Flight Mechanics

Channel - Flight Mechanics

These training modules were compiled by the Flight Mechanics Technical Discipline Team (TDT), which encompasses expertise in the areas of atmosphere definition and measurement (earth and planetary); trajectory design and analysis (ascent/entry in the atmosphere, mission design); modeling for simulation; flight mechanics simulation and analysis (including Monte Carlo methods); flight measurement techniques; flight testing (flight mechanics and performance verification); stability and control; handling qualities; system identification (sometimes called parameter identification); entry/descent/landing (EDL), aerocapture, aerobraking; parachute/decelerator systems; and orbital entry and debris analysis.

2/6/2026 5:49:29 PM

Channel Videos

2021 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: Aerodynamic Modeling

Recorded July 21, 2021

Karen Bibb

3/8/2022 7:00:00 PM

2021 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: Aerothermal Environments

Recorded July 6, 2021

Dinesh Prabhu

3/8/2022 7:00:00 PM

2021 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: CFD 101

Recorded June 23, 2021

Kyle Thompson

3/8/2022 7:00:00 PM

2021 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: Computational Materials Modeling

Recorded August 9, 2021

Justin Haskins

3/8/2022 7:00:00 PM

2021 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: Dragonfly / DrEAM

Recorded June 30, 2021

Michael Wright

3/8/2022 7:00:00 PM

2021 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: High Enthalpy Testing

Recorded July 26, 2021

Earnest Fretter

3/8/2022 7:00:00 PM

2021 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: Introduction To Radiative Heating

Recorded July 6, 2021

Brett Cruden

3/8/2022 7:00:00 PM

2021 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: LOFTID

Recorded July 15, 2021

Dr. Neil Cheatwood

3/8/2022 2:56:00 PM

2021 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: Mars Sample Return

Recorded July 1, 2021

Jim Corliss

3/31/2022 6:00:00 PM

2021 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: Material Response Modeling

Recorded July 12, 2021

Eric Stern

3/31/2022 6:00:00 PM

2021 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: Orion Multi-Purpose Crew

Recorded July 9, 2021

Adam Amar

3/31/2022 6:30:00 PM

2021 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: Overview of EDL at NASA

Originally recorded June 10, 2021

Michelle Munk

3/2/2022 7:00:00 PM

2021 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: Propulsive Descent Technologies

Recorded August 2, 2021

Ashley Korzun

3/31/2022 6:00:00 PM

2021 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: SCIFLI

Recorded June 28, 2021

Dr. Jennifer Inman

4/11/2022 6:00:00 PM

2021 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: Trajectories

Originally recorded June 21, 2021

Juan Cruz

3/2/2022 7:00:00 PM

2021 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: Wind Tunnel Testing Lecture

Recorded July 29, 2021

Brian Hollis

3/31/2022 6:00:00 PM

2022 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: AETC Descent System Studies

Karl Edquist

3/7/2023 1:34:00 PM

2022 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: Artemis Human Landing System Deorbit, Descent, and Landing

Alicia Dwyer-Cianciolo

3/7/2023 1:34:00 PM

2022 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: Backshell Radiative Heating and its Application to Mars 2020

Chris Johnston

3/15/2023 12:34:00 PM

2022 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: Brief Summary of EDL GNC

Soumyo Dutta

3/7/2023 1:34:00 PM

2022 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: EDL State of the Union

Michelle Munk

3/15/2023 6:00:00 PM

2022 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: Introduction to Plume-Surface Interaction (PSI)

Ashley Korzun

3/7/2023 7:00:00 PM

2022 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: Parachute Simulation

Francios Cadieux

3/7/2023 1:34:00 PM

2022 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: Porous Microstructure Analysis (PuMA)

Abstract: This talk discusses the capabilities of an open-source, NASA-developed software called Porous Microstructure Analysis (PuMA). The code was developed to provide a robust and efficient framework for computing material properties based on 3D microstructures. The development was motivated by advancements in X-ray microtomography, an imaging technology that can resolve the structure of a material at a sub-micron scale, in 3D and even in 4D (over time). At NASA, this technique has provided unprecedented insights into materials relevant for different missions, from heat shields, to parachute fabrics, to meteorites and other advanced composites. PuMA provides the ability to compute a comprehensive spectrum of material properties, from the most fundamental geometric features of a microstructure, to advanced anisotropic thermo-elastic and chemical properties. In addition, the software can generate artificial microstructures, including complex fibrous woven and non-woven geometries, allowing to perform optimization studies that inform the design of new materials.

