KB7073 - Spacecraft Orbital Dynamics and Control

Active learning sessions will be used to allow you to engage with theoretical and applied course material and assist you in exploring key concepts and topics within the module. Sessions will involve a combination of content delivery and practical learning exercises to enable you to apply your learning to authentic, broadly-defined engineering problems that may involve conflicting and/or incomplete information. A problem-solving focused curriculum will allow you to explore and understand how well-proven solutions can be applied to more open-ended problems and provide further opportunity for innovative discovery of alternatives. Learning activities will enable students to work collaboratively through the further development of teamwork and communication skills, and the encouragement of creative thinking to solve engineering problems.

During your active learning sessions, academic support will be available to facilitate your exploration of the problem-solving activities. Formative feedback will be provided by the module team, including answering student queries and providing guidance concerning the module such as assessments and your academic progress. The electronic learning platform (eLP) provides a comprehensive resource for integrated learning incorporating learning materials and reading lists that will facilitate directed and self-directed learning. Contact with academic tutors and your peers outside formal teaching hours is encouraged through dedicated ‘office hours’, discussion boards and messaging systems within the eLP. Professional support staff, such as Ask4Help, provide the first point of contact for a range of queries, including, for example, those concerning assessment submission, late submission/extensions, and other administrative issues.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:

MLO1. Relate knowledge of mathematics, statistics, natural science, and engineering principles to broadly defined problems relating to orbiting spacecraft.



Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

MLO2. Compare and contrast appropriate computational and analytical techniques relating to the field of orbiting mechanics and control to model broadly defined problems.



Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

MLO3. Apply creativity and curiosity to analyse broadly defined orbiting satellite attitude problems reaching substantiated conclusions.

Formative Assessment

Academic staff on the module will assess you in a formative manner to help build your confidence and highlight any misunderstandings you may have of the theoretical and professional concepts presented in the module. Your formative feedback will be given to you either verbally by academic staff on the module during formally scheduled teaching sessions or using the eLP. Your formative feedback aims to help you learn and prepare for the submission of your summative assessment.



Summative Assessment

Academic staff on the module will assess you in a summative manner by two pieces of assessment

Component 1 to assess your knowledge and understanding of the application of computational and analytical techniques to broadly defined problems in the kinematics of orbiting spacecraft (MLOs 1 and 2) through completing an industry compatible written submission.

Component 2, will evaluate your ability to solve broadly defined engineering problems in orbiting satellite dynamical systems reaching substantiated conclusions (MLOs 1 & 3) in an industry compatible written submission.

Feedback will be provided electronically through the eLP or student email within 20 working days of the date of submission. 

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In this module you will learn the basic physical phenomena and analytical procedures required to understand and predict the behaviour of orbiting spacecraft. You will gain knowledge in vector kinematics, relative motion, satellite attitude dynamics and other related topics.

In the module, you will be encouraged to investigate and gain confidence in research and critical thinking through the application of appropriate knowledge and methodologies to tackle broadly-defined problems in the subject area. Active learning sessions will be used to allow you to engage with new material and assist you in exploring key concepts and topics within the module. Sessions will involve a combination of content delivery and practical learning exercises to enable you to apply your learning to authentic engineering problems. The module utilises the electronic learning platform (eLP) to provide a comprehensive resource for integrated learning incorporating learning materials and reading lists that will facilitate directed and self-directed learning.