AE 783 - Space Launch Vehicle Design (SLVD)

AE-783: Advanced Course in Space Launch Vehicle Design (SLVD)

Introduction to AE-783

SLVD is an advanced graduate-level design course in Aerospace Vehicle Design dealing specifically with the design of solid rocket motor (SRM) based launch vehicles and ballistic systems (SBM). The course can be broadly divided into two parts. The first part deals with single-stage vehicle design while the second part concerns multi-stage rocket design. A topic related to the mission design of launch vehicles/ballistic missiles is common to both parts. In single-stage design, topics related to trajectory modeling, pyrodynamics of rocket systems, mass modeling of LV-SBM, selection and optimization of main design parameters, optimization of trajectory parameters, reentry body design, and case study for a single-stage LV-SBM are included. The second part includes topics on the etymology of multi-stage systems, modified mass modeling, and design parameterization, followed by a case study for multi-stage rocket design. The students of the course shall have the ability to undertake independent advanced-level design works and analysis of LV/SBM systems. 

List of Topics

Part-I (Single-Stage SBMs)

1. Introduction to Launch Vehicles Configuration Design 

(a) Vehicle Config, 

(b) Propulsion Config, 

(c) Guidance Config, 

(d) Structural Config

2. Trajectory Modeling of Single-Stage systems

  (a) Trajectory Parameters - THRUST Part A, THRUST Part B

(b) Trajectory Aerodynamics - Aerodynamics Forces, 

(c) Aerodynamic Moments Part 1, Part 2, & Part 3

(d) Trajectory Aerodynamics - Steering Control Moments

(e) Powered Flight Trajectory

(f) Unpowered Flight Trajectory - Math Model

(g) Burnout Point Solution

(h) Unpowered Trajectory Analysis - Part 1 & Part 2

(i) Reentry Trajectory Part 1 (Basics),  Part 2 (Kinetics),  Part 3 (Kinematics)

3. Pyrodynamics of SLV Propellants

(a) Propellants for SLV

(b) Nozzle Sizing for Propulsion

(c) Chamber Sizing

4. Mass Modeling of LV-SBM Systems

(a) Basic Mass Model

(b) Detailed Subsystem Mass Models - Part 1,  Part 2,  Part 3,  Part 4

5. Determination of Main Design Parameters (MDPs) of Solid Rocket LV Systems

(a) MDP for SRM Part 1

(b) MDP for SRM Part 2

(c) MDP for SRM Part 3

6. Determination of Main Design Parameters of Liquid Rocket Engines LVs

(a) MDP for LRE Part 1

(b) MDP for LRE Part 2

(c) MDP for LRE Part 3

(d) MDP for LRE Part 4

(e) MDP for LRE Part 5

(f) MDP for LRE Part 6

(g) MDP for LRE Part 7

7. Optimization of LV & SBM Trajectories (included with course on Multidisciplinary Optimization)

8. Optimization of Main Design Parameters (included with course on Multidisciplinary Optimization)

9. Case Study in Single-Stage SBM Design

Part-II (Multi-Stage LVBS)

10. Etymology of Multi-Stage LV-SBM Systems - Part 1 , Part 2 & Part 3

11. Mass Modeling of Multi-Stage Systems - Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3

12. Design Parameterization of MS-SBMs

13. Reentry Vessel Design

14. Case Study in Multi-Stage SBM Design

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