Orbital Mechanics

Catalog description

Orbital Mechanics is a three (3) credit hour, three (3) contact hour lectures to introduce the student to mechanics of orbits. This course introduces orbital mechanics and space flight dynamics theory with application for Earth, lunar, and planetary orbiting spacecraft. Content includes: historical background and equations of motion, two-body orbital mechanics, orbit determination, orbit prediction, orbital maneuvers, lunar and interplanetary trajectories, orbital rendezvous and space navigation. The two-body orbital mechanics problem, first approximation to all exploration orbits or trajectories, is covered in full detail. Students develop computer based simulations using Matlab of orbital mechanics problems including a final mission project simulation from Earth to Mars requiring a number of orbit phases and transfers between these phases. Graduate students are expected to learn additional topics, e.g., Gibbs Method, Lambert’s Problem, Sidereal Time, and Orbit Determination from Angle and Range Measurements.