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Mike  on LinkedIn  in Wikipedia

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

160+ problems with detailed solutions Fundamentals of Space Missions Stars, star magnitudes, and solar system. Coordinate systems, time, angles. Space environment and spacecraft interactions. Gravitational field and Earth. Basics of orbital mechanics. Orbital elements and maneuvers. Orbit evolution and common orbits. Space mission geometry.

Fundamentals of Space Missions – 3-page info (pdf) – list of problems

Until spring 2023, this course, ASTE 575 Rocket and Spacecraft Propulsion, was offered as ASTE-470. The course content did not change. Only the course number is now different for administrative purposes.
Mike first taught Spacecraft Propulsion in the mid-1990s. He then taught the new, updated course ASTE-470 from 2014-2021. During the last 8-year period, nearly 700 students (one-half graduate students and one-half seniors) took the course.

ASTE 575 Rocket and Spacecraft Propulsion in Spring 2023 semester:
all course materials will be posted on the class web site at DEN's D2L in December.

One can get more information about the course content and organization
from the first introductory lecture in Spring 2023:
ASTE 575 – first lecture.

In 2022–2023 academic year, ASTE-575 Rocket and Spacecraft Propulsion
will be offered in the Spring (2023) semester. The day of the week and time will be announced when avaiable.

See also the astronautics course schedule
Note that shedules do change. Always check the course schedule with ASTE Student Advisor.
Class enrollement is unlimited.

Course webcasts. All lectures are available as webcasts through VSOE's Distance Education Network DEN – D2L to all (on-campus and remote) students enrolled in the course during the entire semester.

About Course ASTE 575

• ASTE 575 Rocket and Spacecraft Propulsion is usually taken by graduate students in astronautical engineering as well as 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 rocket and spacecraft 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, space operations, and government space research and development centers.


• Instructor: Professor Mike Gruntman


• On-campus full-time students attend lectures of ASTE 575 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 and presentation at IAC, 2018. 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 575.


• One-half of 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).

ASTE 575 Rocket and Spacecraft Propulsion -- Course Outline

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

Rocket and Spacecraft Propulsion

• Organization of the class.


• Rocket history.


• Solar system and space environment.


• Elements of orbital mechanics and common orbits.


• Basics of rocket dynamics.


• Elements of thermodynamics and combustion.


• Nozzle 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, including electric) propulsion.


• Interstellar flight.