Spacecraft design and system engineering
Summary
The objective of the course is to provide tools and notions for spacecraft design and systems engineering. The course will start with an introduction on systems engineering, then the different subsystems of a spacecraft will be explored. External teachers from industry will bring their expertise.
Content
Introduction
- Highlights of space mission organization and engineering.
- Mission objectives, science objectives, mission architectures.
Systems Engineering
- Introduction to systems engineering: foundation, v-model, reviews, stakeholder analysis, requirements, verification & validation, functional analysis, block diagrams, design trade-offs, design budgets, interface management, tradable parameters.
Conception and Design of Spacecraft
- General description of the space environment and survivability, and spacecraft subsystems including science and instruments.
- Telecommunications, power management and distribution, command and data handling, thermal control, propulsion, structures and mechanisms, configuration, end-to-end information system, flight software.
Introduction to Project Engineering
- Other project considerations for a system engineer: requirement, definition and tracking, spacecraft integration and test, mission operations, reliability and quality assurance, cost and risk management.
Project groups (3-5) of a Space Mission with deliverables and a final report including:
- Mission statement and definition, Project organization, Mission design, System Engineering, Science & instruments.
- Subsystems design and definition: Telecom, Electrical power, Structure and Configuration, C&DH, ADCS, Propulsion, Thermal.
- An executive summary and conference abstract.
- Powerpoint files for oral presentations at various stages.
Practical experience
- Based on the availabilities of the labs, there will some exercise to assemble a cubesat, perform test with the Space center infrastructure and visit of an operation center...
Keywords
spacecraft, space system, systems engineering, trade-off, space sustainability, space environment, launch operations and space exploration.
Learning Prerequisites
Important concepts to start the course
Orbital mechanics knowledge
Bachelor level in engineering (e.g. electrical, material, mechanical, physics, computer and communication, ...)
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the student must be able to:
- Identify key spacecraft systems and sub-systems
- Structure the main steps of the spacecraft systems engineering process
- Apply systems engineering methods and tools to practical examples
- Formulate the tasks and responsibilities of the system engineer
- Dimension the overall spacecraft system and its sub-systems
- Elaborate a coherent and consistent system design
- Design a space mission
- Integrate constraints due to the space environment
Transversal skills
- Evaluate one's own performance in the team, receive and respond appropriately to feedback.
- Demonstrate a capacity for creativity.
- Use a work methodology appropriate to the task.
Teaching methods
- Interactive lectures
- Collaborative learning
- Project-based learning
Expected student activities
Design work every week, interactive presentations, intermediate report, final report, and final oral presentation.
Exercise in the lab
Assessment methods
Mid-term exam (individual), final report, and oral presentation.
participation in the class and group work
Supervision
| Office hours | No |
| Forum | Yes |
Resources
Bibliography
"Space Mission analysis and Design", by W. Larson and J. Wertz
"Space Systems Engineering", by P. Fortescue, G. Swinerd, J. Stark
"NASA Systems Engineering Handbook", NASA SP-2016-6105 Rev2.
Ressources en bibliothèque
Websites
Moodle Link
Prerequisite for
ENG-411 Concurrent Engineering
Dans les plans d'études
- Semestre: Automne
- Forme de l'examen: Pendant le semestre (session d'hiver)
- Matière examinée: Spacecraft design and system engineering
- Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- TP: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- Type: optionnel
- Semestre: Automne
- Forme de l'examen: Pendant le semestre (session d'hiver)
- Matière examinée: Spacecraft design and system engineering
- Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- TP: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- Type: optionnel
- Semestre: Automne
- Forme de l'examen: Pendant le semestre (session d'hiver)
- Matière examinée: Spacecraft design and system engineering
- Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- TP: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- Type: optionnel
- Semestre: Automne
- Forme de l'examen: Pendant le semestre (session d'hiver)
- Matière examinée: Spacecraft design and system engineering
- Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- TP: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- Type: optionnel