Dr. Robert D. Braun
Past Courses Taught
Spring
2009 Course:
AE 6355 is a graduate level special
topics course focused on planetary entry, descent and landing. Course topics
include entry mission and vehicle design, flight dynamics, hypersonic
aerodynamics, aerothermodynamics and thermal protection systems, aerodynamic
decelerators, terminal descent and landing systems. Case studies include past
and future mission concepts for robotic and human exploration.
Fall 2008 Courses:
AE1350:
Introduction to Aerospace Engineering
AE 1350 provides an
introduction to the field of aerospace engineering through a discussion of
basic principles, aerospace disciplines and aerospace systems. Course content
includes a historical perspective followed by an introduction to fluid
mechanics, applied aerodynamics, propulsion, airplane performance, stability,
orbital motion and launch vehicle performance. Recent advances in the aerospace
field are also discussed. A team launch vehicle design and flight analysis
project is assigned.
AE6353 is the first in
a series of two graduate-level astrodynamics classes offered at the Georgia
Institute of Technology. The course content includes historical background and
equations of motion, two-body orbital mechanics, orbit determination, orbit
prediction, orbital maneuvers, lunar and interplanetary trajectories, orbital
rendezvous and space navigation.
Spring
2008 Course:
AE1350:
Introduction to Aerospace Engineering
AE 1350 provides an
introduction to the field of aerospace engineering through a discussion of
basic principles, aerospace disciplines and aerospace systems. Course content
includes a historical perspective followed by an introduction to fluid
mechanics, applied aerodynamics, propulsion, airplane performance, stability,
orbital motion and launch vehicle performance. The educational and research
program within the Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering is described.
Recent advances in the aerospace field are also discussed.
Fall
2007 Course:
AE6353 is the first
in a series of two graduate-level astrodynamics classes offered at the Georgia
Institute of Technology. The course content includes historical background and
equations of motion, two-body orbital mechanics, orbit determination, orbit
prediction, orbital maneuvers, lunar and interplanetary trajectories, orbital
rendezvous and space navigation.
Spring
2007 Courses:
AE4357:
Space Systems Design II
AE4357 is a second-semester course in a
yearlong senior space systems design series. The class is divided into
competing teams of 5-6 students who respond to an instructor-provided request
for proposal. Students lead and manage each team, perform all design activities
and prepare a proposal detailing their system concept. Each team completes
their design concept and receives feedback through two external reviews. The
highest-rated proposal will represent GA Tech in one of several national space
systems design competitions in the summer of 2007. This class is being
co-taught with Dr. Joseph Saleh.
In the Spring of 2007, each student
team developed a mission and flight system concept to rendezvous, emplace
navigation infrastructure and perform a mineralogical assay of the near-Earth
asteroid, Apophis. The final
proposals from this course are available for review.
CONGRATULATIONS to the Georgia Tech
Pharos team (seniors Jonathan Sharma, Jarret Lafleur, Nilesh Shah, Jillian Apa,
Jonathan Townley and Kreston Barron) who were awarded second place in the NASA
ESMD 2007 Systems Engineering Competition and the Georgia Tech ASTI team
(seniors Amanda Verges, Adam Maser, Matt Panaro, Bala Radharamanan and Masa
Yano) who were awarded first place in the AIAA 2007 Space Systems Design
Competition.
AE 6355 is a graduate level special
topics course focused on planetary entry, descent and landing. Course topics
include entry mission and vehicle design, flight dynamics, hypersonic
aerodynamics, aerothermodynamics and thermal protection systems, aerodynamic
decelerators, terminal descent and landing systems. Case studies include past
and future mission concepts for robotic and human exploration. This class is
being co-taught with Dr. Juan Cruz.
CONGRATULATIONS to the Georgia Tech
team of graduate students Chris Tanner, Mike Grant, Ryan Mitchell, Shawn
Johnson and Kathy Goben who were awarded first place in the NASA Fundamental
Aeronautics 2007 University Design Competition for their entry, “Heavy MEDL”
and the Georgia Tech team of graduate students Ashley Korzun, Ben Stahl, Greg
Dubos, John Quicksall and Curtis Iwata who were awarded third place in the NASA
Fundamental Aeronautics 2007 University Design Competition for their entry,
“Innovative Configuration for High Mass Martian Landing.”
Fall
2006 Courses:
AE4310:
Space Flight Mechanics
AE4310 is a first course
in Astrodynamics, designed for undergraduate students interested in space
systems. The course content includes historical background and equations of
motion, two-body orbital mechanics, orbit determination, orbital maneuvers,
orbital prediction, interplanetary trajectories, launch vehicle performance and
atmospheric entry.
AE6353 is the first
in a series of two graduate-level astrodynamics classes offered at the Georgia
Institute of Technology. The course content includes historical background and
equations of motion, two-body orbital mechanics, orbit determination, orbit prediction,
orbital maneuvers, lunar and interplanetary trajectories, orbital rendezvous
and space navigation.
