Module overview
This is an introduction to Aeronautics and Astronautics, which lays down the foundations of all of the aeronautical and astronautical engineering modules that follow in subsequent years.
* An introduction to aerospace systems, operations, safety and certification requirements.
* Application of newtonian mechanics to analyze the performance of aircraft, launch vehicles and spacecraft, which will form the basis for future modules in the degree.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Partial CEng Programme Level Learning Outcomes
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Select and evaluate peer-reviewed literature and other sources of information to address the development of aerospace systems. This will be assessed through the report/essay.
- Consider the application of health safety, diversity, inclusion, cultural, societal, environmental and commercial matters, codes of practice and industry standards when addressing solutions to complex engineering problems. This will be assessed through quizzes and report/essay.
- Apply knowledge of commercial context and relevant legal matters, especially with regard to the role of the regulator (EASA, CAA, MAA) in the management and implementation of safety/certification and this will be assessed through the essay, quizzes and final exam.
- Communicate effectively on complex aerospace issues with technical and non-technical audiences, evaluating the effectiveness of the methods used. This will be assessed with a report/essay where you are expected to provide a brief non-technical introduction and then provide details on an aerospace subcomponent.
- Encouraged to develop a portfolio of solutions through regular quizzes, capturing learning in notebooks and journals, both physical and electronic in the spirit of CPD/lifelong learning.
- Apply a comprehensive knowledge of mathematics and principles to the solution of complex aircraft and spacecraft problems especially applied to determination of performance and trajectories of aerospace systems, which is assessed via quizzes, labs and final assessment.
- Select and apply appropriate computational and analytical techniques to model complex aerospace mechanics problems with sufficient recognition on the limitations of the technique. These are assessed in quizzes, labs and final assessment.
- Evaluate/illustrate the environmental and societal impact of complex solutions relevant to aerospace systems. This will be assessed through quizzes, the report and final assessment.
- Formulate and analyse complex problems in aerospace mechanics that involve using available data, mathematics, and engineering principles. Use engineering judgment to appropriate techniques discussing their limitations. This will be assessed in quizzes as well as report/essay.
- Function effectively as an individual, and as a member or leader of a team and this will be assessed as part of the sustainable aerospace engineering essay.
- Use practical laboratory skills to investigate aircraft/spacecraft performance. This is assessed with compulsory attendance in either the flight simulator lab or trajectory calculation lab where the collected data is further used for analysis. This will assessed through bespoke quizzes for the labs.
Syllabus
Introduction to aerospace systems (Lectures)
1. Introduction and Motivation
2. Sustainable aerospace engineering: Societal, ethical, environmental, economic and human impact.
3. Aircraft/spacecraft operations, certification and its principles
Flight performance and mechanics (Lectures + Flight Simulator lab)
1. Atmosphere, airspeeds, airfoils/wings, lift/drag polars, propulsion systems
2. Equations of motions, thrust/power required and available for level flight
3. Rate/time of climb, Gliding flight and altitude effects
4. Range, endurance, take-off/landing performance and manoeuvres
5. Stability of aircraft and rockets (static margin, trim and aspects of longitudinal and lateral stability)
Space Environment –and Access to Space (Lectures + Computer lab)
1. The space environment,: near- Earth environment and, launch environment
2. Launch vehicles: principles, history, launch system characteristics
3. Vehicle dynamics: rocket equation, trajectory calculations, staging, orbits
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching methods include
• Lectures
• Worked examples in lectures
• Problem sheets and quizzes
• Office hours
• Flight Simulator laboratory
• Computer laboratory
Learning activities include
• Working through examples in lectures and self-study time
• Flight simulator laboratory
• Computer laboratory
• Directed reading
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 44 |
| Independent Study | 100 |
| Practical classes and workshops | 6 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Internet Resources
Elements of airplane performance .
Textbooks
John D Anderson, Jr (2015). Introduction to Flight .
Peter Fortescue, Graham Swinerd, John Stark . Spacecraft Systems Engineering . Wiley.
Assessment
Assessment strategy
Peer assessment through a report written using GenAI assesses technical writing and critical thinking. Practical and numerical approach to problem solving and developing understanding is assessed through lab work. Continuous assessment through regular quizzes assesses the understanding of taught concepts/problem solving that is also assessed in a final in-person exam External Repeat is allowed for students who have fulfilled the laboratory/workshop requirements of the module (set by Module Lead) in the original attempt.Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Assessed Practicals | 5% |
| Analytical essay | 15% |
| Continuous Assessment | 70% |
| Assessed Practicals | 10% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External