Federico Semeraro

3/15/2023 12:34:00 PM

2022 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: STMD Early Career Initiative

Soumyo Dutta

3/15/2023 12:34:00 PM

2023 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: A Multi-Architecture for Implicit Computational Fluid Dynamics on Unstructured Grids

Gabriel Nastac

6/8/2023 1:10:56 PM

2023 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: A Multi-Probe Mission at Jupiter is Within our Reach

Ethiraj Venkatapathy

6/8/2023 2:10:35 PM

2023 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: A Reduced Order Modeling Approach for the Dynamic Stability Analysis of Blunt-Body Entry Vehicles

Brad Robertson

6/8/2023 12:50:08 PM

2023 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: Advanced Computational Center for Entry System Simulation

Iain Boyd

6/8/2023 1:51:31 PM

2023 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: Certification by Analysis of Woven TPS: Fiber - and Weave-Scale Modeling

Lauren Abbott

6/8/2023 1:15:09 PM

2023 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: Future Flight of Mars

Haley Cummings

6/8/2023 1:25:00 PM

2023 NASA Langley/Ames EDL Seminar for Summer Interns: Supersonic Retropopulsion: Technology Status, Wind Tunnel Testing and CFD Analysis

Ashley Korzun

6/8/2023 1:19:57 PM

Advanced Air Mobility (Autonomous) Intelligent Contingency Management Challenges and Opportunities

Discipline: Flight Mechanics Abstract: Aviation is undergoing a revolution and a paradigm change. New technologies are moving aviation towards on-demand transportation. To fully realize the promise of “anyone, anytime, anywhere” transportation, autonomy must play a key role. Our research team is focused on the intersection of new vehicle eVTOL configurations, popularly known as “air taxis”, and autonomous flight in complex urban environment. It has been widely recognized that dealing with contingencies, especially in safe, scalable and flexible way, is the most difficult challenge for autonomy. The presentation is intended to outline what we consider fundamental challenges and describe our current approaches. Moreover, we are working on establishing wide ranging collaborations to address these fundamental autonomy challenges in a relevant environment with real-world assumptions and constraints. Hence, we would like to take this opportunity to discuss open challenge problems with this research community. About the Speaker: Dr. Irene M. Gregory is the NASA Senior Researcher for Advanced Control Theory and Applications. She leads a multidisciplinary research team across multiple programs and projects focusing on robust autonomous systems, vehicle intelligent contingency management, resilient learning control for advanced, unconventional configurations with particular focus on Advanced Air Mobility and integration of autonomous cargo into the National Air Space. Her research has been documented in over 150 technical publications in peer-reviewed journals and conferences, and in numerous invited lectures and presentations. Dr. Gregory serves in leadership or advisory roles on various government, industry and professional societies’ autonomy related committees. She is a recipient of the NASA Exceptional Service Medal. Dr. Gregory received a S.B. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in Control and Dynamic Systems from California Institute of Technology. She is a Fellow of AIAA and a senior member of IEEE. She is a member of the AIAA GNC, IEEE Aerospace Control and IEEE intelligent Control Technical Committees.

