Space Systems II
615.745

Course Description
This course examines the fundamentals necessary to design and develop space experiments and space systems. The course presents the theoretical background, current state of the art, and examples of the disciplines essential to developing space instrumentation and systems. Experts in the field will cover the following topics: spacecraft attitude determination and control, space communications, satellite command and telemetry systems, satellite data processing and storage, and space systems integration and testing. This course requires the completion of a research paper. (This course is also offered for 400-level credit and does not require completion of a research paper.)

Syllabus

1. Introduction, Thermal Control
2. Thermal Control
3. Configuration and Structures, Research Topic Due
4. Configuration and Structures
5. Communications
6. Communications
7. Mid-Term Exam, Communications
8. Command and Telemetry
9. Data Processing and Storage
10. Data Processing and Storage/RQA
11. Reliability and Quality Assurance
12. Integration and Test
13. Mission Operations, Research Paper Due
14. Final Exam

Prerequisites
An undergraduate degree in physics or engineering or the equivalent.

Instructor
Vincent Pisacane, who has overall responsibility for the course, received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University and is currently employed by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.  However, this course is team taught by experts in each of the relevant fields who have considerable experience in the developing of space systems.

Textbook
Fundamental of Space Systems by Pisacane and Moore

Return to AP Courses | Applied Physics | Part-Time Engineering

December 1998