Aerospace Systems

Course Description

ASC2053 — Aerospace Systems is a college-credit, lower-division (2xxx) course in the Aerospace Technology A.S. degree and Aerospace Technician Career Certificate / College Credit Certificate (CCC) programs (CIP 0615080103; SCNS Career Cluster: Engineering & Technology Education). The course covers aerospace systems integration including spacecraft systems (hydraulics, electrical, propulsion), avionics integration, mechanical systems, and how these subsystems interact with computer-based control and data-acquisition systems — preparing students to support assembly, integration, testing, and maintenance of aerospace vehicles in commercial aviation, military aviation, and space-systems contexts.

This course is offered most prominently at Eastern Florida State College (EFSC) at its Cocoa campus serving Florida's Space Coast aerospace employers, in partnership with the Aerospace Technology Advisory Committee (ATAC) which includes NASA Kennedy Space Center, Boeing, L3Harris, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and Blue Origin. Comparable courses may be offered at Daytona State College and other institutions serving Florida's aerospace workforce.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of ASC2053, students will be able to:

• Identify and describe major aerospace vehicle subsystems: structural, mechanical, electrical, propulsion, environmental control, communications, navigation, control, and payload systems.
• Describe operation of spacecraft hydraulic systems: actuator types, pressure regulation, hydraulic fluids appropriate for aerospace use, system isolation and redundancy.
• Describe operation of spacecraft electrical power systems: solar arrays, batteries (Li-ion, NiH₂), power conditioning, distribution; aircraft electrical systems for atmospheric vehicles.
• Describe operation of aerospace propulsion systems: chemical rockets (solid, liquid, hybrid); air-breathing propulsion (turbojet, turbofan, ramjet, scramjet); electric propulsion; auxiliary power units.
• Describe computer-based control and data acquisition: aerospace-grade controllers; data buses (1553B, ARINC 429, AFDX/ARINC 664); telemetry; flight data recording.
• Apply integration concepts: subsystem interfaces; thermal management between subsystems; electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) considerations; mass and volume budgeting.
• Apply aerospace inspection and quality assurance: AS9100 quality management framework; configuration control; traceability.
• Apply safety considerations in aerospace systems work: high-pressure hydraulics; pyrotechnic devices; high-voltage electrical; cryogenic propellants; toxic/corrosive materials.

Optional Outcomes

• Apply introductory integrated vehicle health management (IVHM) awareness for spacecraft and modern aircraft.
• Apply introductory fiber optic system integration awareness.

Major Topics

Required Topics

• Aerospace Vehicle Architecture: Atmospheric vehicles (aircraft, helicopters); transatmospheric vehicles (launch vehicles, reentry vehicles); orbital and deep-space vehicles (satellites, deep-space probes, crewed spacecraft).
• Spacecraft Hydraulic Systems: Hydraulic actuators for thrust vector control; flight control surfaces on launch vehicles; high-pressure systems (3,000–5,000 psi typical); aerospace-grade hydraulic fluids (MIL-PRF-83282, Skydrol family).
• Spacecraft Electrical Power: Solar arrays (silicon, multi-junction GaAs); batteries (Li-ion increasingly standard, NiH₂ historical); DC bus voltages (28V common, 100V/300V higher-power); regulation and conditioning; aircraft DC and AC distribution.
• Propulsion Systems: Chemical rocket (Lox/RP-1, Lox/LH₂, hypergolic); solid rocket boosters; turbojet, turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft for atmospheric flight; auxiliary power units (APU); reaction control systems (RCS); electric propulsion (Hall thrusters, ion engines).
• Avionics Integration: Communications and navigation systems integrated with vehicle control; flight management systems; cockpit display systems; pilot interface design considerations.
• Computer-Based Control: Flight computers; redundant computing architectures (triple-modular redundancy for crewed flight); fly-by-wire systems; data buses (Mil-Std-1553B, ARINC 429, AFDX/ARINC 664).
• Data Acquisition: Telemetry systems; flight data recorders; vehicle health monitoring; ground station data processing.
• Subsystem Integration: Subsystem interfaces and protocols; thermal interaction; EMC/EMI considerations; mass and volume budgeting; system trade studies.
• Aerospace QA: AS9100; configuration management; first article inspection (FAI); design and process FMEA; root cause analysis.
• Safety: High-pressure hydraulics; pyrotechnic devices (squib, separation bolts); high-voltage electrical; cryogenic propellants (LOX, LH₂); toxic propellants (hydrazine, NTO); confined-space awareness.

Resources & Tools

• Industry Standards: AS9100 (aerospace QMS); MIL-STD-1553B (data bus); ARINC 429 and ARINC 664 (avionics buses); RTCA DO-160 (environmental conditions and test procedures); IPC standards for aerospace electronics
• Reference texts: Wiley J. Larson and James R. Wertz Space Mission Analysis and Design; Mike Tooley Aircraft Engineering Principles; David A. Vallado Fundamentals of Astrodynamics and Applications
• Industry partners through ATAC: NASA KSC, Boeing, L3Harris, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Blue Origin, SpaceX
• Lab equipment: aerospace systems training simulators, hydraulic test stands, electrical training boards

Career Pathways

ASC2053 supports careers across Florida's aerospace and defense workforce:

• Aerospace Systems Technician at Florida aerospace employers (Boeing, L3Harris, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Blue Origin, SpaceX, Sierra Space).
• Spacecraft Assembly Technician at Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center contractor sites.
• Aerospace Quality Inspector in aerospace manufacturing and testing.
• Aerospace Test Technician in aerospace testing and validation operations.
• Continuing study toward A.S. in Aerospace Technology, B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, or B.S. in Aerospace Technology Management.

Special Information

Course Format

Typically 3 credits, 45–60 contact hours. Some institutions deliver as integrated lecture-and-lab (in which case the contact hours are 60); others deliver as primarily lecture (45 hours). Verify specific format with the institution.

Articulation

ASC2053 typically articulates toward the A.S. in Aerospace Technology at Florida College System institutions. Continuation toward upper-division aerospace engineering programs requires additional mathematics and engineering science prerequisites.

Industry Certifications

Coursework supports preparation for the SpaceTEC Certified Aerospace Technician (CAT) credential — an industry-standard certification recognized by aerospace employers and offering articulation credit at EFSC and other partner institutions.

Security Clearance Considerations

Many aerospace employers require U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain a U.S. government security clearance for work on defense or NASA contracts.