Irene Gregory

2/26/2025 5:05:00 PM

Aerodynamics and Performance Flight Research and Airworthiness Best Practices

Discipline: Flight Mechanics Abstract: This presentation discussion best practices and lessons learned for flight research and airworthiness with respect to the aerodynamics and performance disciplines. Preflight analyses, instrumentation, flight test techniques, and post flight analyses are all discussed. Specific examples of lessons learned from previous flight research efforts are provided and best practices for future flight research are suggested. Presenter Bio: Stephen Cumming is currently the Assistant Branch Head for the Aerothermodynamics Branch at NASA Langley Research Center and serves as a senior advisor to the Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery (SCIFLI) team. He joined NASA Dryden Flight Research Center (now NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center) in 2004 and was a member of the Aerodynamics and Propulsion branch for 18 years, focusing on flight research and test aerodynamics, including aerodynamic modeling, in-flight measurements, and aircraft acoustics. Throughout his career, Stephen served as a lead research engineer on various projects, including Active Aeroelastic Wing (AAW), F-15B Quiet Spike, Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), and Adaptive Compliant Trailing Edge (ACTE). He served as the Branch Chief of the Aerodynamics and Propulsion Branch at NASA Armstrong for seven years prior to transferring to NASA Langley in 2022. He received a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from Cornell University.

Stephen Cumming

6/21/2023 6:00:00 PM

Apollo Descent and Landing, A Historical Perspective

Al Ragsdale

8/9/2024 5:03:00 PM

Collision Avoidance

Discipline: Flight Mechanics Collision avoidance for space objects was based upon miss distance for many years. More recently, probability of collision has become the norm for space safety and collision avoidance operations. This tutorial explains the basic principles and mathematics of probability calculations applicable to orbital close approaches, modeling of the encounter geometry, and relationship between uncertainty and probability of collision. The effect of each parameter, such as miss distance, encounter geometry, and covariance size, shape, and aspect ratio are illustrated by example. Analyses of four known orbital collision events are presented to demonstrate the dependence upon timely and accurate data for effective collision avoidance. About the Speaker Dr. Roger C. Thompson is a senior engineering specialist for The Aerospace Corporation’s Space Safety and Situational Awareness Department and a member of the NESC Flight Mechanics TDT. During his 28-year career at Aerospace, he has provided support for space situational awareness, collision avoidance, on-orbit breakup analysis and risk assessment, space debris issues, deorbit/reentry prediction, and orbital operations for many programs and space missions. He is one of the corporation’s leading analysts in collision avoidance and space traffic management and has represented Aerospace at high-level government and industry meetings where future space policy will be determined.

Dr. Roger Thompson

1/17/2024 7:00:00 PM

Earth-GRAM Data and Models Tutorial: NCEP Reanalysis Data

Discipline: Flight Mechanics This Earth-GRAM tutorial provides an overview of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis data, the implementation process of NCEP into Earth-GRAM, user instructions for utilizing NCEP in Earth-GRAM, and sample cases utilizing NCEP.

Jake Williams

7/2/2025 6:00:00 PM

Kinematics and Dynamics for Practicing Engineers Lecture 10: Dynamics of Spacecraft with Flexible Appendages

Discipline: Flight Mechanics Abstract: Covers the fundamentals of the dynamics of spacecraft with flexible appendages including a review of the theory of small vibrations and an introduction to the finite element method. Shows how the output from linear finite element programs is used to form modal integrals that become numerical coefficients in nonlinear differential equations governing large rotational motions of spacecraft. About the Speaker: David Levinson has 47 years of experience as a dynamicist in the space industry, where he has been responsible for producing special purpose computer programs for simulating motions of complex mechanical systems, such as multibody spacecraft, robotic devices, and aerospace mechanisms. Mr. Levinson, currently retired, was employed at Lockheed Martin (formerly Lockheed Missiles and Space Company) from 1977 to 2013, and at Maxar Space Systems (formerly Space Systems Loral) from 2013 to 2024. Over the years, Mr. Levinson has been the recipient of numerous engineering awards, among them the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) San Francisco Section Outstanding Young Engineer Award, the AIAA San Francisco Section Engineer of the Year Award in Astronautics, the AIAA San Francisco Section Engineering Educator of the Year Award, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Santa Clara Valley Section Distinguished Mechanical Engineer Award, the American Astronautical Society (AAS) Outstanding Achievement Award, and the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company President’s Award. Mr. Levinson is the author or coauthor of 43 published technical papers, and a coauthor of the two McGraw-Hill textbooks, Spacecraft Dynamics and Dynamics: Theory and Applications, as well as four desktop-published mechanics textbooks. He is also the author of the desktop-published undergraduate textbook Dynamics for Engineering Analysis. Mr. Levinson is a Fellow of both the AAS and the ASME, and is an Associate Fellow of the AIAA. As a participant in the Discover “E” K-12 engineering outreach program for more than 20 years, he has given 270 classroom presentations to middle school and high school students and teachers about careers in engineering. He is a popular speaker, and was an ASME Distinguished Lecturer from 2000 through 2004. For more than forty years he has lectured on technical subjects to a wide variety of audiences, including Cub Scouts, fifth graders, swimming coaches, middle school and high school students, school teachers, Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, physicians, practicing engineers, engineering graduate students, and university professors.

