General Course Information
- Course code: AERO9500
- Year: 2025
- Term / Teaching Period: Term 3 (T3)
- Multi-term: No
- Faculty: Faculty of Engineering
- Academic unit: School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
- Delivery mode: In person (Standard)
- Delivery location: Kensington
- Campus: Sydney
- Study level: Undergraduate, Postgraduate
- Units of credit: 6
- Published: 09 Sep 2025
Useful Links
- UNSW Handbook: https://www.handbook.unsw.edu.au/search?query=AERO9500
- Class Timetable: https://timetable.unsw.edu.au/
Course Description
This course provides an overview of satellite systems and their main applications, with a detailed introduction to the principles of orbital mechanics. Topics include orbit description and analysis, perturbations, orbital manoeuvres, interplanetary transfers, and launch systems.
Course Aims
The course aims to furnish students with an understanding of the space segment of satellite and spacecraft systems, and their applications. Specific aims include:
- Describe the history and current state of space flight.
- Describe spacecraft orbits — Keplerian and perturbed.
- Describe and calculate common spacecraft manoeuvres and associated propellant (∆V) costs.
- Describe and calculate the basics of rocket propulsion and spacecraft launch systems.
- Describe and calculate the mechanics of interplanetary travel.
- Demonstrate Systems Tool Kit (STK) software for satellite orbit analysis.
Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)
- CLO1: Explain the main applications of satellites and how they affect everyday life.
- CLO2: Analyse spacecraft orbits and their perturbations, and recognise commonly employed satellite orbits.
- CLO3: Compute ∆V and propellant requirements for orbital manoeuvres, interplanetary transfers, and launches.
Learning and Teaching Technologies
- Moodle (Learning Management System)
- Microsoft Teams
Learning and Teaching in this Course
All teaching activities are delivered face-to-face. Lectures/problem-solving classes are held in classrooms and STK tutorials in computer labs.
- Lectures: Mondays 2:00–4:00 pm; Wednesdays 1:00–2:00 pm
- Problem-solving class: Thursdays 2:00–3:00 pm
- Location: Ainsworth Building (rooms as timetabled)
- Course content access: Moodle (outline, lecture content/exercises, recordings, STK tutorials, recommended reading, assessments)
Assessment Structure
| Assessment item | Format | Weight | Due / Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assignments (Draft + Final Report) | Individual | 30% | Draft: Week 3 (Fri 5 pm); Final: Week 10 (Fri 5 pm) |
| Mid-term Exam | Individual (open book) | 30% | Week 7, Mon 5:30–7:30 pm |
| Final Exam | Individual (open book) | 40% | Exam period (TBD) |
Assignments
- Two individual submissions: (1) Draft report (~3 pages) and (2) Final report (≤ 25 pages).
- Draft report (5%): assesses content from Weeks 1–3.
- Final report (25%): assesses the whole course content.
- Detailed instructions and marking rubrics will be provided on Moodle.
- Feedback will be provided per marking criterion via Moodle.
- Submission via Moodle (Turnitin enabled; students can view similarity reports).
- Generative AI — Planning/Design Assistance permitted for ideation/structure only; final submitted text must be your own work (no AI-generated text). Keep iteration records if requested.
Mid-term Exam
- 2 hours, individual, open-book quiz (multiple-choice + numerical).
- Numerical questions require typed answers in-quiz and upload of workings within 30 minutes of completing the quiz.
- Assesses content from Weeks 1–5.
- Venue: Computer Labs 203/204, Ainsworth. MATLAB and/or other programming tools permitted; personal laptops allowed.
- Return: ~2 weeks after the exam.
- Generative AI: Not permitted.
Final Exam
- 2 hours, individual, open-book exam covering the entire course.
- Venue: Computer Labs 203/204, Ainsworth. MATLAB and/or other programming tools permitted; personal laptops allowed.
- Timing: Exam period (TBD). Marks returned with final results.
- Generative AI: Not permitted.
General Assessment Information
- Grading basis: Standard
- Requirement to pass: Programming skills are required to implement the orbital algorithms introduced in this class.
- Attendance: Students are strongly encouraged to attend all classes and review lecture recordings.
Course Resources
Prescribed Resources
- Elements of Spacecraft Design, C. Brown — available on Moodle and via the UNSW Library.
- Orbital Mechanics for Engineering Students (2nd ed.), H. Curtis — available via the UNSW Library.
Recommended / Advanced Resources
- Orbital Mechanics (2nd ed.), J. E. Prussing & B. A. Conway
- Fundamentals of Astrodynamics, R. R. Bate, D. D. Mueller & J. E. White
- Satellite Orbits: Models, Methods and Applications, O. Montenbruck & E. Gill
- Astronautics (2nd ed.), U. Walter
Staff Details
- Primary contact: Dr Yang Yang
- Email: yang.yang16@unsw.edu.au
- Location: Ainsworth Building (as timetabled)
- Equitable Learning Services contact: Yes
Last updated: 20 Sep 2025