Space Systems Engineering Area Specialization, M.S. Aerospace Engineering

Faculty: Drs. Eric Besnard, Hsun-Hu Chen, and Hsin-Piao Chen

This emphasis focuses on space systems, such as launch vehicles and spacecraft. The courses are designed for the engineering involved in, or who wishes to become more familiar with, the engineering of such space systems. They can be taken either towards the Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering or as single courses for continuing education. Topics include: spacecraft attitude determination and control, astrodynamics, rocket and spacecraft propulsion, and a space vehicle design course in which students define a mission and conduct the preliminary design of their spacecraft. The program benefits from the on-going California Launch Vehicle Education Initiative (CALVEIN), which provides students with opportunities to expand their knowledge to the development and testing of space technologies.

Undergraduate Background

The following courses constitute the foundations of undergraduate aerospace (AE) and mechanical engineering (ME) education. Students who have not taken these courses, or their equivalents, such as students with undergraduate degrees other than AE and ME (e.g., other engineering majors, computer science, physics and mathematics) will be required to take them as prerequisites.

Programming and Numerical Analysis

MAE 205, Computer Methods in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

MAE 305, Numerical Methods in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

General Engineering Courses

CE 205, Analytical Mechanics I (Statics)

MAE 330, Engineering Thermodynamics I

MAE 333, Engineering Fluid Dynamics

MAE 371, Analytical Mechanics II (Dynamics)

MAE 373, Mechanics of Deformable Bodies

Aerospace Engineering Course(s)

MAE 465, Aerospace Structures II* **

_____________________________

*    Course cannot be credited towards graduate program

**  MAE 373 can be used as a prerequisite for this course

          in lieu of MAE 365.

Requirements (Effective 2007/2008 Catalog Year)

Completion of a minimum of 30 units (for PLAN I) or 36 units (for PLAN II) beyond the bachelor's degree in graduate courses approved by the student's Department Graduate Studies Committee, including:

1. A minimum of four (4) core courses in the area of Space Systems Engineering;
2. A minimum of two (2) advanced engineering mathematics courses beyond basic calculus, basic differential equations, and linear algebra;
3. A minimum of two (2) technical elective courses selected from approved upper-division or graduate courses;
4. Completion of a thesis or project (6 units) meeting standards of professionalism.

PROGRAM UNITS

Requirements	PLAN I	PLAN II
Math	6 units	6 units
Core	12 units	12 units
Electives	6 units	12 units
Thesis or Directed Research	6 units Thesis	6 units Directed Research
Total	30	36

Math: Each course is 3 units.

MAE 501 - Engineering Analysis I

MAE 502 - Engineering Analysis II 

Core Courses: All are 3 units. Only one core course is offered each semester.

MAE 581 - Space Vehicle Design (the student designs his/her space mission and spacecraft - uses Satellite Toolkit (STK); covers all subsystems).

MAE 582 - Rocket and Spacecraft Propulsion (the student designs a liquid, a solid, a hybrid and/or electric propulsion system for his/her mission)

MAE 583 - Astrodynamics (the student develops and uses an orbit propagator)

MAE 585 - Spacecraft Attitude Determination and Control (the student analyzes a variety of ADC methods, e.g., spin stabilization, gravity gradient, 3-axis control)

Electives:

Graduate courses selected in a technical area of interest to complement the core courses. For example, a student interested in structures may take MAE 565, Advanced Aerospace Structures, MAE 522, Composite Materials, or MAE 572, Structural Design Optimization. A student interested in propulsion may elect to take MAE 533, Gas Dynamics, MAE 535/635, CFD I/II, MAE 537, Advanced Fluid Dynamics, or MAE 531, Advanced Heat Transfer. For other areas of interest (heat transfer, orbital mechanics, etc.), please contact the graduate advisor.

Thesis: MAE 698

Directed Research: MAE 697