Any interest in a class on orbital mechanics?

There are actually quite a number of topics on the “space” side of “aerospace” which I could speak on, but I’m thinking that “fundamentals of orbital mechanics” might be something of particular interest. Apsides, altitude changes, plane changes, that kind of thing.

Let me know if you’re interested.

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Do we get to play Kerbal Space Program?

Most of this stuff always goes over my head.

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I’m interested in the class.

will there be a delta-v discussion?

Insomuch as that’s a term intimately associated with the topic of orbital mechanics, I should think so. But what are you actually thinking about when you use that term, so I know?
In its general sense, it refers to the velocity change required to go from one orbit to another, whether by changing periapsis, apoapsis, or orbital inclination.

Will any Kerbal’s be harmed in the making? :sunglasses:

I don’t imagine that anybody who cares to play Kerbal Space Program would benefit from my assistance.

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Yes.

Orbital mechanics is not intuitive to the uninitiated. For example, you have to slow down to catch up with another object in orbit. Meaning that Peggy Fleming would have made a better astronaut than Richard Petty.

I am also interested in phenomena such Lagrange Points.

OK, let’s talk days/times.
I’ve been doing Nuclear Science lectures on Tuesdays at 8 PM, as a trial, because some folks have said that my usual preference (Saturdays at 6 PM) was inconvenient for them. What actually works?

Saturdays at 6 PM is difficult for me a couple of times each month. Starting at 8 PM would make it easier.

For other days of the week, it varies.

With so much going on, it is impossible to avoid all conflicts with everybody.

I do think, by the way, that a class on Kerbal Space Program might be interesting – I’d probably attend, but I’m not the one to teach it.

OK, I have submitted calendar events for two classes under the head “Fundamentals of Astronautics” : Orbital Mechanics for 8 PM on Tuesday the 17th, and Space Propulsion for the same time on the 1st of December. I could possibly also do an “Our Solar System”, or other topics, depending on interest.

I have submitted “Fundamentals of Astronautics : Our Solar System” for Saturday the 21st at 6 PM.