We resumed today with orbital mechanics. We covered the two-body problem, introduced Kepler’s problem (time doesn’t relate well to true anomaly), and sprinted to the state transition matrix. We will resume with perturbations and additional bodies considered on Friday.
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Slides: L4 Slides – Two Body Problem
Previous lectures:
Re-recorded lecture from Monday, January 28. I cover the 2D Uniform Gravitational Field (parabolic trajectory) problem solution. I also reviewed linearization and the state transition matrix because I felt that I didn’t cover them adequately in lecture 1. We will pick back up with additional review of orbital mechanics before moving on to observations.
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The problem solution can be found on GitHub at https://github.com/simpsonchristo/Soln-HW1-SimpsonAerospace.
The pdf write-up of the solution and the slides can be found here:
Write-up: soln_hw1
We review orbital mechanics to prepare for orbit determination. We will cover the two body problem, orbital elements, and perturbing accelerations. We will continue on Monday. Be ready to turn in your solution for the practice problem.
Lecture Slides:
The inherent characteristics of an orbit determination (OD) problem are introduced. Dynamic state estimation, observations, linearization, and the state transition matrix are discussed. At the end, I have left a practice problem that we will review on Friday, 8 June. We throw a satellite up and watch it come down while introducing some important concepts.
Lecture Slides:
SA · ORBIT DETERMINATION · SHORT COURSE · 14JUN26
A short course.
A twelve-lecture introduction to orbit determination — from orbital mechanics and the two-body problem through coordinate systems, measurement simulation, and fitting real measurements into a state estimate. Taught by Dr. Christopher R. Simpson. Free, self-paced, with lecture notes and video.
Students and engineers who want a working understanding of how a state estimate is built from measurements. Some calculus and basic orbital mechanics help, but the course builds from first principles.
Work the lectures in order. Each builds on the last. Questions are welcome on each lecture’s video page — discussion is the point.
Originally taught Spring 2019; refreshed and re-launched 2026.