Spring
2006 Courses:
AE4357:
Space Systems Design II
AE4357 is a second-semester course in a
yearlong senior space systems design series. The class is divided into
competing teams of 5-6 students who respond to an instructor-provided request
for proposal. Students lead and manage each team, perform all design activities
and prepare a proposal detailing their system concept. Each team completes
their design concept and receives feedback through two external reviews. The
highest-rated proposal will represent GA Tech in a national space systems
design competition in May 2006.
In the Spring of 2006, each student
team developed a Mars Human Precursor mission concept for the 2025 launch
opportunity. The course was supported with assistance from JPL, NASA Ames and
NASA Langley. The final
proposals from this course are available for review.
AE6354:
Advanced Orbital Mechanics
AE6354 is the second
in a two-part graduate-level astrodynamics sequence offered at the Georgia
Institute of Technology. Course content includes universal variables and Gauss’
problem of orbit determination, the N-body problem, special orbits, non-spherical
gravitational harmonics, orbital perturbations, low thrust trajectory analysis,
differential corrections, midcourse maneuvers, space guidance and navigation.
This course is co-taught with Dr.
Robert Tolson (the NIA/NCSU Langley Professor) and offered in even years.
AE 6353 is a pre-requisite.
Fall
2005 Courses:
AE3803:
Space Flight Mechanics
AE3803 is a first
course in Astrodynamics, designed for undergraduate students interested in
space systems. The course content includes historical background and equations
of motion, two-body orbital mechanics, orbit determination, orbital maneuvers,
orbital prediction, interplanetary trajectories, space vehicle performance and
atmospheric entry.
In subsequent Fall
semesters, this class will have the permanent number AE 4310.
AE8803 is the first
in a series of two graduate-level astrodynamics classes offered at the Georgia
Institute of Technology. The course content includes historical background and
equations of motion, two-body orbital mechanics, orbit determination, orbit
prediction, orbital maneuvers, lunar and interplanetary trajectories, orbital
rendezvous and space navigation.
In subsequent Fall
semesters, this class will have the permanent number AE 6353.
Spring
2005 Courses:
AE4357:
Space Systems Design II
AE4357 is a second-semester course in a
yearlong senior space systems design series. The class is divided into
competing teams of 5-6 students who respond to an instructor-provided request
for proposal. Students lead and manage each team, perform all design activities
and prepare a proposal detailing their system concept. Each team completes
their design concept and receives feedback through two external reviews. The
highest-rated proposal will represent GA Tech in a national space systems
design competition in May 2005.
In the Spring of 2005, each student
team developed a Mars Scout mission concept for the 2011 launch opportunity.
The course was supported with assistance from Brown University, JPL, and NASA
Langley. The final
proposals from this course are available for review.
CONGRATULATIONS to the Georgia Tech
Archer team (seniors Elizabeth Deems, Kyle Brewer, Clay Carpenter, Roger Lee
and Frank Vargo), winners of the Forum Favorite Award at the 2005 USRA Lunar
and Planetary Institute RASC-AL competition.
AE8803 is a graduate level special
topics course focused on planetary atmospheric entry. This course will be
offered for the first time in the Spring of 2005. Course topics include mission
and vehicle design, flight dynamics, hypersonic aerodynamics and planetary
aerothermodynamics. Case studies include past and future mission concepts for
robotic and human exploration.
In subsequent years,
this class will have the permanent number AE 6355.
Fall
2004 Courses:
AE4830 and
AE6320: Astronautics
AE4830 is a
senior-level astrodynamics elective; AE6320 is a graduate level astrodynamics
elective. The two courses are taught from common textbooks and lecture
material. AE6350 students have an augmented set of homework problems in which
significant computer programming is required as well as a more complex set of
mid-term and final test problems. Course content includes historical background
and fundamental equations of motion, two-body orbital mechanics, orbit
determination and maneuvers, rocket vehicle performance and staging, lunar and
interplanetary trajectories, orbital perturbations, orbital rendezvous and
space navigation.
In subsequent Fall
semesters, this class will be split into an undergraduate and graduate
sections.
Spring
2004 Course:
AE4803B:
Space Systems Design II
AE4803B is a second-semester course in
yearlong senior space systems design series. The class is divided into
competing teams of 5-6 students who respond to an instructor-provided request
for proposal. Students lead and manage each team, perform all design activities
and prepare a proposal detailing their system concept. Each team completes
their design concept and receives feedback through two external reviews. The
highest-rated proposal will represent GA Tech in a national space systems
design competition in May 2004.
In the Spring of 2004, each student
team developed a mission and flight system concept for a Europa surface science
investigation in the year 2020. The course was supported with assistance from
Brown University, JPL, and NASA Langley. The final
proposals from this course are available for review.
CONGRATULATIONS to the Georgia Tech
Cadmus Team (seniors Bob Thompson, Scott Francis, Randy Olsen Michael Parson
and Robbie Coffman), winners of the 2004 RASC-AL undergraduate design
competition. This team has been invited to present its Europa lander study at
the AIAA Space 2004 Conference and Exposition in San Diego, CA, September
28-30, 2004.
In subsequent Spring
semesters, this class will have the permanent number AE 4357.