Space Mission Design: Interplanetary Trajectories and Operations

This lecture covers the principles of space mission design, focusing on interplanetary trajectories and operations. It begins with an overview of the SpaceX Starship project and its upcoming test flights. The instructor introduces key concepts such as the astronomical unit and the solar system's structure, including the orbits and characteristics of various planets. The lecture explains the patched conics approximation used to simplify the complex four-body problem of spacecraft navigation. The concept of the sphere of influence is discussed, detailing how spacecraft transition from the influence of one celestial body to another. The instructor elaborates on the strategies for interplanetary transfers, including the necessary velocity changes and energy considerations. Aerodynamic braking maneuvers, such as aerocapture and aerobraking, are also explained, highlighting their importance in mission design. The lecture concludes with a brief introduction to gravity assist maneuvers, setting the stage for future discussions on optimizing spacecraft trajectories.