Numerical Astrodynamics

• Basic orbit propagation/integration methods and options; simulation options in Tudat. Defining input for orbit propagation

• Linking analytical and numerical design methods in astrodynamics

• Details of numerical integration methods: multi-stage, multi-step and extrapolation methods (fixed and variable step size)

• Selection of numerical integration methods; quantification of integration errors

In principle, the course will only use Tudatpy (the Python interface for the Tudat C++ software). Depending on student interest, part of the C++ layer of Tudat may be covered.

Individual take-home assignments.

Assignments will consist of setting up, running, analyzing, and documenting astrodynamics simulations in Tudat. Partially completed Python code will be provided for the assignments, which is to be completed by the students, and used to answer questions in the assignments.

Students will use Python for generating results during the course, and the language/tool of their choice for visualizing results. It is assumed that students are sufficiently proficient in Python (or are willing to independently make themselves so) to finish and run partially finished Python scripts. It is assumed that students are proficient in a data visualization tool (e.g. Matlab, Python's matplotlib, etc.)

The resit of the course will be done during the summer period. During the resit, there will be no opportunities to ask questions of any kind (installation, coding, assignment, theory, interpretation, etc.). It is not possible to resit single assignments, only a resit of the full course is offered.