Space Systems

Orbits, manoeuvres and spacecraft. Astronautics: kinematics and dynamics, orbital mechanics and Kepler's laws, Hohmann transfers and Δv budgets, spacecraft subsystems, radiative heat transfer for thermal control, and antennas for communication.

• Kinematics — Kinematics describes motion without asking what causes it. Learn displacement, velocity and acceleration, the constant-acceleration equations, motion graphs, projectiles and rotational kinematics.
• Dynamics — Dynamics explains why motion happens. Learn Newton's laws, F = ma, work–energy and power, impulse–momentum, rotational dynamics T = Iα, and how they size motors, brakes and lifting systems.
• Orbital Mechanics: Kepler's Laws, Orbits & Velocities — How satellites stay up. Learn Newton's gravitation and the two-body problem, circular and elliptical orbits, Kepler's three laws, orbital elements (a, e, i, Ω, ω, ν), the vis-viva equation, orbital period, escape velocity, types of orbits (LEO, MEO, GEO, SSO, Molniya, HEO), ground tracks and perturbations (J2, drag) — with Python computing ISS, GPS and GEO orbits.
• Orbital Manoeuvres, Transfers & Δv Budgets — Moving between orbits efficiently. Learn impulsive burns, the Hohmann transfer, bi-elliptic transfers, plane changes and why they are expensive, combined manoeuvres, rendezvous and phasing, interplanetary transfers and gravity assists, low-thrust spirals, and building a mission Δv budget — with Python for a LEO-to-GEO transfer.
• Spacecraft Systems: Power, Thermal, ADCS & Communications — What makes a satellite work. Learn the space environment (vacuum, radiation, thermal extremes, debris), spacecraft subsystems — structure, electrical power (solar arrays, batteries, eclipse), thermal control, attitude determination and control (sensors, reaction wheels, magnetorquers), propulsion, command & data handling, and communications (link budgets) — plus CubeSats, re-entry and the space-mission lifecycle, with Python for power and link budgets.
• Radiation Heat Transfer — Thermal radiation is heat carried by electromagnetic waves — it needs no medium. Learn the Stefan–Boltzmann law, emissivity, black and grey bodies, Wien's law, view factors, and radiation shields.
• Antennas — Antennas convert guided signals into radiated waves. Learn radiation, near and far fields, dipoles and monopoles, patch, Yagi, horn and parabolic dish antennas, gain, directivity, beamwidth, efficiency, polarisation, input impedance and bandwidth, and arrays with beam steering.