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Space Vehicle Design

  • Module code: AE6030
  • Year: 2018/9
  • Level: 6
  • Credits: 30
  • Pre-requisites: AE5022
  • Co-requisites: None

Summary

This module builds on the introduction to space engineering given in levels 4 and 5 to give a detailed understanding of space vehicle design, broken into core (eg. power) and mission enhancing (e.g. propulsion) subsystems. This is not intended to enable you to carry out detailed design of effective space missions, which requires a graduate level course, but will provide (a) a thorough understanding of the challenges of space engineering, (b) a toolset, reference material and confidence to tackle future design problems you may face, and (c) an understanding of the drivers for space engineering (politics, economics and technology in that order). Context will be provided through reference to a number of past UK, European and International space missions.

The module aims to allow you to understand design challenges and specify requirements for

  • Electrical spacecraft subsystems (power, environment, TTC, payload and data handling).
  • Mechanical subsystems in particular spacecraft structures, propulsion, thermal, and attitude control and their differences from aero or aerospace vehicles are covered.
  • The student knowledge and skill base on rocket launcher design and critical support functions for space mission including operations, and systems engineering are addressed.
  • Basic concept and solution procedures for problems such as spacecraft subsystem and orbit selection and sizing, supported by commercial packages such as satellite toolkit will be carried out.

The module is designed to be delivered as blended learning, to support L6 students on site as well as those who are on placements. The module is primarily delivered through recorded lectures, computing and software exercises and some practical classes (not available to students on placement). A booklet of worked example problems designed to support the exam assessment will be made available, and for those students on site will be worked through in fortnightly tutorial sessions with a graduate teaching assistant. Periodic guest lectures and workshops using industry experts will take place, material from these if not commercially sensitive will be made available for download. Industrial visits to spacecraft subsystem manufacturers will be offered. Additional support materials including excerpts from core texts will be available through Canvas.

Aims

  • To extend students' knowledge of space engineering theory and its industrial application.
  • Extension of spacecraft (satellite) analysis principles so that basic design (selection and sizing) of core spacecraft electrical and mechanical subsystems can be carried out.
  • To develop an ability to select and analyse mechanical spacecraft systems in further detail, in particular propulsion, structures, launch and re-entry systems.
  • To provide further insight into the range of functions required for a spacecraft mission, backed up by analytical techniques and some software and practically applied through group and individual problem solving exercises.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

  1. Carry out basic design (specification and sizing) of core spacecraft electrical and mechanical subsystems using standard software such as Excel in MS office.
  2. Understand the importance of systems engineering, requirement analysis, instrument and payload selection and orbit mechanics on preliminary mission design.
  3. Specify and size spacecraft mechanical and electrical subsystems with additional detail on Structures and Propulsion, launchers and re-entry systems.
  4. Explain the difference between space vehicle and space mission design, using topics such as remote sensing, science  /exploration & small low cost space missions.
  5. Understand the fundamentals of space transportation (propulsion, launchers, re-entry systems).
  6. Demonstrate a range of space vehicle related design skills for example mechanical / measurement, materials selection, concept design and system modelling.

These learning outcomes have been designed to be accomplished by students who are on site and also by students on placement with space companies.

Curriculum content

1.    Space systems engineering

  • Payloads and Instrument selection
  • Orbital, rocket propulsion and trajectory analysis using software tools
  • Small satellites and low cost space missions

2.    Spacecraft electric systems. Includes

  • Space vehicle power systems.
  • Space vehicle telemetry, telecommand & control (TTC) links and systems.

3.    Spacecraft mechanical systems

  • Spacecraft structural configurations and basic mechanical design procedures
  • Instrument support
  • Introduction  to other spacecraft support functions: thermal, data handling, attitude control

4.    Space transportation

  • Spacecraft propulsion systems (electric, chemical, advanced)
  • Launcher design and how it differs from spacecraft and aircraft design
  • Re-entry requirements, systems and design approaches

5.    Space mission design. Includes

  • Selection and design of appropriate orbits, trajectories and manoeuvres for a variety of space missions.
  • Impact of the space environment on spacecraft and space mission design.
  • Space operations
  • Context for space activities and the relationship between politics, economics and technology
  • Remote sensing and applications

Teaching and learning strategy

The learning outcomes will be achieved through a combination of formal lectures, tutorials, seminars, computing laboratory exercises, electronic learning tools and independent study.

 

Formal lectures and classes, covering

1.      Space systems engineering

2.      Spacecraft electrical subsystems

3.      Spacecraft mechanical systems

4.      Introduction to space mission design

Average of 4 formally taught hours per week (approx 96 hours). Lectures will be recorded eg. using Camtasia and made available online.
Problem solving based tutorials Prepared by academic staff and supported by graduate teaching assistant. 1 hour every other week (10 hrs total). Problem booklet and solution set available online. Students on placement can submit answers via email for formative feedback.
Guest lectures providing industrial context Delivered by experts from UK based space engineering companies and academia. At least 2 during each teaching block. Material to be made available on line if permitted.
Skill development activities
Three activities, from at least 2 of the following areas are to be carried out:
1. System modelling using spreadsheet tool
2. Commercial software usage
3. Experimental design

In addition each student will need to prepare regular presentations on their individual project for feedback from the class / teaching team.


