ECE 2695 (3 Credits): Introduction to Space Engineering (Fall 2024)

 

Description: This course is a comprehensive overview of space engineering. Topics to be covered include: importance and applications of space, space environment, orbital mechanics, spacecraft dynamics, systems engineering, control systems, spacecraft subsystems (communication and data-handling subsystem, electrical power subsystem, environmental control and life-support subsystem, and structures), rocket propulsion, space operations, and space politics and economics.

 

Prerequisite: Knowledge of ECE 0402 (Signals, Systems & Probability) and college physics.

 

Times and Places: Wednesday 6 pm-8:30 pm; 106 Allen Hall.

 

Instructor:

 

Zhi-Hong Mao

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Email: maozh@engr.pitt.edu

Office hours: Monday 3:30 pm−5 pm

(Zoom link) https://pitt.zoom.us/j/6288281300.

 

Textbooks:

 

[Required] J. J. Sellers, W. J. Astore, R. B. Giffen, and W. J. Larson, Understanding Space: An Introduction to Astronautics, 4th Edition (or 3rd Edition), McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2015 (or 2005).

 

[Recommended] A. H. J. de Ruiter, C. J. Damaren, and J. R. Forbes, Spacecraft Dynamics and Control: An Introduction, John Wiley & Sons, 2013.

 

Course Evaluation:

 

Homework 25%, class participation 10%, midterm exam 25%, and final exam 40%.

 

Schedule for Lectures:

 

Date

Topics

Suggested Readings in the Required Textbook

 

8/28

Lecture 1-Part 1: Course organization; space in our lives; review of vector math and Newton's laws

 

Lecture 1-Part 2:

1) Exploring space (I)-(III), by Space Technology Series

2) Solar system exploration 50 years, by National Geographic

 

Chapters 1-2 and Appendix A

 

9/4

Lecture 2-Part 1: Two-body equations of motion; the orbit equation; Kepler's laws

 

Lecture 2-Part 2:

1) Space environment (I)-(III), by Space Technology Series

2) Body space, by European Space Agency (ESA)

 

Chapters 3-4

9/11

Lecture 3-Part 1 (cont'd from Lecture 2-Part 1)

 

Lecture 3-Part 2:

1) Describing orbits (I)-(III), by Grant Thomas, US Air Force Academy (USAFA)

2) Describing orbits (IV), by Space Technology Series

3) Predicting orbits, by Grant Thomas, USAFA

4) Maneuvering in space, by Space Technology Series

5) ATV rendezvous and docking, by ESA

 

Chapters 5-6 and Section 8.1

9/18

Lecture 4-Part 1: Kepler's time equation and solution; orbital elements

 

Lecture 4-Part 2:

1) Interplanetary travel, by Space Technology Series

2) Orbital perturbations, by Grant Thomas, USAFA

3) How do spacecraft navigate in space, by Paul Shillito, Curious Droid

4) How to perform a gravity assist, by Sean Psujek

5) Einstein and Mercury, by Learning Curve

 

Chapter 7 and Sections 8.2-8.3

9/25

Lecture 5-Part 1: Orbit determination; orbital perturbations

 

Lecture 5-Part 2:

1) Getting to orbit (I)-(II), by Grant Thomas, USAFA

2) Getting to orbit (III), by Space Technology Series

3) Re-entry, by Space Technology Series

4) Calculating Shuttle launch windows, by NASA eClips

5) Soyuz undocking re-entry and landing explained, by ESA

 

Chapters 9-10

 

10/2

Lecture 6-Part 1: Orbit control: maneuvers and spacecraft formation flying

 

Lecture 6-Part 2:

1) Space systems engineering, by Space Technology Series

2) Systems engineering and the Pegasus rocket, by Antonio Elias, Orbital ATK

 

Chapter 11

10/9

Lecture 7-Part 1 (cont'd from Lecture 6-Part 1)

 

Lecture 7-Part 2:

1) Overview of project management of satellite development, by Shinichi Nakasuka, University of Tokyo

2) Project management in under 8 minutes, by Chris Croft, Management Speaker and Author

3) 10 project management terms you need to know, by Adriana Girdler, Cornerstone Dynamics

 

Chapter 11

 

 

10/16

Midterm exam

 

 

10/23

Lecture 8-Part 1: Spacecraft control systems

 

Lecture 8-Part 2:

1) Spacecraft subsystems overview, by National Security Space Institute (NSSI)

2) Communication and data handling subsystem (CDHS), by Cameron Cunningham, USAFA

