Section 700 Tuesday/Thursday 8:00-9:30AM  1012 FXB

INTRODUCTION TO SPACE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
Pete Washabaugh/Leslie Olsen

This course introduces students to practical space-system engineering processes by the means of design, build, test and operation of simple flight vehicles (e.g. lighter than air craft). Students will design Mars surveillance blimps or dirigibles and fabricate and fly a terrestrial model. Students will be exposed to multiple disciplines in both engineering and the sciences including Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical, Materials and Atmospheric Physics. The class involves hands-on experiences covering nearly all aspects of a real mission including concept proposal, design fabrication, test, operations, analysis, documentation, and presentation of results. There will be individual training on fundamental diagnostic instruments, sensors, and computers tools. Specific experiments include multi-meters, power supplies, temperature and pressure sensors, thermal-vacuum testing, data acquisition, micro-controllers and radio controlled components. This section emphasizes individual hands on skills, oral and written communication and working effectively in a team environment. The course is supported by a dedicated design-build-test facility. Please note that that this is an intensive course involving a laboratory and a minimum of 6 contact hours per week.

Extra class events: There will be two Saturday events or “competitions” where students display their flight vehicles. The first will be on October 3rd from 9am-2pm.  The second will be December 5^th from 9am –2pm. Both events will be held in 1109 FXB and the FXB Atrium. A mid-term examination is also scheduled on Friday, October 16^th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm in room 1109 FXB. Finally there will be an evening class on November 23rd and December 14^th from 5:30-7:00 pm in 107 EPB. Any student registering for this class needs to participate in these activities.  Further, during the week preceding the two competitions there will be optional lab time during the evening so that teams can finish their hardware and documentation. Each team will also need to schedule a practice oral presentation on either the Wednesday, Thursday or Friday evening before the Saturday events (plan on 1 hour out of the period 5-9pm). This scheduling will be done in class.

Please note that these extra events frequently conflict with other activities like Marching Band and Crew. This class has team activities that require flexibility in scheduling during the term. We have found that students involved in UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program) or MRC (Michigan Research community) have difficulty with being sufficiently flexible to meet with their teams.

Satisfies the Multidisciplinary Design Minor's Introductory Design-Build-Test requirement.  

Instructional Staff: