你将学到什么
Fundamentals of Systems Engineering
How a major technical program gets governmental approval
Design of human spaceflight systems
Operation of complex spaceflight systems
课程概况
For 30 years the Space Shuttle enabled human spaceflight in the United States and partner nations. Learn all about the Shuttle with this unique course, which also serves as a unique historical record. Since the lecturers are the same people who designed, built and operated the Shuttle, this is a first-hand testimonial to the world’s first reusable spacecraft.
This course examines how the Space Shuttle was designed and how its design was influenced by economics and politics. The course goes into detail on many of the Shuttle’s subsystems (e.g. rocket engines, thermal protection, aerodynamics, environmental control and life support, communications, etc.) and explains how the Shuttle was operated (launch, mission control, payloads, etc.). The course also uses the Space Shuttle to present the fundamentals of Systems Engineering.
Students will gain a systems perspective on the complexities of Shuttle development and its operations. It explores both the Shuttle’s successes and its shortcomings and has valuable object lessons for future space initiatives. The Shuttle is a valuable case study in the advantages and difficulties involved in reusable space systems – particularly relevant today as reusability is a key requirement of many rockets and spacecraft currently under development.
In addition, understanding how the Shuttle was first conceived and how it achieved governmental approval is relevant for understanding how politics and economics interact with technology on all large public programs.
The lectures are organized in three fundamental sections: history and policy, technical design of Shuttle systems, and how the Shuttle was operated. Although the sections relate to one another, students can benefit from any of the sections independently.
This course does not require advanced mathematics. It is targeted to students with a variety of interests including the history of human spaceflight, space policy, the design of human spaceflight systems, the operation of complex space systems, and principles of systems engineering.
Image courtesy of NASA: https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/739339main_space_shuttle_challenger_04-04-1983.jpg
课程大纲
Section 1 – Origins of the Space Shuttle Program (4 Lectures on History and Policy)
Introduction to Systems Engineering
Section 2 – Space Shuttle Subsystems
Structures and Thermal Protection
Rocket Engines
Aerodynamics
Mechanisms
Hydraulic Systems
Environmental Control and Life Support
Guidance, Navigation and Control
Section 3 – Operating the Space Shuttle
Launch Operations
Shuttle Abort Modes
Mission Control
Payload Operations
Extravehicular Activity (Spacewalking)
Shuttle Accident Investigations
Flight Testing the Space Shuttle
预备知识
None
常见问题
Q: Do I have to listen to all the lectures in order to benefit from the course?
A: No. Most lectures can be appreciated on their own.
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Q: Will this course be too technical?
A: Some of the subsystems lectures in Section 2 go into considerable technical detail. Most of these lectures begin and end with overall summaries, which should be accessible to people with little technical background. Sections 1 and 3 are non-technical.