3) Electrical power subsystem (EPS), by USAFA

4) How do we communicate with space, by Primal Space

5) The problem of power in space, by Fraser Cain, Universe Today

 

Chapters 12-13

10/30

Lecture 9-Part 1: Rotation matrices; reference frames; spacecraft attitude representations

 

Lecture 9-Part 2:

1) Thermal control subsystem (TCS), by Blair Thompson, USAFA

2) Environmental control and life support subsystem (ECLSS), by Space Technology Series

3) Structures and mechanisms (I), by Gillian Saunders-Smits, Delft University of Technology

4) Structures and mechanisms (II), by Grant Thomas, USAFA

5) Spacecraft thermal system, by Reflective Layer

6) Environmental control on the International Space Station, by NASA eClips

 

Chapter 13

11/6

Lecture 10-Part 1: Spacecraft attitude dynamics; torque-free attitude motion

 

Lecture 10-Part 2:

1) Rockets and launch vehicles (I)-(II), by Space Technology Series

2) Power and propulsion, by NASA

3) The Soyuz launch sequence explained, by ESA

 

 

Chapter 14

11/13

Lecture 11-Part 1 (cont'd from Lecture 10-Part 1)

 

Lecture 11-Part 2:

1) The evolution of space rockets, by Tech Vision

2) Rocket engine cycles: how do you power a rocket engine, by Tim Dodd, Everyday Astronaut

 

Chapter 14

 

 

11/20

Lecture 12-Part 1: Disturbance torques; spin stabilization

 

Lecture 12-Part 2:

1) Space operations (I)-(II), by Space Technology Series

2) Space mission operations, by NSSI

3) The Shuttle program: formulation, development, and operations--mission and flight operations, by Tommy Holloway, NASA

 

Chapter 15

11/27

Thanksgiving Recess

 

 

12/4

Lecture 13-Part 1: Active spacecraft attitude control

 

Lecture 13-Part 2:

1) Astropolitics, by MTWright

2) The future of the space economy, by CNBC

 

Chapter 16

12/11

Final exam

 

 

Course Policies:

 

Academic Integrity

 

Students in this course will be expected to comply with the University of Pittsburgh's Policy on Academic Integrity and the Swanson School of Engineering Policy. Any student suspected of violating this obligation for any reason during the semester will be required to participate in the procedural process, initiated at the instructor level, as outlined in the University Guidelines on Academic Integrity. This may include, but is not limited to, the confiscation of the examination of any individual suspected of violating University Policy. Furthermore, no student may bring any unauthorized materials to an exam, including dictionaries and programmable calculators.

 

To learn more about Academic Integrity, visit the Academic Integrity Guide for an overview of the topic. For hands- on practice, complete the Understanding and Avoiding Plagiarism tutorial.

 

Disability Services

 

If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, you are encouraged to contact both your instructor and Disability Resources and Services (DRS), 140 William Pitt Union, (412) 648-7890, drsrecep@pitt.edu, (412) 228-5347 for P3 ASL users, as early as possible in the term. DRS will verify your disability and determine reasonable accommodations for this course.

 

Statement on Classroom Recording

 

To ensure the free and open discussion of ideas, students may not record classroom lectures, discussion and/or activities without the advance written permission of the instructor, and any such recording properly approved in advance can be used solely for the student's own private use.

 

Student Opinion of Teaching Surveys 

 

Students in this class will be asked to complete a Student Opinion of Teaching Survey. Surveys will be sent via Pitt email and appear on your Canvas landing page during the last three weeks of class meeting days. Your responses are anonymous. Please take time to thoughtfully respond, your feedback is important to me. Read more about Student Opinion of Teaching Surveys.

 

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

 

The University of Pittsburgh does not tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation based on disability, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, marital status, familial status, sex, age, sexual orientation, veteran status or gender identity or other factors as stated in the University's Title IX policy. The University is committed to taking prompt action to end a hostile environment that interferes with the University's mission. For more information about policies, procedures, and practices, visit the Civil Rights & Title IX Compliance web page.

 

I ask that everyone in the class strive to help ensure that other members of this class can learn in a supportive and respectful environment. If there are instances of the aforementioned issues, please contact the Title IX Coordinator, by calling 412-648-7860, or e-mailing titleixcoordinator@pitt.edu. Reports can also be filed online. You may also choose to report this to a faculty/staff member; they are required to communicate this to the University's Office of Diversity and Inclusion. If you wish to maintain complete confidentiality, you may also contact the University Counseling Center (412-648-7930).