To develop space system design skills, experimental measurements, predictions using spreadsheet tools, high quality report writing and confidence in presentations. To be prepared during guided independent study time. Option (3) may not be available to students on placement. Presentations via webex / Skype.
Independent study driven by assignments

Covering system engineering for spacecraft with emphasis on:

1.      Core spacecraft subsystem design principles - mechanical and electrical

2.     Space mission design including trajectory analysis, applications, instrument design and selection, platform selection and launcher selection.

A written assignment requiring design work, analytical problem, solving, numerical simulation and concise written summaries. To be peer reviewed in pairs to build teamworking and small group analysis skills. Students on placement will submit draft work by email for review.
In-class tests There will be two formative tests
2 tests in Nov and March. To be provided through online platform for placement students.
Electronic learning tools

Systems toolkit

Propulsion (RPA)

ASTOS

GMAT

 Classroom activities

 

Breakdown of Teaching and Learning Hours

Definitive UNISTATS Category Indicative Description Hours
Scheduled learning and teaching Approx. 96 hours of formal lectures and seminars Supplemented by approx. 10 hours of tutorials and briefings. For students on placement there is a two day workshop before their placement. 106
Guided independent study 40 hours pre-reading reference texts and wider context online, recapping lectures, 40 hours assignment work 20 hours going through tutorial problem sets 30 hours astro software (GMAT, RPA, STK etc) 34 hours skill development work and reporting 30 hours exam and test revisions 194
Total (number of credits x 10) 300

Assessment strategy

1.    End-of-module examination worth 50% of the assessment. To be sat by al students at the same time whether on campus or on placement.

2.    A written assignment demonstrating the student's ability to carry out basic design calculations and systems engineering for space vehicle electrical and mechanical systems, and to summarise the additional elements required  for a mission including instruments, trajectories and launchers. This will require a written report, submission of a system model (spreadsheet) and a short presentation (via Skype / Webex for placement students). Worth 20% of the overall assessment.

3.    A portfolio comprising  two short reports on skill development activities (not exceeding 4 pages) each worth 15%.  Feedback from the first report will enable students to develop their report writing skills before the second report.

Formative assessment will be provided in the form of regular and concise feedback on set tasks and tutorials, plus interaction with industry experts and visiting lecturers throughout the academic year.

Mapping of Learning Outcomes to Assessment Strategy (Indicative)

Learning Outcome Assessment Strategy
1) Carry out basic design (specification and sizing) of core spacecraft subsystems using standard software such as Excel in MS Office End of year examination, portfolio and coursework plus formative assessment (tutorials)
2) Understand the importance of systems engineering, requirement analysis, instrument and payload selection and orbit mechanics on preliminary mission design. End of year examination, written assignment and formative assessment
3) Specify and size spacecraft mechanical and electrical subsystems with additional detail on structures and propulsion, launchers and re-entry systems. Written assignment
4) Explain the difference between space vehicle and space mission design, using topics such as remote sensing, science /exploration & small low cost space missions. Written assignment, end of year examination.
5) Understand the fundamentals of space transportation (propulsion, launchers, re-entry systems) Examination and written assignment.
6) Demonstrate a range of space vehicle related design skills for example mechanical / measurement, materials selection, concept design and system modelling. Portfolio (Lab write up)

Elements of Assessment

Description of Assessment Definitive UNISTATS Categories Percentage
Portfolio of two workshop write ups (4 pages each) (2 reports at 10% each) Coursework 20%
Assignment covering spacecraft electrical and mechanical design and presentation on mission design Coursework 30%
Three hour end of module examination (Open Book) Written Exam 50%
Total (to equal 100%) 100%

Achieving a pass

It IS NOT a requirement that any element of assessment is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.

Bibliography core texts

Elements of Spacecraft Design (1st edition), Brown Charles D, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2002, ISBN-1-56347-524-3.

Satellite Platform Design (6th edition), Berlin Peter, Universities of Lulea and Umea, 2005, ISBN-978-91-631-4917-7. Referred to as SPLAT.

Space Vehicle Design (2nd Edition), Griffin M D, French J R, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2004, ISBN-1-56347-539-1.

Spacecraft Systems Engineering (3rd Edition), Fortescue, Stark and Swinerd, 2003. 4th edition now available in LRC.

Understanding Space - An Introduction to Astronautics (3rd edition), Sellers, J.J., McGraw-Hill Professional, 2007, ISBN 0077230302. Referred to as Sellers.

Bibliography recommended reading

Space Propulsion Analysis & Design; Humble, R W, Henry G N, Larson, W J; McGraw-Hill. 1995. ISBN 0-07-031320-2 Referred to as SPAD.

Introduction to Rocket Science and Engineering, Taylor T S, 2009. CRC Press. ISBN 978-1-4200-7258-1

Principles of Space Instrument Design, Cruise A M, Bowles J A, Patrick T J, Goodall C V;  Cambridge University Press, 1998. - in particular Chapter 2 on Mechanical Design

Space Mission Analysis & Design (3rd edition), Wertz J R, Larson W J, Microcosm / Kluwer, 1999. See www.astrobooks.com. Referred to as SMAD.

Handbook of Space Technology; Ley W, Wittmann K, Hallmann W; Wiley, 2009.

These references are either available through downloads for a previous module, on-line through the LRC, or in excerpted form through Canvas.

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