Orbital Mechanics & Aerospace Simulations

AES 4607 CRN 35010 13:00 – 16:20 Fridays,

Spring 2012 Semester Jan 17, 2012 – May 11, 2012

AES 4607

Contact Instructor Jose Lopez jlopez93@mscd.edu

Purpose:  The purpose of this class is to teach the student an introduction into the System Tool Kit (STK) software by Analytical Graphics Inc (AGI), its interface and capabilities from an Orbital Mechanics point of view. The aviation Mission Modeler will also be covered. At the same time the basics of Orbital mechanics would be covered, but with a minimal use of mathematics. The students will be introduced to the basics of integral calculus and vector analysis in order to understand orbital mechanics and STK concepts. The software will complete the actual calculations.

Goal: At the end of this one semester class the student will be able to navigate through the STK software, develop complex orbital and aviation scenarios, understand the various ways STK can propagate an orbit, and create orbits without using the Orbit Wizard. The students will understand the physics behind the orbital mechanics. The students will be able to use constellations to simplify calculations, use chains, create access charts, add sensors to either the satellites or facilities, and create videos and STK pictures.

Textbook: Bate, Mueller and White “Fundamentals of Astrodynamics”

Prerequisites: Algebra, Basic Physics (or Astronomy). With the agreement of the instructor, students with minimal math and physics backgrounds may attend. Math concepts will be reviewed in class

The class will meet once a week for three hours. One and a half hour will be instruction, while the second one and a half hour will be a laboratory in which the students will create scenarios using the STK software.