Astronautics: The Science and Technology of Space

The space sciences are split broadly into two main branches: astronomy and astronautics. Astronomy studies what is out there, from planets to stars and beyond, while astronautics looks at how we actually get to those planets and study the stars. In this 15-week course, we will explore the science and technology that makes space travel and exploration possible. We will learn about everything from the unique environmental conditions of interplanetary space to how mission operators send and receive signals from far away craft such as Voyager 2 and New Horizons. 

We will investigate questions such as:

What kinds of space missions are there?
What kinds of space-related professions are on Earth?
How do we safely launch astronauts into space?
What are transfer orbits?
How do we communicate with spacecraft in deep space?
How do we use remote sensing to study the space environment?

Student Projects:
Students will research a real-life mission or design their own hypothetical mission based on the material we learn together. In the final meeting, they will get to present their missions to the class. 

This is a highly interactive course. Students will learn through an image and video-filled presentation and discussion. Students’ participation and questions are regularly encouraged. Classes are designed to encourage student engagement and follow their curiosity.

This class is designed to give learners a foundational understanding of astronautics.

Week One -		Introduction
Week Two -		Mission Elements
Week Three -	        Mission Examples
Week Four -		Space Environment
Week Five -		Space Physics, Gravity, and Motion
Week Six -		Orbits
Week Seven -	Interplanetary Travel and Craft Maneuvers 
Week Eight -		Rockets
Week Nine -		Launch and Landing
Week Ten -		Communications
Week Eleven -	Remote Sensing
Week Twelve -	Human Spaceflight
Week Thirteen -	Space Operations
Week Fourteen -	Review and Project Prep
Week Fifteen -	Presentations 

No mathematical background is necessary. While I will occasionally show relevant equations to the class so they are exposed to them, we will not be using math together. Students will learn the “whys and hows” behind astronautics so that if they do pursue higher math later in their studies they will understand how that math can be applied to their field of interest. 

There is no textbook for this class. All necessary learning materials will be provided in the classroom.