Lectures (Video)
- 1. The Origins of the Space Shuttle
- 2. Space Shuttle History
- 3. Orbiter Sub-System Design
- 4. The Decision to Build the Shuttle
- 5. Orbiter Structure And Thermal Protection System
- 6. Propulsion - Space Shuttle Main Engines
- 7. Aerodynamics - (From Sub - to Hypersonic and Back)
- 8. Landing and Mechanical Systems
- 9. OMS, RCS, Fuel Cells, Auxiliary Power Unit and Hydraulic Systems
- 10. The DoD and the Space Shuttle
- 11. Use of Subsystems as a Function of Flight Phase
- 12. Aerothermodynamics
- 13. Environmental Control Systems
- 14. Ground Operations - Launching the Shuttle
- 15. Space Shuttle Accidents
- 16. Guidance, Navigation and Control
- 17. Mission Control 1
- 18. Mission Control 2
- 19. Design Process as it Relates to the Shuttle
- 20. EVA and Robotics on the Shuttle
- 21. Systems Engineering for Space Shuttle Payloads
- 22. Test Flying the Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle Systems Engineering
Course Summary
This course is based on 16.885J / ESD.35J Aircraft Systems Engineering, Fall 2005 made available by Massachusetts Institute of Technology: MIT OpenCourseWare under the Creative Commons BY-NC-SA license.
This course focuses on a systems engineering analysis of the Space Shuttle. It offers study of both design and operations of the shuttle, with frequent lectures by outside experts. Topics include basic systems engineering; cost and weight estimation; basic aircraft performance; safety and reliability; lifecycle topics; aircraft subsystems; risk analysis and management; and system realization.
This course was administrated by shuttle astronaut and MIT Professor Jeff Hoffman and Professor Aaron Cohen, who was the Space Shuttle Orbiter Project Manager. Guest speakers provide the majority of the content in video lectures, discussing topics such as system design, accident investigation, and the future of NASA's space mission.
Reading Material
1. System Engineering FundamentalsDefense Acquisition University Press. "System Engineering Fundamentals." January 2001. (PDF - 1.2 MB)
Launch of the Space Shuttle Columbia
NASA. "NASA's Exploration Architecture." (PDF - 2.6 MB)
3. Assured Access: 'The Bureaucratic Space War'
Aldridge, E. C. Pete, Jr. "Assured Access: 'The Bureaucratic Space War'." (PDF)
4. Structural Load Challenges During Space Shuttle Development
Mackey, Alden C., and Ralph E. Gatto. "Structural Load Challenges During Space Shuttle Development." (PDF)
5. Orbiter Structural Design and Verification
Glynn, Philip C., and Thomas L. Moser. "Orbiter Structural Design and Verification." (PDF)
6. Reliability Engineering of the Space Shuttle: Lessons Learned
Moser, Thomas L. "Reliability Engineering of the Space Shuttle: Lessons Learned." (PDF)
7. Shuttle Structural Dynamics Characteristics, The Analysis and Verification
Modlin, C. Thomas, Jr., and George A. Zupp, Jr. "Shuttle Structural Dynamics Characteristics, The Analysis and Verification." (PDF)
8. Space Shuttle Orbiter
Cohen, Aaron, and Milton A. Silveira. "Space Shuttle Orbiter." (PDF - 2.2 MB)
9. Sample Cost Projections (PDF)
10. Interfaces (PDF)
Course Material
Not available.Other Resources
1. Space Shuttle Columbia: her missions and crewsBen Evans, Space Shuttle Columbia: her missions and crews, Publisher: Springer Science & Business, 2005, ISBN 9780387215174
(Click the button below to see a preview of the book)
