Course 01
Basic Astronomy and Celestial Mechanics
This first course introduces the astronomical, physical, and mathematical foundations required to understand the motion of celestial bodies.
Students will study the structure of the Solar System, Newton’s laws, universal gravitation, Kepler’s laws, and the classical two-body problem.
Course Objective
By the end of this course, students will be able to explain the motion of celestial bodies using the fundamental laws of mechanics and gravitation.
Main Topics
- Structure and scale of the Solar System
- Celestial coordinate systems
- Newton’s laws and universal gravitation
- Kepler’s laws of planetary motion
- The classical two-body problem
- Energy and angular momentum
How do the laws of mechanics explain the motion of planets and satellites?
Course 02
Foundations of Astrodynamics
The second course introduces the tools used to describe, calculate, and predict the trajectory of an artificial satellite or spacecraft.
Students will learn to work with state vectors, reference frames, classical orbital elements, Keplerian propagation, and basic orbital maneuvers.
Course Objective
By the end of this course, students will be able to characterize an orbit, interpret its classical elements, and perform introductory trajectory calculations.
Main Topics
- Position and velocity state vectors
- Orbital reference frames and time systems
- Classical orbital elements
- Circular, elliptical, and escape trajectories
- Keplerian orbit propagation
- Introduction to orbital maneuvers
How can a satellite’s position and velocity be used to predict its future trajectory?
Course 03
Applied Astrodynamics and Space Situational Awareness
This third course extends the two-body model by introducing the perturbations and numerical methods required to analyze real satellite trajectories.
Students will also discover the principles of Space Situational Awareness, including satellite tracking, orbit prediction, conjunction analysis, and the monitoring of space debris.
Course Objective
By the end of this course, students will be able to analyze perturbed trajectories, apply numerical propagation methods, and explain how orbital data supports safe operations in space.
Main Topics
- Earth oblateness and the J2 perturbation
- Atmospheric drag and solar radiation pressure
- Third-body gravitational effects
- Numerical orbit propagation
- Satellite tracking and orbit determination
- Conjunction analysis and space debris monitoring
How can we predict and monitor satellite trajectories in a perturbed orbital environment?
Course 04
Remote Sensing from Space: Orbit-to-Image Physics
The fourth course connects satellite orbit design with the physical principles of Earth observation and image acquisition from space.
Students will examine how orbital altitude, viewing geometry, sensor characteristics, and radiometric conditions influence image coverage, spatial resolution, and revisit time.
Course Objective
By the end of this course, students will be able to relate an orbital configuration and sensor design to the geometry and quality of a remotely sensed image.
Main Topics
- Principles of satellite remote sensing
- Observation geometry and line of sight
- Ground sampling distance and spatial resolution
- Swath width, coverage, and revisit time
- Radiometric and spectral considerations
- From orbital position to image geolocation
How do the orbit and sensor characteristics determine what can be observed in a satellite image?