
Through HW #3
Based on Material
Through HW #4
In-Class
21 February 2020
In-Class
25 March 2020
In-Class
20 April 2020
MINI-PROJECT ORMAT
The course will have four mini-projects. Each mini-project will be made available at 5:00 PM on a Friday and will be due the following Friday by noon. Late mini-projects will not be accepted under any circumstances except the usual exceptions (illness or other emergency). Each mini-project will require the use of MATLAB along with an understanding of the key concepts. Thus, it is extremely important that you understand the theory in addition to just being able to solve problems. Furthermore, the mini-projects will require knowledge gained in the process of completing the homework assignments. Your grade on the mini-projects will be reflected via any procrastination in completing homework assignments.
IN-CLASS QUIZ FORMAT
The course will have three in-class quizzes. Each of these quizzes will be during the regular class period and will be 45 minutes in duration. These quizzes will consist of short answer questions or questions that can be answered with calculations that can be performed using a scientific calculator. The objective of these quizzes is to test an understanding of basic concepts studied to that point in the course.
MATERIALS PERMITTED FOR USE DURING EXAMS
All mini-projects and in-class quizzes are open book and open notes. Aside from the notes and the book, no other materials except a computer (to use MATLAB) or a calculator (for in-class quizzes) is permitted. Copying from any unallowable source (including, but not limited to, other students quizzes and resources available on the internet) will be considered cheating. All mini-projects and quizzes will be sent through the TurnItIn software on Canvas to check against all aforementioned material. Any student found to have copied will be in violation of the cheating policy in the course (see below).
ATTENDANCE RULES
CHEATING
MAKE-UP QUIZ POLICIES
COURSE GRADING
Item
Homework Assignments
Mini-Projects
In-Class Quizzes
Bonus #1 (STK Level 1 Certification)
Bonus #2 (STK Level 2 Certification)
Total
Point Value
6 @ 5 Points = 30 Points
4 @ 10 Points = 40 Points
3 @ 10 Points = 30 Points
5 Points
5 Points
100 Points + 10 Points Bonus
GRADING SCALE
Letter Grade
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
E
Score Range
95 and Above
90 to less than 95
85 to less than 90
80 to less than 85
75 to less than 80
70 to less than 75
65 to less than 70
60 to less than 65
55 to less than 60
50 to less than 55
45 to less than 50
Less Than 45
NOTES ON ASSIGNMENT OF FINAL LETTER GRADES
- The grading scale posted above is not flexible.
- Any score on the boundary between two ranges will receive the higher grade (for example, a 94 receives a grade of "A-").
- 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.
