Parts Course Overview
1. Introduction and recap previous courses on orbital mechanics
2. Fundamentals of rocket motion
3. Launch trajectories in a homogeneous gravity field, in vacuum and in an atmosphere (2D); vertical flight, constant pitch angle,
gravity, and sounding rockets.
4. Theory of the multi-stage rocket; optimal mass distribution.
5. Ballistic flight over the Earth; 2D, and 3D over spherical (non-rotating and rotating Earth).
6. Launch systems design, unconventional launchers like air launch
7. Summary and question hour (workout exam question example)
Study Goals This course introduces the fundamentals of rocket motion by studying the motion of rockets under different circumstances.
Emphasising on analytical solutions of the equations of motion, it will provide insight into the qualitative and quantitative
aspects of launch trajectories of rockets in a homogeneous gravitational field, the performance of single and multi-stage rockets,
and the exoatmospheric ballistic flight over the Earth. It discusses launcher design considerations and unconventional launch
systems like air launch.
At the end of the course you should be able to
LO1: Evaluate the performance of existing space launchers that make use of single and multi-stage rockets.
LO2: Analytically derive equations of rocket motion for specific launch and rocket applications in a homogeneous gravitational
field.
L03: Simulate a range of rocket trajectory scenarios (e.g. in Matlab or python).
