Orbital Mechanics

Catalog description

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of orbital mechanics, focusing on two-body motion and conic sections. Students will explore Kepler’s laws, integrals of motion, and the universal variables formulation as they apply to spacecraft orbits. Emphasis is placed on both analytical and numerical methods for predicting orbits, accounting for gravitational, aerodynamic, and other perturbing forces. The course covers specific trajectory types, including ballistic missile trajectories, lunar and planetary orbits, and deep space missions. Additionally, students will learn the fundamentals of perturbation theory, variation of parameters, and Lagrange’s planetary equations, with applications to orbital maneuvers, rendezvous, and space navigation.