PristupačnostIntroduction to space technologies
Data is displayed for the academic year: 2024./2025.
Course Description
With the recent interest and pace of technology development, space is becoming for accessible to universities and small enterprises. Employment in the space sector has been growing for years now, and besides scientific contributions resting on experiments in space, there new companies formed providing products based on the data from space and components for space applications.
This course will cover basic topics related spacecraft and communications with spacecraft: (a) orbital mechanical, orbital maneuvers, and attitude sensing and control, (b) space weather and Earth's magnetosphere, thermal equilibrium of spacecraft, and (c) communications.
Prerequisites
No prior knowledge is required to take the course.
Study Programmes
University undergraduate
[FER3-EN] Computing - study
Elective Courses
(5. semester)
[FER3-EN] Electrical Engineering and Information Technology - study
Elective Courses
(5. semester)
Learning Outcomes
- Explain the parameters that define an orbit of a satellite
- State the principles of operation of the main satellite subsystems
- Explain the principles of operation of sensors and actuators for attitude determination and control of a satellite
- Describe the orientation of the satellite using Euler angles and rotation quaternions
- Explain the principles of space navigation and the influence of space weather
- List the sources of energy for powering the satellite
- Explain the subsystems and operation of the communication infrastructure of satellites and ground stations
Forms of Teaching
Lectures
Lectures
Grading Method
| Continuous Assessment | Exam | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Threshold | Percent of Grade | Threshold | Percent of Grade | ||
| Seminar/Project | 0 % | 20 % | 0 % | 20 % | ||
| Mid Term Exam: Written | 0 % | 40 % | 0 % | |||
| Final Exam: Written | 0 % | 40 % | ||||
| Exam: Written | 0 % | 80 % | ||||
Week by Week Schedule
- Introductory lecture
- Introduction to orbital mechanics. Orbits in two dimensions. Orbit equation. Time and angle in orbit. Lagrange coefficients.
- Orbits in three dimensions. State vector. Orbital elements. Orbital Manoeuvres. Orbit Maintenance. Delta-v Budget
- Transformation between geocentric equatorial and perifocal frames. Effects of the earth's oblateness. Atmospheric drag.
- Introduction to attitude sensing and control system for a small satellite. Mathematical foundations and review of different methods for attitude sensing.
- Passive and active attitude control for small satellites.
- Review of actuators and circuits for attitude control.
- Midterm
- Space navigation
- Space weather
- Planck's black body radiation law and thermal equilibrium in planets and satellites.
- Systems for powering spacecraft and satellites: hydrogen cell, radioisotope generators and solar power. Photovoltaics.
- Communication technologies. Introduction to space communications. Elements of optical and microwave communications systems: frequency choices, antennas, microwave amplifiers and receivers, modulation, free space loss, atmospheric absorption, and link budget for satellites in low-earth orbit (LEO).
- Communication technologies. Introduction to space communications. Elements of optical and microwave communications systems: frequency choices, antennas, microwave amplifiers and receivers, modulation, free space loss, atmospheric absorption, and link budget for satellites in low-earth orbit (LEO).
- Final exam and poster delivery deadline
Literature
Howard D Curtis (2015.), Orbital Mechanics, Elsevier
David A. Vallado, Wayne D. Macclain (2013.), Fundamentals of Astrodynamics and Applications, Springer
J. J. Lissauer, I. de Pater (2019.), Fundamental planetary science, Cambridge University Press
M. Richharia (2017.), Satellite Communication Systems, Macmillan International Higher Education
General
ID 223397
Winter semester
5 ECTS
L0 English Level
L1 e-Learning
40 Lectures
5 Seminar
0 Exercises
0 Laboratory exercises
0 Project laboratory
0 Physical education excercises
Grading System
90 Excellent
80 Very Good
65 Good
50 Sufficient