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* **
_____________________________
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:
| 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
To make MAE advising appointments:
me-info@csulb.edu, (562) 985-1563, ECS-635.
*Note: although every effort is made to keep this Web site up to date, you should also consult the printed catalog for official information and program requirements, which may vary depending on the year you enter(ed) the program.