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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Kinetics: Studying Spacecraft Motion by University of Colorado Boulder

4.8
stars
131 ratings

About the Course

As they tumble through space, objects like spacecraft move in dynamical ways. Understanding and predicting the equations that represent that motion is critical to the safety and efficacy of spacecraft mission development. Kinetics: Modeling the Motions of Spacecraft trains your skills in topics like rigid body angular momentum and kinetic energy expression shown in a coordinate frame agnostic manner, single and dual rigid body systems tumbling without the forces of external torque, how differential gravity across a rigid body is approximated to the first order to study disturbances in both the attitude and orbital motion, and how these systems change when general momentum exchange devices are introduced. After this course, you will be able to... *Derive from basic angular momentum formulation the rotational equations of motion and predict and determine torque-free motion equilibria and associated stabilities * Develop equations of motion for a rigid body with multiple spinning components and derive and apply the gravity gradient torque * Apply the static stability conditions of a dual-spinner configuration and predict changes as momentum exchange devices are introduced * Derive equations of motion for systems in which various momentum exchange devices are present Please note: this is an advanced course, best suited for working engineers or students with college-level knowledge in mathematics and physics. The material covered is taking from the book "Analytical Mechanics of Space Systems" available at https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/book/10.2514/4.105210....

Top reviews

PB

Mar 11, 2025

Great course for new learners and professional alike. Highly recommended if you are interested in spacecraft dynamics in more detail or just keen to review some good materials and math.

NB

Feb 25, 2019

excellent course content with knowledgeable professor. Challenging to learn and focused on both analytical theory and practical example.

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26 - 31 of 31 Reviews for Kinetics: Studying Spacecraft Motion

By Bruno G

•

May 29, 2020

Is a great course. I learned a lot. The instructor is very didactic and very good professor.

The course is not that easy to follow if you don't have a good background in physics and mathematics. It would be good to have some optional references to achieve this basic knowledge.

I recommend this course a lot.

By Justin Y

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Nov 22, 2019

Another solid course. My biggest issue with this round in the specialization is the lack of simulation assignments. There was a good deal of derivation/analytical work, but very little numerical implementation of results such as in the Kinematics course in this series.

By Samy E H

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Jul 28, 2020

Extremely interesting class. Yet, compared to the previous, a bit more "numerical" exercices, with simulation and programs to do, in order to test the solutions and know we have programmed the right things, would make it earn this fifth star! Thanks Prof Schaub!

By Rodrigo N S

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Aug 17, 2020

Great teacher, great course. I recommend studying with the book since it's not an easy topic.

The first course was a bit better since there were more programming exercises to train.

By Ashwini P

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May 7, 2021

Great course !!

By Troy W

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Feb 17, 2018

Works for me.