Course detail

Space Flight Mechanics

FSI-OZ0Acad. year: 2025/2026

Historical introduction to astronautics. The problem of space flight and its technical solutions. Fundamentals of space flight. Passive motion of cosmic bodies. Artificial satellites. Active motion of space vehicles. Dynamics of space vehicles. Flight performance of rockets. Orbital maneuvers. Interplanetary trajectories. Re-entry problems. Reusable aerospace vehicles.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

3

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

doc. Ing. Pavel Zikmund, Ph.D.

Department

Institute of Aerospace Engineering (LÚ)

Entry knowledge

The basics of mathematics - differential and integral calculus, common differential equations. The basics of common mechanics - force effect on a body, kinematics, dynamics.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

A graded credit of a compulsory subject is awarded for participation and elaboration of all tasks in exercises and a successful final test. Classification according to the Study and Examination Regulations of the FME.
Lectures are optional, exercises are mandatory. Replacement in the form of individually assigned and recommended literature for self-study.

Aims

The goal is to familiarize students with the branch of the area of aeronautical and cosmic means of transport that develops in a progressive way and with main problems of space flights.
Learning basic principles of space flight mechanics. Acquiring knowledge of aerospace techniques (launchers, space vehicles and stations).

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Carrou, J.- P.(editor). Spaceflight Dynamics, Part I,II, Toulouse: Cépadues-Éditions, 1995. 1966 s. ISBN 2-85428-378-3. (překlad z francouzštiny). (EN)
Curtis, H.D. Orbital mechanics for engineering students, Oxford: Elsevier, 2007, 673 str. ISBN 978-0-7506-6169-0. (EN)
Daněk, V. Mechanika kosmického letu. 2.vydání. Brno: Akademické nakladatelství CERM, s.r.o., 2020. 310 s. ISBN 978-80-7623-041-5. (CS)
Space Mission Design and Operations. EdX.org [online]. [cit. 2021-03-04]. Dostupné z: https://www.edx.org/course/space-mission-design-and-operations?index=product&queryID=88da87b7080f35344f04f26f5f4bf894&position=1 (EN)

Recommended reading

Carrou, J.- P.(editor). Spaceflight Dynamics, Part I,II, Toulouse: Cépadues-Éditions, 1995. 1966 s. ISBN 2-85428-378-3. (překlad z francouzštiny). (EN)
Curtis, H.D. Orbital mechanics for engineering students, Oxford: Elsevier, 2007, 673 str. ISBN 978-0-7506-6169-0. (EN)
Daněk, V. Mechanika kosmického letu. 2. vydání. Brno: Akademické nakladatelství CERM, s.r.o., 2020. 310 s. ISBN 978-80-7623-041-5. (CS)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme N-LKT-P Master's

    specialization STL , 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    specialization TLT , 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Ing. Pavel Zikmund, Ph.D.

Syllabus

1. Historical introduction to astronautics. Overview of the development of rocket technology. 
2. Basic concepts and laws of space flight mechanics.
3. Passive motion of space bodies in a central gravitational field. The two-body problem. Equations of motion.
4. Motion of a space body in orbit. Kepler's laws.
5. Position and velocity of a space body in orbit. Energy integral. Kepler's equation.
6. Description of the orbit. Orbit elements. 
7. Active motion of space bodies. Dynamics of rocket motion.
8. Flight performance of a launch vehicle. Specific impulse.
9. Launch of an Earth satellite. Characteristic space velocities.
10. Maneuvering in orbit.
11. Transition paths. Hohmann ellipse.
12. Meeting spacecraft in orbit.
13. Interplanetary space flight. Lunar trajectory.

Exercise

13 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Ing. Pavel Zikmund, Ph.D.

Syllabus

1. Calculations of basic parameters of the orbit in the central gravitational field.
2. Time course of motion of a cosmic body - solution of Kepler's equation.
3. Calculation of position and velocity of a body in the perifocal coordinate system.
4. Calculation of position and speed using Lagrange coefficients.
5. Position and velocity of a cosmic body in orbit in space.
6. Transformation between geocentric and perifocal coordinate system.
7. Determination of orbit elements from the state vector.
8. Calculation of the position of a body in topocentric horizontal coordinates. system.
9. Flight performance of single-stage and multi-stage missiles during vertical takeoff.
10. Coplanar changes in orbit and change in inclination of the orbit.
11. Calculation of the general transition path between two circular paths.
12. Hohmann transition path.
13. Bieliptic transition path.