MAE 4060/5065 – Introduction to Spaceflight Mechanics

Introduction to spacecraft orbit mechanics, attitude dynamics, and the design and implementation of spaceflight maneuvers for satellites, probes, and rockets. Principles of spacecraft propulsion technology and attitude-control technology are introduced. Discussions of current problems and trends in spacecraft operation and development.

Code used in lectures for this course may be found at: https://github.com/dsavransky/MAE4060

All lecture handouts can be downloaded here.

A version of this course is now available as an online certificate course from eCornell: https://ecornell.cornell.edu/certificates/engineering/spaceflight-mechanics/

MAE 6720/ASTRO 6579 – Advanced Astrodynamics

A graduate level course in astrodynamics, celestial mechanics, and trajectory design. Course topics include a brief review of the two body problem, impulsive transfers, and perturbations; orbit determination and one-way ranging; algebraic and symplectic mappings and surfaces of section; the circular and elliptical 3-body problem, invariant manifolds and 3-body orbit design; secular and resonant perturbations; finite and continuous thrust modeling and transfer design. The course will emphasize numerical methods and building deep understanding of modern approaches to orbital design and analysis problems, as well as the understanding and analysis of natural orbital systems.

Code used in lectures for this course may be found at: https://github.com/dsavransky/MAE6720 and https://github.com/dsavransky/MAE4060

All of the lectures for this course are available on youtube.  Each set of lectures has an associated handout:

1 – Review

Lecture Videos      1 – Review-handout

2 – The Two-Body Problem

Lecture Videos    2 – The Two Body Problem-handout

3 – Orbits in Time and Space

Lecture Videos    3 – Orbits in Time and Space-handout

4 – Orbit Determination

Lecture Videos    4 – Orbit Determination-handout

5 – Perturbations from Circular and Elliptic Orbits

Lecture Videos    5 – Perturbations from Circular and Elliptic Orbits-handout

6 – The Three-Body Problem

Lecture Videos    6 – The Three Body Problem-handout

7 – Towards General Perturbations

Lecture Videos    7 – Towards General Perturbations-handout

8 – Hamilton Jacobi Perturbations

Lecture Videos    8 – Hamilton-Jacobi Perturbations-handout

9 – Lagrange Planetary Equations

Lecture Videos    9 – Lagrange Planetary Equations-handout

10 – Non-Spherical Gravity Fields and Non-Gravitational Forces

Lecture Videos    10 – Non-Spherical Gravity Fields and Non-Gravitational Forces-handout

11 – Numerical Methods

Lecture Videos    11 – Numerical Methods-handout

12 – Secular and Resonant Perturbations

Lecture Videos    12 – Secular and Resonant Perturbations-handout

MAE 6530 – Space Exploration Engineering

A graduate-level survey course on the engineering problems associated with the re- mote and in-situ exploration of space, with a particular focus on current and near-future practices and tools. Topics covered include science-driven robotic and human exploration of the solar system, astrophysical observatories, and exoplanet detection and characterization.

One of the lectures from this course is a general overview on methods for the detection and characterization of exoplanets:

A related video illustrating some of the methods:

Slides for this lecture are available here: Overview of Techniques for the Detection and Characterization of Exoplanets

MAE 2030 – Dynamics

Newtonian dynamics of a particle, systems of particles and of a rigid body. Force, torque, impulse, momentum, angular momentum, energy, and vibrations. Two and three-dimensional rigid body kinematics including motion relative to a moving frame. The course includes presentations of laboratory experiments to demonstrate some basic principles.

MATLAB code used in lectures for this course may be found at: https://github.com/dsavransky/MAE2030