MAE 589C


		Geocentric equatorial and ecliptic coordinate systems, geodectic altitude and latitude, spherical trigonometry; relations among time systems including ephemeris, universal, sidereal, and atomic time; integrals of the N-body, three body and two body problems; details of the two body problem including solutions of Kepler's equation for elliptic, parabolic and hyperbolic orbits; three body problem, Lagrange points and stability, Lagrange finite mass particular solutions; orbital perturbations, planetary equations, oblateness, solar pressure and drag effects on satellite orbits; and special orbits: GPS, sun-synchronous, geo-synchronous, frozen. 3 credit hours.

Prerequisite

Undergraduate courses in engineering or physics or consent of instructor.

Course Objectives

Students will develop a working knowledge of orbital flight mechanics.

Course Requirements

Homework assigned on weekly basis.

Examinations: Midterm and final exams. Weekly, web-based quizzes complement the subject matter.

Software: MATLAB

Computer and Internet Requirements

NCSU has recommended minimum specifications for computers used for classes. Depending on your computer needs, we recommend your computer meet or exceed the following minimum specifications below.

PCs must have an Intel-compatible 800 MHz processor, 256 MB RAM, 8 GB hard drive with 1 GB free space available, 256 Color Display, CD-ROM drive, 800x600 (min.) video adapter, sound card, and speakers. The operating system should be Windows 2000 or XP. Real One Player Basic (available free online) and high speed Internet connection such as cable, DSL, T1 or LAN will be required for EOL courses.

MAC users must have a G3 processor with firewire and USB factory built-in, 256 MB RAM, 10 GB with 1GB free space available, 256 Color Display, CD-ROM drive, 800x600 (min) video adapter, sound card, and speakers. The operating system must be MacOS 10.3 (minimum) along with the above RealOne and Internet specifications above.

For more detailed information on computer specifications and recommendations, please refer to our website at: http://engineeringonline.ncsu.edu/currentstudents/computeraccess.htm

Course Outline by Topical Areas

See Course Description

Textbook

Provided by the instructor.

Instructor

Dr. Robert H. Tolson
Langley Professor in Planetary Atmospheric and Flight Sciences
Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7910

Phone: (919) 515-5294
Fax: (919) 515-7968
E-mail: rtolson@nianet.org

Registration

All students must register through the Engineering Online registration site at http://www.ncsu.edu/project/engonline/index.php. You do not have to be admitted to a degree program to enroll in an online course. However, you must have completed a bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, or related area from an accredited institution. Full-time, employed individuals are limited to enrollment in two graduate courses for each semester. On-campus degree seeking students must have approval from their Director of Graduate Programs to register for an Engineering Online course.

Tuition and Fees per credit hour:

Residents of NC			Non-Residents of NC
Undergraduate	Tuition / cr hr	Fees / cr hr	Tuition / cr hr	Fees / cr hr
Undergraduate	$108	$17	$216	$17
Graduate	Tuition / cr hr	Fees / cr hr	Tuition / cr hr	Fees / cr hr
Graduate	$167	$22	$645	$22