astronauticsnow.com

Advanced degrees in astronautical engineering for the space industry,
Acta Astronautica, 2014

Master of Science Degree in Astronautical Engineering Through Distance Learning,
IAC-18-E1-4-11, IAC, 2018

ASTE 470 in Fall 2019 semester:
all course materials will be posted
on the class web site at DEN in mid August.

One can get more information about the course
from the first Fall-2018 (introductory) lecture:
ASTE 470 – first lecture.

In 2019–2020 academic year, ASTE470 Spacecraft Propulsion
is offered in the Fall 2019 semester (Friday, 5:10–7:50 pm);
the course is not offered in the spring 2020 semester.
See astronautics course schedule

Class enrollement is unlimited.

Note that shedules do change. Always check the course schedule with ASTE Student Advisor.

Course webcasts. All lectures are available as webcasts through VSOE's Distance Education Network DEN to all (on-campus and remote) students enrolled in the course during the entire semester.

PC or Mac. DEN streams course videos using Microsoft Windows media encoders and servers. While streaming windows media files are supported by both the latest Mac and PC operating systems, using a Windows based system will usually provide a better experience. Additionally, DEN has recently added video download capabilities using Microsoft’s Digital Rights Management supporting Windows operating systems.

       –  other rocket science items

About Course ASTE 470

• ASTE 470 Spacecraft Propulsion is usually taken by astronautical engineering undergraduate and graduate studens as well as many other science (physics, astronomy, mathematics) and engineering (electrical, mechanical, aerospace, chemical, systems, computer, and other) students.


• This class is required for the degree Master of Science in Astronautical Engineering.


• The course offers a broad introduction to fundamentals of spacecraft and rocket propulsion and to rocketry.


• This class is a must for science and engineering students, regardless of their major, considering careers in the space industry, rocketry, and government space research and development centers.


• Instructor: Professor Mike Gruntman


• On-campus full-time students attend lectures of ASTE 470 that are simultaneously webcast and available through the USC Distance Education Network (DEN). Please see the process description in an article in Acta Astronautica, 2014. DEN classes are taken by students pursuing graduate degrees (especially Master of Science) anywhere in the United States. Usually, students from several states of the United States enrolled each year in ASTE 470.


• Many our students work full time in major space companies and space government research and development centers (The Aerospace Corporation, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Lockheed-Martin, Northrop-Grumman, Raytheon, Boeing, UT, Space and Missiles Systems Center, etc.), in small companies, or are on active duty in the armed forces. There is growing enrollment into the astronautical engineering program of students not affiliated with major companies (on an individual basis).


• More information on the history, focus, and organization of the USC Astronautics program


• For more information on ASTE–520, other astronautics-related courses, USC graduate and undergraduate programs in Astronautical Engineering, and on DEN and contact information, please consult MS ASTE  Frequently asked questions

ASTE 470 Spacecraft Propulsion -- Course Outline

(see also a recent first organizational lecture of the course for details)

• Organization of the class.


• Rocket history.


• Solar system and space environment.


• Elements of orbital mechanics.


• Basics of rocket dynamics.


• Elements of thermodynamics and combustion.


• Nozzle flow.


• Non-ideal flow.


• Ideal rocket and real nozzles.


• Rocket heat transfer.


• Electric power subsystem.


• Liquid rocket systems.


• Solid rockets.


• Hybrid rockets.


• Space launch systems.


• Advanced (non-chemical) propulsion.


• Interstellar flight.