3. Spacecraft Design Drivers, Space and Orbit
Learning Objectives
- Associate spacecraft design drivers from various stages of the spacecraft life cycle and evaluate how they affect the spacecraft design
- Relate payload requirements to spacecraft bus subsystems requirements
- Describe the various physical phenomena that affect spacecraft in outer space
- Relate relevant parameters in mathematical expressions and calculate the magnitude of the effect
- Calculate and contrast the dominant phenomena at different regimes
- Understand the equations of motion for orbital mechanics and the variations of orbits
- Identify the spacecraft parameters that affect orbits and relate parameter change to orbit change
Spacecraft Design Parameters and Drivers
Learning Objectives
3.1 Design Process Parameters
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- Characteristics of the program
- Review Process
- Design Process
- Development Process
- Suggested Activity
3.2 Mission Components
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- Subject and Payload
- Ground Segment
- Orbit and Launch
- Spacecraft Bus
- The CubeSat Specification [CubeSat Design Specification Rev. 14]
3.3 Payload design
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- Suggested Activity
3.4 The Space Environment
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- Studying the Space Environment
- The Sun
- Electromagnetic Radiation
- Ultraviolet
- Damage Due to Ultraviolet Radiation
- X-Rays
- Gamma Rays
- Radio Waves
- Solar Electromagnetic Radiation Summary
- Solar Radiation Particles (Solar Wind)
- Solar Radiation Pressure
- Solar Radiation Torque
- Cosmic Rays
- Solar Particles Summary
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- Physical Phenomena Definition
- Gravity
- Atmosphere
- Atmospheric Layers
- The Ionosphere
- Vacuum
- Electromagnetic Radiation
- Solar Radiation Pressure
- Solar Radiation Torque
- Damage Due to Ultraviolet Radiation
- Cosmic Rays and Cosmic Radiation
- Solar Activity
- Solar Radiation Pressure
- Spacecraft Charging
- Single Event Effects
- High-Velocity Impacts
- Space Debris
- Effects on the Spacecraft
- Suggested Activity
- Physical Phenomena Definition
3.5 Orbital Mechanics
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- History of Astrodynamics
- Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543)
- Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)
- Tycho Brahe (1546-1601)
- The Basics
- Newton’s Law of Motion
- The Two-Body Problem
- Assumptions
- Equation of Motion
- Center of Mass
- Canonical Units
- Constants of Motion
- Conservation of Mechanical Energy
- Conservation of Angular Momentum
- Trajectory Equation
- Elliptical Orbits
- Apses of an Eclipse
- The Geometry of the Eclipse
- Orbital Energy
- Period of an Elliptical Orbit
- Non-Elliptical Orbits
- Circular Orbits
- Parabolic Trajectories
- Escape Speed
- Hyperbolic Trajectories
- Hyperbolic Excess Speed
- Coordinate Systems
- Heliocentric-Ecliptic Coordinate System
- Geocentric-Equatorial Coordinate System (GECS)
- Geographic Coordinate System (GCS)
- Right Ascension-Declination Coordinate System
- Perifocal Coordinate System
- Classical Orbital Elements
- Alternate COEs
- Orbital Inclination
- Effect of Launch Site on Inclination
- Orbit Anomalies
- Mean Anomaly
- Eccentric Anomaly
- NORAD Two-Line Elements (TLEs)
- Orbit Types
- Low Earth Orbits
- Sun-Synchronous Orbits
- Medium Earth Orbits
- Global Positioning System (GPS)
- GLONASS Navigation Constellation
- Galileo Navigation Constellation
- Geosynchronous Orbits
- Highly Elliptical Orbits
- Molniya Orbit
- Tundra Orbit
- Recurrent and Sub-Recurrent Orbits
- Low Earth Orbits
- Ground Tracks
- Orbital Maneuvers
- In-Plane Orbit Transfers
- Apsidal Burns
- Effect of Non-Apsidal Burns in Plane
- Hohmann Transfers
- History of Astrodynamics
