Spaceflight Mechanics

MANE-4100

Review of basic dynamics. Analysis of spacecraft trajectories, target rendezvous, and interception. Hohmann transfer, escape trajectories, interplanetary missions, the restricted three-body problem. Rigid body dynamics with application to gyrodynamics, stabilized platforms, gravity-gradient and spin stabilization of satellites, gyrostats. Selected topics such as drag-free satellites, vehicle launch and reentry, deployment dynamics (time permitting). MATLAB/Simulink is used as a simulation-visualization aid.

4 credits

Past Term Data

Offered
Not Offered
Offered as Cross-Listing Only
No Term Data
Spring Summer Fall
(Session 1) (Session 2)
2025
Spaceflight Mechanics (4c)
  • Sandeep Singh
Seats Taken: 115/135
2024
Spaceflight Mechanics (4c)
  • Sandeep Singh
Seats Taken: 73/80
2023
Spaceflight Mechanics (4c)
  • Sandeep Singh
Seats Taken: 80/90
2022
Spaceflight Mechanics (4c)
  • Kurt S Anderson
Seats Taken: 95/120
2021
Spaceflight Mechanics (4c)
  • John A. Christian
Seats Taken: 60/75
2020
Spaceflight Mechanics (4c)
  • John A. Christian
Seats Taken: 63/90
2019
Spaceflight Mechanics (4c)
  • Kurt S Anderson
Seats Taken: 88/90
2018
Spaceflight Mechanics (4c)
  • Kurt S Anderson
Seats Taken: 75/85
2017
Spaceflight Mechanics (4c)
  • Jeremy Laflin
Seats Taken: 63/70
2016
Spaceflight Mechanics (4c)
  • Kurt S Anderson
Seats Taken: 66/0
2015
Spaceflight Mechanics (4c)
  • Kurt S Anderson
Seats Taken: 56/70
2014
Spaceflight Mechanics (4c)
  • Kurt S Anderson
Seats Taken: 42/70
2013
Spaceflight Mechanics (4c)
  • Kurt S Anderson
Seats Taken: 60/70
2012
Spaceflight Mechanics (4c)
  • Kurt S Anderson
Seats Taken: 46/50
2011
Spaceflight Mechanics (4c)
  • Kurt S Anderson
Seats Taken: 59/60
2010
Spaceflight Mechanics (4c)
  • Kurt S Anderson
Seats Taken: 51/60
2009
Spaceflight Mechanics (4c)
  • Kurt S Anderson
Seats Taken: 38/40
2008
Spaceflight Mechanics (4c)
  • Marie M. Dieffenbach
  • Kurt S Anderson
Seats Taken: 32/40
2007
Spaceflight Mechanics (4c)
  • Kurt S Anderson
Seats Taken: 30/32
2006
Spaceflight Mechanics (4c)
  • Kurt S Anderson
Seats Taken: 16/40
2005
Spaceflight Mechanics (4c)
  • Kurt S Anderson
Seats Taken: 11/40
2004
2003
Spaceflight Mechanics (4c)
  • Marcelo R M Crespo da Silva
Seats Taken: 9/35
2002
Spaceflight Mechanics (4c)
  • Marcelo R M Crespo da Silva
Seats Taken: 13/20
2001
2000
1999
1998