ECTS - University of Pisa
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FUNDAMENTALS OF SPACECRAFT TECHNOLOGY
SALVO MARCUCCIO
Academic year2020/21
CourseAEROSPACE ENGINEERING
Code664II
Credits6
PeriodSemester 1
LanguageEnglish

ModulesAreaTypeHoursTeacher(s)
FUNDAMENTALS OF SPACECRAFT TECHNOLOGYING-IND/05LEZIONI60
SALVO MARCUCCIO unimap
Learning outcomes
Knowledge

Students who successfully completes the course will have gained a solid knowledge of the working principles and the practical implementation of the technologies involved in modern spacecraft. In particular, starting form a general knowledge of the main features of the space environment, students are expected to be able to perform the preliminary design of the following spacecraft subsystems starting from mission-level requirements:

  • power generation, energy storage and power distribution;
  • thermal control;
  • attitude control;
  • telecommunications;
  • remote sensing.

In addition, the students will become acquainted with the main concepts and practices in space project management.
Assessment criteria of knowledge

During the oral exam, the student is required to show full uderstanding of the basic physical principles underlying each of the spacecraft subsystem technologies presented during the course. He/she must be able to:

  • carry out autonomously the preliminary design of each spacecraft subsystem starting form high level space mission requirements;
  • demonstrate proper understanding of the inter-relations among the various subsystems of a modern spacecraft;
  • discuss the various aspects of a space missions, from orbit/trajectory considerations, to the choice of subsystem technologies, to the elements of space project management.

Methods:

  • Final oral exam

 
Prerequisiti (conoscenze iniziali)

Students must have a solid knowledge of the main subjects in applied physics: classical mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, optics.
Teaching methods

Delivery: face to face

Learning activities:

  • attending lectures
  • participation in seminar
  • individual study

Attendance: Advised

Teaching methods:

  • Lectures
  • Seminar

Delivery: face to face

Attendance: Advised 
Syllabus

The course is designed to provide an introduction to the design of modern spacecraft platforms and payloads. Following an introduction on the space environment and operating conditions for various mission categories, the course introduces and discusses the main spacecraft subsystems. The topics presented include power generation, attitude control, thermal aspects of spacecraft design, telecommunications, and the basic types of space instrumentation and space sensors. The discussion covers aspects of satellite communications including topics related to signals and antennas; remote sensing as well as radar and image processing; telemetry and link budget. An introduction to space project management is also provided.
Bibliography

Required reading:

  • James R. Wertz, David F. Everett, Jeffery J. Puschell, ed, Space Mission Engineering: The New SMAD, ISBN 978-1881883159, Springer - Microcosm Press, First edition, 2011. Available from www.astrobooks.com (An older edition of SMAD is available at the Library of the Faculty of Engineering: Wiley J. Larson, James R. Wertz, ed., Space Mission Analysis and Design, Third edition, Microcosm, Torrance, California; Kluwer, Dordrecht, 1996. Biblioteca della Facoltà di Ingegneria - Collocazione: 629.41 SPA r ING - 629.41 SPA g ING - 629.41 SPA v ING)

Suggested reading:

  • Charles D. Brown, Elements of Spacecraft Design, AIAA Education Series, 2002, ISBN 1-56347-524-3
  • Vincent L. Pisacane, The Space Environment and its Effects on Space Systems, AIAA Education Series, 2008, ISBN 978-1-56347-926-7
  • A. M. Cruise, J. A. Bowles, T. J. Patrick, and C.V. Goodall, Principles of Space Instrument Design, Cambridge Aerospace Series 9, Cambridge University Press 1998, ISBN 0-521-45164-7

At "Bibiloteca della Facoltà di Ingegneria":

  • Michael D. Griffin, James R. French, Space Vehicle Design, AIAA, Washington, 1991 Collocazione: 629.471 GRI r ING - 629.471 GRI v ING - 629.471 GRI g ING

At "Biblioteca del Dipartimento di Ingegneria Aerospaziale":

  • Charles D. Brown, Spacecraft Mission Design, AIAA, Washington, 1992 Collocazione: 712-92-01-00
Assessment methods

The exam is an oral test in the form of an interview between the candidate and the lecturer and/or the lecturer’s collaborators. During the oral test the candidate may be requested to briefly present his/her knowledge in written form and/or to also solve written problems/exercises. If requested, the candidate shall demonstrate his/her capacity to link and relate notions and ideas from different parts of the course programme. In order to pass the test, the candidate must show an ability to express him/herself in a clear manner using the correct terminology and to summarize concepts/notions in oral and/or written form in a simple, concise and exhaustive way. Quality of the presentation of the written parts will be taken into account in the evaluation of the student's performance.
Updated: 27/09/2020 11:54