Astrodynamics and Space Applications
The Astrodynamics and Space Applications group conducts research spanning orbital and interplanetary trajectory design, trajectory optimization, multi-body orbital dynamics, relative motion, planetary entry, remote sensing, and spacecraft guidance, navigation and control. Astrodynamics is the analysis of the motion of natural and artificial objects in space, subject to environmental and artificial forces. Space applications broadly encompass the practical utilization of space, including development of spacecraft, instruments, and software, testing and validation of space systems, space situational awareness, space science and technology mission design, orbital infrastructure to support human exploration, and planetary defense. The discipline group also has advanced visualization and virtual reality capability that they apply to complex trajectory designs and mission applications. Experimental facilities include the Purdue Optical Ground Station, star tracker lab, radio navigation lab, flight hardware laboratory, satellite tracking station, and mission operations center, and access to airborne instrumentation and field sites for remote sensing. ASA faculty work closely with space science and applications researchers both inside and outside of Purdue.
Facilities
This team conducts research in Astrodynamics that includes investigations into both natural behavior and spacecraft motion: orbit dynamics, perturbations, and stability; trajectory control and on-orbit maneuvers; trajectory optimization and transfers; spacecraft formations; and, orbit determination and navigation.
More about the Rune and Barbara Eliasen Aerospace Visualization Laboratory:
- Lead Professor: Kathleen Howell
- Location: ARMS 3183
- Large-scale flat wall visualization environment
- Support for mission design and analysis
- Lab Website
The Radio Navigation Laboratory has resources for the experimental analysis and study of space-based radio transmissions for navigation and remote sensing.
More about the Radio Navigation Laboratory:
- Lead Professor: James Garrison
- Location: ARMS 3105
- Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP)
- Leica AR25 antenna
- Lab website
The Space Flight Projects Laboratory (SFPL) was founded in 2017 at Purdue University with the goal of creating a world-class research and educational organization dedicated to the design, development, and operation of advanced space systems.
More about the Space Flight Projects Laboratory:
- Principal Investigator: Anthony Cofer
- Location: ARMS
- Lab Website
Test bed of satellite on-board optical guidance, navigation and control with hardware in the loop.
More about the Optical Space Guidance, Navigation and Controls Lab:
- Lead Professor: Carolin Frueh
- Location: Aerospace Science Lab 35B
Wide-field optical telescope for ground based rapid fully automated space surveillance observations of active satellites, debris and near earth asteroids including characterization measurements.
More about the Purdue Optical Ground Station:
- Lead Professor: Carolin Frueh
- Location: New Mexico, remotely controlled at Purdue ARMS