FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

SPC 5018: Launch & Space Mission Operations 

Syllabus

Textbook: Space Mission Analysis and Design 3rd edition by Larson & Wertz (Space Technology Library

 Supplemental handouts will be provided as well as website links.

 Prerequisites:  None

Course Description:

This course provides the student with knowledge of the multidisciplinary activities and processes that comprise launch and space mission operations. The primary focus is an overview and understanding of requirements, analysis, and procedures supporting Space Transportation Systems for civil, commercial, and military operations. Present and future expendable and reusable launch systems will be discussed. Foreign and domestic operations will be compared. Students will be introduced to payload integration and how it is accomplished. Range Safety and Operations support will be introduced. Special topics will focus on the future of human spaceflight, risk management, and failure investigation.

Course Learning Objectives:

Successful completion of the course will enable the student to:

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

Students will be required to complete homework assignments (see below) and a final exam. 

Grading: The course grade will be based on the following:

20% Homework

20% Research Presentation

60% Course Final Exam

 

Research Presentation

The assignment is to research a current topic in launch and mission operations. It should provide additional detail to a topic covered in the course and be something of interest to you or something that you are involved in. The final presentation is a recorded 20-minute PowerPoint on the subject.  It MUST be turned in prior to the end of week 7 and posted in a discussion topic for other students to review and comment on/ask questions of.

Homework: Homework will be assigned weekly. If anyone will be traveling or otherwise can't be there, let me know as soon as possible. You must do the homework to have a good chance of passing the course. Working together on homework is permitted as long as each student’s name who helped is listed on the solution. You are encouraged to first work on the homework alone. Then, compare with a friend in the class, if necessary. The best approach is to start your homework early in the week, so you can ask questions if needed. The emphasis in a graduate course of study is self-directed research. Not all of the homework problems may be solved by using the textbook alone. You may need to seek out answers from coworkers, computer databases, or the internet. Do not limit yourself to learning the minimum that is “required” to pass the class or to complete an assignment. This is a good time to rely on the expertise of others in your class and your chosen field. Be curious, ask questions, and be prepared to contribute to the classroom discussion when you have a solution.

 

Final Exam: The final exam will cover everything discussed in class, homework, and reading assignments. This course is expected to be purely online, so the examination is open book and will be posted on Canvas under the assignments tab. You will have a week to work on it. Some questions will be of the “Explain how this works” type; others will involve equations, derivations, and/or calculations.

  

Academic Honesty: The Florida Institute of Technology has very specific policies regarding cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty. These policies are available on the university web site. Students are expected to maintain complete honesty and integrity in the academic experience both in and out of the classroom. Plagiarism is cheating and it is your responsibility to understand how to properly use and cite the works of others in your research. See documents available on the Evans Library web site for guidance. Each student is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the examination process. Sharing calculators or using a cell phone is not allowed during an exam.

 

Academic Accommodations:  Florida Tech is committed to equal opportunity for persons w/disabilities in the participation of activities operated/sponsored by the university. Therefore, students w/documented disabilities are entitled to reasonable educational accommodations. The Office of Accessibility Resources (OAR) supports students by assisting w/accommodations, providing recommended interventions, and engaging in case management services.  It is the student’s responsibility to make a request to OAR before any accommodations can be approved/implemented.  Also, students w/approved accommodations are encouraged to speak w/the course instructor to discuss any arrangements and/or concerns relating to their accommodations for the class. 

Office of Accessibility Resources (OAR):

 

Miscellaneous:

FLORIDA TECH'S POLICY REGARDING THE INCOMPLETE GRADE

  1. The grade of "I" is only to be given for incomplete work because of circumstances beyond the student's control. It is not intended to give additional time to students simply because they want more time to prepare for exams or to complete projects. Also the "I" grade presumes that the student's work has been qualitatively satisfactory and there is a reasonable expectation that completion of the remaining work will result in a passing grade.
  2. The grade of "I" is not automatic. If a student is nearing the end of the semester and has not completed all coursework due to illness, family emergency, or job related travel, or misses the final exam for the above reasons, the student must make appropriate arrangements with the instructor. If the student does not provide the instructor with early, valid, and verifiable reasons for not completing the course requirements in the prescribed time, the grade assigned by the instructor could be an "F".
  3. The remaining work must be completed within the time allotted by the instructor. This means the make-up work is to be scheduled and completed as near as possible to the end of the semester involved. FIT policy establishes that the absolute deadline for updating a grade of incomplete is the beginning of the seventh week of the following semester. After that, the grade becomes an "F".

 

Schedule: (Some reordering may occur.)

 

Week Topic               

1          Course syllabus, overview & history of spacecraft development         

2          Launch site selection and vehicle performance

3          Vehicle processing – booster, upper stage & spacecraft

4          Payload integration and mission planning

5          Testing philosophy and integrated processing

6          Operations Support, range safety, instrumentation, weather and communications systems

7          Processing infrastructure – ground support equipment, facilities, power & transportation

8          Trade Studies, risk mitigation and failure investigations

            Final exam

 

Title IX Statement:  The university’s Title IX policy is available at https://www.fit.edu/policies/title-ix.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs and activities.  Florida Institute of Technology policy also prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex.

Florida Tech faculty are committed to helping create a safe learning environment for all students that is free from all forms of discrimination and sexual harassment, including sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. If you, or someone you know, have experienced or is experiencing any of these behaviors, know that help and support are available.

Florida Tech strongly encourages all members of the community to take action, seek support, and report any incident of sexual harassment or gender discrimination to

David McMahan, Title IX Coordinator

Please note that as your professor, I am required to report any incidents to the Title IX Coordinator. 

If you wish to speak to an employee who does not have this reporting responsibility, please contact the Student Counseling Center at 321-674-8050.