This course is part of the Spacecraft Dynamics and Control Specialization

4.8
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122 ratings

Hanspeter Schaub

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Spacecraft Dynamics and Control SpecializationUniversity of Colorado Boulder

About this Course

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As they tumble through space, objects like spacecraft move in dynamical ways. Understanding and predicting the equations that represent that motion is critical to the safety and efficacy of spacecraft mission development. Kinetics: Modeling the Motions of Spacecraft trains your skills in topics like rigid body angular momentum and kinetic energy expression shown in a coordinate frame agnostic manner, single and dual rigid body systems tumbling without the forces of external torque, how differential gravity across a rigid body is approximated to the first order to study disturbances in both the attitude and orbital motion, and how these systems change when general momentum exchange devices are introduced.
After this course, you will be able to...

*Derive from basic angular momentum formulation the rotational equations of motion and predict and determine torque-free motion equilibria and associated stabilities
* Develop equations of motion for a rigid body with multiple spinning components and derive and apply the gravity gradient torque
* Apply the static stability conditions of a dual-spinner configuration and predict changes as momentum exchange devices are introduced
* Derive equations of motion for systems in which various momentum exchange devices are present

Please note: this is an advanced course, best suited for working engineers or students with college-level knowledge in mathematics and physics.

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Course 2 of 4 in the

Spacecraft Dynamics and Control Specialization

Advanced Level

Approx. 21 hours to complete

English

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Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Course 2 of 4 in the

Spacecraft Dynamics and Control Specialization

Advanced Level

Approx. 21 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.88/5 (25 Ratings)

Hanspeter Schaub

Glenn L. Murphy Chair in Engineering, Professor

Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences

28,841 Learners

7 Courses

Offered by

University of Colorado Boulder

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week1

Week 1

6 hours to complete

Continuous Systems and Rigid Bodies

6 hours to complete

19 videos (Total 158 min)

19 videos

Kinetics: Course Introduction1mModule 1 Introduction53sOverview of Kinetics2m1: Continuous System Super Particle Theorem13m2: Continuous System Kinetic Energy9m3: Continuous System Linear Momentum2m4: Continuous System Angular Momentum7mOptional Review: Continuous Momentum and Energy Properties19m5: Rigid Body Angular Momentum6m6: Rigid Body Inertia Tensor3m6.1: Rigid Body Inertia about Alternate Points3m6.2: Rigid Body Inertia about Alternate Body Axes6m7: Rigid Body Kinetic Energy6m8: Rigid Body Equations of Motion13m8.1: Integrating Rigid Body Equations of Motion1m8.2 Example: Slender Rod Falling19m(Tips for Solving Spring Particle Systems)5mOptional Review: Rigid Body Properties14mOptional Review: Rigid Body Equations of Motion19m

9 practice exercises

Concept Check 1 - Super Particle Theorem30mConcept Check 2 - Kinetic Energy40mConcept Check 3 - Linear Momentum5mConcept Check 4 - Angular Momentum5mConcept Check 5 - Rigid Body Angular Momentum10mConcept Check 6 - Parallel Axis Theorem6mConcept Check 6.1 - Coordinate Transformation30mConcept Check 7 - Kinetic Energy8mConcept Check 8 - Equations of Motion40m

Week2

Week 2

7 hours to complete

Torque Free Motion

The motion of a single or dual rigid body system is explored when no external torques are acting on it. Large scale tumbling motions are studied through polhode plots, while analytical rate solutions are explored for axi-symmetric and general spacecraft shapes. Finally, the dual-spinner dynamical system illustrates how the associated gyroscopics can be exploited to stabilize any principal axis spin.

7 hours to complete

17 videos (Total 166 min)

17 videos

Module 2 Introduction1m1: Torque Free Motion Polhode Plots33m1.1 Example: Special Polhode Plots3m2: Torque Free Motion Axisymmetric Solution5m3: Torque Free Motion General Inertia Case14m4: Torque Free Motion Integrals of Motion6m5: Torque Free Motion Phase Space Plots9m5 Example: Phase Space Plots for Varying Energy Levels4m6: Torque Free Motion Attitude Precession11m6 Example: Phase Space Plot of Duffing Equation4mOptional Review: Torque Free Motion10m7: Dual Spinner Equations of Motion11m8: Dual Spinner Spin Equilibria7m9: Dual Spinner Linear Stability11m9 Example: Dual Spinner Stability10m9.1: Spin Up Considerations13mOptional Review: Dual Spinner EOM and Equilibria7m

9 practice exercises

Concept Check 1 - Rigid Body Polhode Plots30mConcept Check 2 - Torque Free Motion with Axisymmetric Body30mConcept Check 3 - Torque Free Motion General Inertia1h 10mConcept Check 4 - Torque Free Motion Integrals of Motion30mConcept Check 5 - Torque Free Motion Phase Space Plots30mConcept Check 6 - Torque Free Motion Precession15mConcept Check 7 - Dual Spinner Equations of Motion15mConcept Check 8 - Dual Spinner Equilibria30mConcept Check 9 - Dual Spinner Linear Stability25m

Week3

Week 3

2 hours to complete

Gravity Gradients

2 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 77 min)

7 videos

Module 3 Introduction1m1: Gravity Gradient Torque Development19m1.1: Gravity Gradient Torque in Body Frame7m1.2: Gravity Gradient Net Spacecraft Force9m2: Gravity Gradient Relative Equilibria Orientations10m3: Gravity Gradient Linear Stability about Equilibria22mExtra Example: Gravity Gradient Polar Pear Mission5m

3 practice exercises

Concept Check 1 - Gravity Gradient Derivation15mConcept Check 2 - Gravity Gradient Equilibria6mConcept Check 3 - Gravity Gradient Linear Stability30m

Week4

Week 4

6 hours to complete

Equations of Motion with Momentum Exchange Devices

6 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 95 min)

7 videos

Module 4 Introduction1m1: Introduction to Momentum Exchange Devices2m1.2: Overview of Momentum Control Devices16m2: VSCMG Equations of Motion Development41m3: VSCMG Motor Torque Equations8m4: VSCMG EOM Variations9mOptional Review of Momentum Exchange Devices15m

4 practice exercises

Concept Check 1 - Overview of Momentum Exchange Devices30mConcept Check 2 - VSCMG Equations of Motion1hConcept Check 3 - VSCMG Motor Torque Equations30mConcept Check 4 - VSCMG EOM Variations30m

Reviews

4.8

28 reviews

5 stars
84.42%
4 stars
13.93%
3 stars
1.63%

TOP REVIEWS FROM KINETICS: STUDYING SPACECRAFT MOTION

by NBFeb 25, 2019

excellent course content with knowledgeable professor. Challenging to learn and focused on both analytical theory and practical example.

by JPSep 22, 2020

A good course to understand concept and practical evaluation process to useit on field.

by OMay 17, 2021

It's a well taught course that would otherwise have proved much more difficult.

by MKAug 28, 2020

great lectures highly recommended for space enthusiasts

View all reviews

About the Spacecraft Dynamics and Control Specialization

Spacecraft Dynamics and Control covers three core topic areas: the description of the motion and rates of motion of rigid bodies (Kinematics), developing the equations of motion that prediction the movement of rigid bodies taking into account mass, torque, and inertia (Kinetics), and finally non-linear controls to program specific orientations and achieve precise aiming goals in three-dimensional space (Control). The specialization invites learners to develop competency in these three areas through targeted content delivery, continuous concept reinforcement, and project applications.

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What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
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Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

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Kinetics: Studying Spacecraft Motion

About this Course