Space engineering
Space Engineering is a core topic area in both Aerospace and Ocean Engineering. Analysis and understanding of the space environment, space payloads, and/or space mission design and operations is critical to the design, analysis, and functioning of those space vehicles and payloads. The Space Engineering Track will allow students with a particular interest in those topics to focus their technical electives in that area. This Track is available to all Aerospace and Ocean Engineering majors.
Choose a minimum of 9 credit hours from the following courses.
| Course | Title | CH | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AOE 2664 | Exploration of the Space Environment | 3 | |
| AOE 4174 | Spacecraft Propulsion | 3 | |
| AOE 4414 | Computer Aided Mission Analysis | 3 | |
| AOE 4454 | Spacecraft Pos., Nav., and Timing, and Orbit Determ. | 3 | |
| AOE 4604 | Booster Design, Fabrication, and Operation | 3 | |
| AOE 4654/ECE 4154 | Space Weather: The Solar Wind and Magnetosphere | 3 | |
| AOE 4674 | Upper Atmosphere Space Weather | 3 | |
| AOE 4864 | Special Topics in Space Engineering | 3 | |
| AOE 5184* | High Speed Propulsion | 3 | |
| AOE 5174* | Introduction to Plasma Science | 3 | |
| AOE 5234* | Orbital Mechanics | 3 | |
| AOE 5654* | Intoduction to Space Science I | 3 | |
| ECE 3104 | Introduction to Space Systems and Technologies | 3 | |
| ECE 3154 | Space Systems Design and Validation | 3 | |
| ECE 4164 | Introduction to Global Positioning System (GPS) Theory and Design | 3 | |
| ECE 4194 | Engineering Principles of Remote Sensing | 3 | |
| PHYS 3655 | Introduction to Astrophysics I | 3 | |
| PHYS 3656 | Introduction to Astrophysics II | 3 |
*Graduate School policy: seniors with ≥3.0 GPA may take graduate course with instructor’s permission.
Courses are based on the UG Catalog Date of Entry 2024-2025 program curriculum. Prerequisites may apply – see your advisor.
I. Purpose
Aerospace and ocean engineering majors have a foundational option and eight concentrations:
- Aero/hydrodynamics
- Dynamics, control and estimation
- Energy & environment
- Naval engineering
- Propulsion
- Space engineering
- Structures and materials
- Vehicle and system design
The new option in space engineering will allow students, who were interested primarily in space vehicles and payloads, space science, and/or space mission design and operations, to develop that specialization.
Students will choose three classes from AOE 2664, AOE 3744, AOE 4174, AOE 4454, ECE 3104, ECE 3154, ECE 4154, ECE 4164, ECE 4194, PHYS 3655, PHYS 3656, and STAT 4714.
II. Justification:
The concentration in space engineering will allow students with a particular interest in space vehicles and payloads, space science, and/or space mission design and operations to focus their technical electives in that area and receive recognition on their transcripts.
III. Hours Requirement
A total of 128 hours is required to graduate with a BS in aerospace and ocean engineering. The concentration in space engineering requires nine credit hours of coursework out of a total of eighteen hours of technical electives.
IV. Eligibility:
The concentration in space engineering will be available to all aerospace and ocean engineering majors. Students majoring in aerospace and ocean engineering may pursue more than one departmental concentration.
V. Relevance:
Space engineering is a thematic application topic area in both aerospace and ocean engineering. Analysis and understanding of the space environment, space payloads, and/or space mission design and operations is critical to the design, analysis, and functioning of those space vehicles and payloads.
VI. Policies regarding intra-departmental majors and minors:
The AOE department offers majors in both aerospace and ocean engineering. Courses for the two majors overlap. Students may choose to pursue both majors simultaneously.
VII. Required resources
No additional resources are required at present.
VIII. Methods of Communication:
These changes are communicated to students by posting the option checksheet to our department website, e-mail notification via the AOE listserv, and presentation to incoming students at advising sessions.
The AOE academic advisors will discuss the option with students during their advising sessions and concentration checksheets will be available in the AOE Academic Advising Center.