AS4201 Orbital Mechanics Syllabus:

AS4201 Orbital Mechanics Syllabus – Anna University PG Syllabus Regulation 2021

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

This course will enable students
1. To have a basic knowledge on the peculiarities of space environment and to realize the importance of manned space missions.
2. To get introduced with the characteristics of various orbits and the importance of orbital elements.
3. To get familiarize with the basic aspects of satellite injection and the types of satellite perturbations.
4. To compute trajectory for interplanetary travel and flight of ballistic missiles based on the fundamental concepts of orbital mechanics.
5. To provide basic knowledge on the ballistic missile trajectories.

UNIT I SPACE ENVIRONMENT

Peculiarities of space environment and its description– effect of space environment on materials of spacecraft structure and astronauts- manned space missions – effect on satellite life time.

UNIT II CHARACTERISTICS OF VARIOUS ORBITS

Properties of elliptic, Parabolic and hyperbolic properties in terms of orbital elements – relations between position and time – Barker’s theorem – Whittaker’s theory – Sphere of influence.

UNIT III SATELLITE INJECTION AND SATELLITE PERTURBATIONS

General aspects of satellite injection – satellite orbit transfer – various cases – orbit deviations due to injection errors – special and general perturbations – Cowell’s method and Enake’s method – method of variations of orbital elements – general perturbations approach.

UNIT IV INTERPLANETARY TRAJECTORIES

Two-dimensional interplanetary trajectories – fast interplanetary trajectories – three dimensional interplanetary trajectories – launch of interplanetary spacecraft – trajectory estimation about the target planet – concept of sphere of influence – Lambert’s theorem.

UNIT V BALLISTIC MISSILE TRAJECTORIES

Introduction to ballistic missile trajectories – boost phase – the ballistic phase – trajectory geometry – optimal flights – time of flight – re-entry phase – the position of impact point – influence coefficients.

TOTAL: 45 PERIODS

COURSE OUTCOMES:

At the end of this course, students will be able
CO1: To acquire knowledge on the peculiarities of space environment and its effect on spacecraft materials.
CO2: To estimate the time and position of an object in various orbits.
CO3: To acquire 3 knowledge on the basic concepts of satellite injection and satellite perturbations.
CO4: To calculate orbital parameters and to perform conceptual trajectory designs for geocentric or interplanetary missions.
CO5: To estimate the time of flight and the position of impact point of ballistic missiles.

REFERENCES:

1. Cornelisse, JW, Schoyer, HFR &Wakker, KF, “Rocket Propulsion and Space Dynamics”, Pitman Publishing, 1979.
2. Howard D.Curtis, “Orbital Mechanics for Engineering Students”, 3rd Edition, Butterworth Heinemann, 2013.
3. Parker, ER, “Materials for Missiles and Spacecraft”, Mc.Graw Hill Book Co. Inc., 1982.
4. Suresh. BN & Sivan. K, “Integrated Design for Space Transportation System”, Springer India, 2015.
5. Sutton, G.P. “Rocket Propulsion Elements”, John Wiley & Sons Inc., New York, 9th Edition, 2016.