Instructed by Bong Wie, Professor Emeritus of Aerospace Engineering at Iowa State University
- From 30 September – 23 October 2025 (4 Weeks, 8 Classes, 16 Total Hours)
- Every Tuesday and Thursday at 1–3 p.m. Eastern Time (all sessions will be recorded and available for replay; course notes will be available for download)
- All students will receive an AIAA Certificate of Completion at the end of the course
- This course will include astrodynamical application examples to enhance the learning experience: ballistic missile and lunar trajectories; orbital transfer, intercept, and rendezvous guidance problems; orbit analysis and simulation of LEO and GEO satellites; hypersonic entry guidance and counter hypersonics
- It will further explore the technically challenging problem of developing a space-based missile defense system (e.g. the Golden Dome).
OVERVIEW
This course introduces the fundamental principles of
classical astrodynamics and various astrodynamical application examples including
ballistic missile trajectories, hypersonic entry guidance and space-based intercept
missile guidance. It is intended for aerospace
GNC engineers, space mission designers, spacecraft systems engineers, technical
managers, and graduate students, who are interested in a comprehensive overview
of classical astrodynamics as applied to space missile defense. This
course is based on the instructor’s two AIAA textbooks: “Space Vehicle
Dynamics and Control (2nd edition, 2008)” and “Space Vehicle Guidance, Control, and
Astrodynamics (2015),” with
additional new materials on timely emerging topics such as hypersonic entry
guidance and space-based missile guidance.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- The fundamentals of classical orbital dynamics and modern computational astrodynamics
- The orbital transfer, intercept, and rendezvous guidance problems
- A variety of astrodynamical guidance laws required for the successful development of a space-based interceptor missile system (e.g. the Golden Dome).
KEY TOPICS
- Classical Two-Body Problem
- Kepler’s Problem and Its Solution via Universal Variables
- Lambert’s Problem and itsVarious Computational Solutions; Lambert Guidance
- Perturbed Orbit Simulations of LEO and GEO Satellites
- Clohessy-Wiltshir-Hill (CWH) Relative Equations of Motion
- Missile GN&C Systems and Guidance Laws
- Orbital Transfer, Intercept, and Rendezvous Guidance Problems
- Hypersonic Entry Guidance and Counter Hypersonics
- Interceptor Missile Guidance in Space
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
This course is intended
for aerospace GNC engineers and researchers, space mission designers, space
systems engineers, technical managers, and graduate students, who want to enhance
their basic understanding of orbital dynamics and astrodynamical guidance, especially
as applied to the technically challenging problem of designing a space-based
missile defense system (e.g. the Golden Dome). This introductory course focuses on the basic
physical concepts and mathematical tools required for the analysis and design
of advanced space missions and GNC systems of space-based intercept missiles.
COURSE FEES (Sign-In
To Register)
- AIAA
Member Price: $895 USD
-
Non-Member Price: $1,095 USD
-
AIAA Student Member Price: $495 USD
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Class 1: Two-Body Problem
1.1 Constants of Two-Body Problem and Orbit Equation
1.2 Eccentric Anomaly and Kepler’s Equation
1.3 Orbit Determination and Prediction
1.4 Applications: Ballistic Missiles, Lunar Trajectories, etc.
Class 2: Kepler’s Problem
2.1 Kepler’s Orbit Prediction Problem
2.2 Lagrange’s f and g Functions
2.3 A Universal Variable Formulation of Time-of-Flight (TOF)
Class 3: Lambert’s Problem and Solutions
3.1 Lambert’s Problem; Lambert Guidance
3.2 Lambert Theorem
3.3 Classical Solution of Lambert’s Problem
3.4 Universal Variables Solution
3.5 Gauss/Battin Methods
3.6 Gooding’s Method
3.7 Sun’s Method
3.8 A New Exact Solution to Lambert’s Problem (A. Negrete and O. Abdelkhalik, 2024)
Class 4: Orbit Perturbations
4.1 Earth’s Oblateness Effect
4.2 Orbit Analysis and Simulation of LEO and GEO Satellites
4.3 Clohessy-Wiltshir-Hill (CWH) Relative Equations of Motion
Class 5: Missile Guidance and Control
5.1 Introduction to Missile GN&C Systems
5.2 PN Guidance and Its variants
5.3 Predictive/Explicit Guidance
5.4 Optimal Feedback Guidance
5.5 ZEM/ZEV Feedback Guidance and Its Variants
5.6 Impact Time Control (ITC) Guidance
5.7 Impact Time and Angle Control (ITAC) Guidance
Class 6: Orbital Transfer, Intercept, and Rendezvous Guidance
6.1 Orbital Maneuver via Two-Impulse Hohmann Transfer
6.2 Circular CWH Equations of Motion
6.3 Orbital Guidance and Control Examples
6.4 Elliptical CWH Equations of Motion
Class 7: Hypersonic Entry Guidance and Counter Hypersonics
7.1 Introduction to Hypersonic Entry Guidance
7.2 Case Study Examples
7.3 Entry Guidance for Avoiding No-Fly Zones
7.4 Introduction to Counter Hypersonics
Class 8: Space-Based Interceptor Missile Guidance
8.1 Introduction to the ‘Golden Dome’ Missile Defense Shield
8.2 Introduction to Space Missile Guidance
8.3 Low-Thrust Orbital Transfer via ZEM/ZEV Feedback Guidance
8.4 Orbital Intercept/Rendezvous via Differential Geometry Guidance
8.5 Orbital Intercept/Rendezvous via ZEM/ZEV Feedback Guidance
8.6 Course Summary
INSTRUCTOR
The following on-demand short courses by Dr. Wie are available from AIAA:
- A Practical Approach to Flight Dynamics and Control of Aircraft, Missiles, and Hypersonic Vehicles
- Advanced Flight Dynamics and Control of Aircraft, Missiles, and Hypersonic Vehicles
- Flight Vehicle Guidance Navigation and Control Systems (GNC): Analysis and Design
- Fundamentals of Space Vehicle Guidance, Control, and Astrodynamics
- Fundamentals of Classical Astrodynamics and Applications
- Guidance and Control of Hypersonic Vehicles
Course Delivery and Materials
- The course lectures will be delivered via Zoom. Access to the Zoom classroom will be provided to registrants near to the course start date.
- All sessions will be available on demand within 1-2 days of the lecture. Once available, you can stream the replay video anytime, 24/7. All slides will be available for download after each lecture.
- No part of these materials may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted, unless for course participants. All rights reserved.
- Between lectures, the instructors will be available via email for technical questions and comments.
Cancellation Policy: A refund less a $50.00 cancellation fee will be assessed for all cancellations made in writing prior to 7 days before the start of the event. After that time, no refunds will be provided.
Contact: Please contact Lisa Le or Customer Service if you have questions about the course or group discounts (for 5+ participants).