77956 - Spacecraft Subsystems and Space Mission Design

Learning outcomes

In the first part of the course, the student acquires fundamentals on systems engineering of space systems and the key aspects of spacecraft systems design. He/she will also learn the design considerations which come into play in laying out a space mission and its preliminary design. In the second part of the course, students are taken step-by-step through the complete process of creating and evaluating multiple methods for reducing space mission cost and schedule and critically evaluate alternative ways of achieving mission objectives at dramatically lower cost and in much less time.

Course contents

1. PART A: Mission and System Design (18 hours)
   * L 0: Introduction
   * L 1-6: Introduction to Systems Engineering
   * L 7-10: Manufacturing
   * L 11: Introduction to Spacecraft Operations
   * L 12-14: Reliability: FMEA, FMECA, Reliability Networks, Reliability Budget
   * L 15-17: Survivability: MMOD, radiation and shielding
2. PART B: Subsystems (29 hours)
   * L 18-26: Communications
   * L 27-30: Power Subsystem
   * L 31-40: Command and Data Handling: computer architectures, buses (including 1553B), networks & topologies, on-board software & RTOS
   * L 41: ADCS and Propulsion
   * L 42-43: Structure and Mechanisms
   * L 44-46: Thermal Control System and Analysis
3. PART C: Reducing Mission Costs (13 hours)
   * L 47-50: Necessity
   * L 51-57: CubeSat Design based on ECSS standards
   * L 58-60: Case Studies

Readings/Bibliography

1. Space Mission Analysis and Design, 3rd edition (Space Technology Library, Vol. 8) 1999, Wiley J. Larson, James R. Wertz (Eds) Microcosm; ISBN-10: 9781881883104
2. Space Mission Engineering: The New SMAD (Space Technology Library, Vol. 28) 2011, James R. Wertz, David F. Everett, Jeffery J. Puschell (Eds) Microcosm Press; ISBN-10: 1881883159
3. ECSS Standards, available online: http://ecss.nl/standards/

Teaching methods

The pedagogical approach for this course is based on a set of lectures that combine a presentation with in-class activities. Additional assignments will be proposed as off-class tasks. This method is focused on developing the following skills among students:

• increase analysis capacity and lateral thinking,
• emphasize individual pro-activeness and self-organization,
• encourage cooperative work.

Assessment methods

Written examination at the end of the course.

Teaching tools

The instructor will provide the slides that will include notes with further explanations about the contents of the course. During class, students will carry out brief activities in groups of 2 or 3 people that will be discussed later on. The objective of these activities is to provide a studio-like environment to promote the utilization active learning activities during the lessons as a complementary method to the regular lessons.

Office hours

See the website of Ricardo Tubio Pardavila