Attitude Determination and Control of Space Systems - 675.752

The Attitude Determination and Control Subsystem, or ADCS, is intimately connected with all the other spacecraft subsystems, and will be studied in the context of the systems engineering of the whole spacecraft and its mission. Students will examine the requirements imposed on the ADCS, and will explore how to meet those requirements. To this end, it starts with a student’s understanding of rigid-body dynamics as it relates to spacecraft dynamics and will introduce common and classical approaches to problems encountered in the design of this critical spacecraft subsystem. The course will also include a team design project involving an ADCS for a small spacecraft.

Course Prerequisite(s)

Completion of EN.675.600 Systems Engineering for Space, EN.675.601 Fundamentals of Engineering Space Systems I and EN.675.650 Mathematics for Space or with approval of the instructor.