Tag Archives: Academic

Spring 2019/Lecture 8/Simulating Ideal Measurements – 13 Feb 2019

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Continuing from ideal range and range rate measurements we examine how this applies in the larger context of orbit determination. We use examples to demonstrate real-world application. My apologies again for the difficulties I had bringing this recording to you.

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Slides: L8 Slides – Simulating Ideal Measurements

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwcqWdBinik&w=560&h=315]

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Spring 2019/Lecture 7/Ideal and Conceptual Measurements – 11 Feb 2019

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What is an ideal measurement? Specifically what is an ideal range and/or range rate measurement? What’s the difference between observed and computed measurements? Why is it important? My apologies again for the difficulties I had bringing this recording to you.

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Slides: L7 Slides – Ideal and Conceptual Measurements

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIYy5Ya9tgw&w=560&h=315]

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Spring 2019/Lecture 6/Coordinate Systems and Time – 8 Feb 2019

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You should have turned in your assignment by this lecture. My apologies for the issues getting the recordings online. We covered different Earth-bound reference frames and timing systems.

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Slides: L6 Slides – Coordinate Systems and Time

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3TbLZ-8kkw&w=560&h=315]

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Spring 2019/Lecture 5/Perturbed Motion – 6 Feb 2019

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Sorry for the missed lectures on Friday and Monday. I was out sick. Assignments are due on Friday. We covered perturbations to orbital motion. We examined contributions from gravitational and nongravitational sources to the two-body motion.

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Slides: L5 Slides – Perturbed Motion

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZjksLbF4go&w=560&h=315]

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Spring 2019/Lecture 4/Two Body Problem – 30 Jan 2019

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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

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mx6PEYk_RQE&w=560&h=315]

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Updates: Ph.D. Candidate

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I’ve officially passed my qualifying exams. I took my qualifiers in both Intermediate Dynamics and Space Systems. Having passed both I am officially a Ph.D. Candidate. Time to begin preparing for my thesis proposal.

Next semester will see the completion of a satellite ground station at Alabama (more on that later), the publishing of an Orbit Determination course, and my proposal.

I can’t wait to return to my research! It’s been languishing as I focused on qualifiers.

Lecture 3 – Orbital Mechanics Review B

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Lecture

I pick up again by reviewing the solution to the problem assigned during Lecture 1. (The link will take you to a solution using C++ on GitHub). A few common coordinate systems and reference frames are introduced, orbital perturbations are introduced, and an example problem to be solved in Lecture 4 is given to the class to start on.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlcF9AoNBUo]

Previous Lectures

Lecture 2

Lecture 1

Resources

Lecture 3 – Review Of Orbital Mechanics B

Lecture 2 – Orbital Mechanics Review A

Lecture 1 – Orbit Determination Concepts (slides)

AppendixA-ProbabilityAndStatistics

Lecture 2 – Orbital Mechanics Review A

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Lecture

We review orbital mechanics and Newton’s law of gravitation to prepare for orbit determination. We will cover the two body problem, orbital elements, and perturbing accelerations. We won’t finish the entire lecture today. We will continue on Monday.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBekNtOqy-k]

Previous Lectures

Lecture 1

Resources

Lecture 2 – Orbital Mechanics Review A

Lecture 1 – Orbit Determination Concepts (slides)

AppendixA-ProbabilityAndStatistics

Space Operations and Support Technical Committee

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Today I received official notice: I am a member of the AIAA Space Operations and Support Technical Committee (SOSTC). The SOSTC Charter:

“The Space Operations and Support Technical Committee (SOSTC) is concerned with all aspects of civil, military, and commercial space operations and support, including direct and supporting operations, the systems and software affecting operations, and space operations and operational risk management. The SOSTC addresses all types of space operations, including manned and unmanned space operations from low Earth-orbiting to deep-space systems. It is involved with all phases of mission operations, including pre-launch and launch activities, early mission commissioning activities, on-orbit activities, cruise and encounter activities, post-landing activities, and end-of-life operations. The SOSTC likewise addresses space related operational support activities, including training, servicing, mission planning, flight dynamics, telemetry transmission, command and control, and data handling, processing, analysis, and storage.”

I’m very thankful for this opportunity.

Cesium Demo Using STK Scenario/TLE Data

Coming Soon: Orbital Mechanics/Astrodynamic Problem Solutions

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While in the midst of preparing for a journal paper I decided that I wanted to showcase my abilities. I will solve all the problems from Vladimir Chobotov’s Orbital Mechanics, Third Edition, and Richard Battin’s An Introduction to the Mathematics and Methods of Astrodynamics, Revised Edition and post the solutions online. I hope to have this done by January 2.

Not only will this be a good review for myself but it will showcase my abilities to solve problems relating to the field I want to enter. Hopefully, it will prove to be a valuable tool in the future.

As for the featured picture: I am in the process of getting myself certified Level 1 with STK. I dropped this scenario into Cesium while I was practicing and exploring STK before the exam. My exam is due December 22. I will let you know the results soon!