University of Colorado Boulder
Spacecraft Dynamics and Control Specialization
University of Colorado Boulder

Spacecraft Dynamics and Control Specialization

Explore a Career in Spacecraft Attitude Analysis.. Master the theories and concepts of spacecraft attitude dynamics.

Hanspeter Schaub

Instructor: Hanspeter Schaub

12,262 already enrolled

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4.8

(321 reviews)

Advanced level

Recommended experience

3 months
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Get in-depth knowledge of a subject
4.8

(321 reviews)

Advanced level

Recommended experience

3 months
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Apply transport theorem to differentiate vectors, derive frame dependent velocity and acceleration vectors, and solve kinematic particle problems,

  • Translate between sets of attitude descriptions; add and subtract relative attitude descriptions for the movement of rigid bodies

  • Apply the static stability conditions of a dual-spinner configuration to derive equations of motion for rigid bodies with momentum exchange devices

  • Apply Lyapunov method to argue stability and convergence on a range of systems, analyze rigid body control convergence with unmodeled torque

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Taught in English

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Specialization - 4 course series

Kinematics: Describing the Motions of Spacecraft

Course 128 hours4.9 (324 ratings)

What you'll learn

  • Differentiate a vector as seen by another rotating frame and derive frame dependent velocity and acceleration vectors

  • Apply the Transport Theorem to solve kinematic particle problems and translate between various sets of attitude descriptions

  • Add and subtract relative attitude descriptions and integrate those descriptions numerically to predict orientations over time

  • Derive the fundamental attitude coordinate properties of rigid bodies and determine attitude from a series of heading measurements

Kinetics: Studying Spacecraft Motion

Course 221 hours4.8 (130 ratings)

What you'll learn

  • Derive 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

Control of Nonlinear Spacecraft Attitude Motion

Course 331 hours4.7 (65 ratings)

What you'll learn

  • Differentiate between a range of nonlinear stability concepts

  • Apply Lyapunov’s direct method to argue stability and convergence on a range of dynamical systems

  • Develop rate and attitude error measures for a 3-axis attitude control using Lyapunov theory

  • Analyze rigid body control convergence with unmodeled torque

Spacecraft Dynamics Capstone: Mars Mission

Course 443 hours4.6 (48 ratings)

What you'll learn

  • Apply three-dimensional kinematics to create a mission-related orbit simulation and evaluate orbit frame orientation

  • Utilize knowledge of rigid body kinematics to determine attitude reference frames for different attitude pointing modes

  • Demonstrate the ability to numerically simulate spacecraft attitude dynamics and evaluate control performance

Instructor

Hanspeter Schaub
University of Colorado Boulder
10 Courses33,235 learners

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