- This 16-hour recorded course focuses on the principles of GN&C (Guidance, Navigation and Control) systems analysis and design for aerospace flight vehicles
- Includes illustrative GN&C design examples of various flight vehicles, such as conventional missiles, launch vehicles, Mars EDL (Entry, Descent & Landing) vehicles, and hypersonic missiles/vehicles, to enhance the learning experience
- All students will receive an AIAA Certificate of Completion at the end of the course

(Image Courtesy of Raytheon and DARPA)
OVERVIEW
This course is intended for GNC engineers and graduate students, who are interested in a comprehensive overview of the principles of GNC analysis and design for aerospace flight vehicles. It is in part based on the instructor’s two AIAA textbooks: “Space Vehicle Dynamics and Control (2nd Edition, 2008)” and “Space Vehicle Guidance, Control, and Astrodynamics (2015).” Recent advances in GNC systems design for aerospace flight vehicles, such as conventional missiles, launch vehicles, Mars EDL vehicles, and hypersonic missiles/vehicles, are also covered.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- The basic physical concepts and mathematical tools required for the dynamical modeling, analysis, design, and simulation of GNC systems of aerospace flight vehicles
- The fundamental principles of GNC design methodologies
- GNC Overview for Hypersonic Glide Vehicles versus Hypersonic Cruise Missiles
KEY COURSE TOPICS
- Nonlinear 6 DOF Equations of Motion of Flight Vehicles
- Strapdown Inertial Navigation Principles
- Guidance and Control of Missiles and Launch Vehicles
- Orbital Intercept and Rendezvous Guidance
- Mars EDL Guidance and Control
- Hypersonic Reentry Guidance
AUDIENCE: This course is intended for GNC engineers/researchers and graduate students, who want to enhance their basic understanding of the fundamental principles of GNC design theory and practical applications. This course focuses on the basic physical concepts and mathematical tools required for GNC systems analysis and design of advanced aerospace flight vehicles.
MATERIALS: All course slides and additional references will be available for immediate download. Stream the 16-hours of video recordings anytime, 24/7. No part of these materials may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted, unless for course participants. All rights reserved.
CERTIFICATE: Receive an AIAA Course Completion Certificate upon viewing all course recordings. Please contact Lisa Le for a certificate.
COURSE FEES (Sign-In
To Register)
- AIAA Member Price: $895 USD
- Non-Member Price: $1,095 USD
- AIAA Student Member Price: $495 USD
OUTLINE
1 Overview of GNC/ADCS (2 hrs)
1.1 Flight Vehicle GN&C Systems
1.2 Spacecraft ADCS (Attitude Determination and Control System)
2 Inertial Navigation Systems (2 hrs)
2.1 Navigation Reference Frames
2.2 Strapdown Inertial Navigation Principles
2.3 Navigation Equations
3 Missile Guidance (3 hrs)
3.1 PN (Proportional Navigation) Guidance and Its Variants
3.2 Explicit/Predictive Guidance
3.3 Linearized Perturbation Guidance
3.4 Optimal Feedback Guidance
3.5 ZEM/ZEV Feedback Guidance and Its variants
3.6 Impact Time Control (ITC) Guidance
3.7 Impact Time and Angle Control (ITAC) Guidance
3.8 Missile Flight Control Systems Analysis & Design
4 Orbital Guidance (2 hrs)
4.1 CWH Equations of Relative Motion in Space
4.2 Orbital Rendezvous Guidance
4.3 Orbital Intercept Guidance
4.4Divert and Attitude Control System (DACS) of Kinetic Interceptors
5 Launch Vehicle Ascent Guidance (2 hrs)
5.1 Ascent Guidance Laws
5.2 Nonlinear 6 DOF Equations of Motion of Launch Vehicles
5.3 Ascent Simulation of a Launch Vehicle
6 Launch Vehicle Ascent Flight Control (1 hr)
6.1 Transfer Function Models of Launch Vehicles
6.2 Ascent Flight Control Design
6.3 TVC Design Example of a Sounding Rocket
7 Mars ED&L Guidance and Control (2 hrs)
7.1 Introduction to ED&L Guidance Problem
7.2 Human Mars Entry Design Problem Overview
7.3 Lunar Powered D&L Example
7.4 Mars Powered D&L Guidance Example
7.5 Two-Phase ZEM/ZEV Guidance for Mars D&L
8 Hypersonic Missile/Vehicle Guidance and Control (2 hrs)
8.1 Hypersonic Glide Vehicles vs. Hypersonic Cruise Missiles
8.2 Hypersonic Flight Dynamics Overview
8.3 Apollo 10 Reentry Simulation Example
8.4 Hypersonic Glide Vehicle Reentry
Design Examples
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
Contact: Please contact Lisa Le or Customer Service if you have any questions about the course or group discounts.
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