Course description
Engineering the Space Shuttle
For 30 years the Space Shuttle enabled human spaceflight in the United States and partner nations. Learn all about the Shuttle with thisunique course, which also serves as a unique historical record. Since the lecturers are the same people who designed, built and operated the Shuttle, this is a first-hand testimonial to the world’s first reusable spacecraft.
This course examines how the Space Shuttle was designed and how its design was influenced by economics and politics. The course goes into detail on many of the Shuttle’s subsystems (e.g. rocket engines, thermal protection, aerodynamics, environmental control and life support, communications, etc.) and explains how the Shuttle was operated (launch, mission control, payloads, etc.). The course also uses the Space Shuttle to present the fundamentals of Systems Engineering.
Students will gain a systems perspective on the complexities of Shuttle development and its operations. Itexplores both the Shuttle’s successes and its shortcomings and has valuable object lessons for future space initiatives.The Shuttle is a valuable case study in the advantages and difficulties involved in reusable space systems - particularly relevant today as reusability is a key requirement of many rockets and spacecraft currently under development.
Upcoming start dates
Who should attend?
Prerequisites
None
Training content
Section 1 Origins of the Space Shuttle Program (4 Lectures on History and Policy)
- Introduction to Systems Engineering
Section 2 – Space Shuttle Subsystems
- Structures and Thermal Protection
- Rocket Engines
- Aerodynamics
- Mechanisms
- Hydraulic Systems
- Environmental Control and Life Support
- Guidance, Navigation and Control
Section 3 – Operating the Space Shuttle
- Launch Operations
- Shuttle Abort Modes
- Mission Control
- Payload Operations
- Extravehicular Activity (Spacewalking)
- Shuttle Accident Investigations
- Flight Testing the Space Shuttle
Course delivery details
This course is offered through Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a partner institute of EdX.
4-5 hours per week
Costs
- Verified Track -$75
- Audit Track - Free
Certification / Credits
What you'll learn
- Fundamentals of Systems Engineering
- How a major technical program gets governmental approval
- Design of human spaceflight systems
- Operation of complex spaceflight systems
Contact this provider
edX
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