David Levinson

8/11/2025 8:00:00 PM

Kinematics and Dynamics for Practicing Engineers Lecture 11: Dynamics of the Four‐Bar Pendulum – An Introduction to Constraints

Discipline: Flight Mechanics Abstract: Most of the technical literature on mechanical constraints is so encumbered with abstract mathematics that it has been rendered essentially useless from an engineering perspective. In this talk, a plain‐English explanation, replete with examples, is presented on the differences between holonomic and nonholonomic constraints and how to formulate equations of motion when either type of constraint is present in a mechanical system. About the Speaker: David Levinson has 47 years of experience as a dynamicist in the space industry, where he has been responsible for producing special purpose computer programs for simulating motions of complex mechanical systems, such as multibody spacecraft, robotic devices, and aerospace mechanisms. Mr. Levinson, currently retired, was employed at Lockheed Martin (formerly Lockheed Missiles and Space Company) from 1977 to 2013, and at Maxar Space Systems (formerly Space Systems Loral) from 2013 to 2024. Over the years, Mr. Levinson has been the recipient of numerous engineering awards, among them the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) San Francisco Section Outstanding Young Engineer Award, the AIAA San Francisco Section Engineer of the Year Award in Astronautics, the AIAA San Francisco Section Engineering Educator of the Year Award, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Santa Clara Valley Section Distinguished Mechanical Engineer Award, the American Astronautical Society (AAS) Outstanding Achievement Award, and the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company President’s Award. Mr. Levinson is the author or coauthor of 43 published technical papers, and a coauthor of the two McGraw-Hill textbooks, Spacecraft Dynamics and Dynamics: Theory and Applications, as well as four desktop-published mechanics textbooks. He is also the author of the desktop-published undergraduate textbook Dynamics for Engineering Analysis. Mr. Levinson is a Fellow of both the AAS and the ASME, and is an Associate Fellow of the AIAA. As a participant in the Discover “E” K-12 engineering outreach program for more than 20 years, he has given 270 classroom presentations to middle school and high school students and teachers about careers in engineering. He is a popular speaker, and was an ASME Distinguished Lecturer from 2000 through 2004. For more than forty years he has lectured on technical subjects to a wide variety of audiences, including Cub Scouts, fifth graders, swimming coaches, middle school and high school students, school teachers, Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, physicians, practicing engineers, engineering graduate students, and university professors.

David Levinson

8/18/2025 8:00:00 PM

Kinematics and Dynamics for Practicing Engineers Lecture 12: Introduction to Stability of Motion

Discipline: Flight Mechanics Abstract: The purpose of the theory of stability of motion is to obtain information about how particular motions of given dynamical systems evolve in response to perturbations of initial conditions. Practical stability theory consists of analytical and numerical techniques for extracting information from equations of motion that cannot be solved analytically in closed form. This talk will illustrate some of these techniques by means of examples. About the Speaker: David Levinson has 47 years of experience as a dynamicist in the space industry, where he has been responsible for producing special purpose computer programs for simulating motions of complex mechanical systems, such as multibody spacecraft, robotic devices, and aerospace mechanisms. Mr. Levinson, currently retired, was employed at Lockheed Martin (formerly Lockheed Missiles and Space Company) from 1977 to 2013, and at Maxar Space Systems (formerly Space Systems Loral) from 2013 to 2024. Over the years, Mr. Levinson has been the recipient of numerous engineering awards, among them the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) San Francisco Section Outstanding Young Engineer Award, the AIAA San Francisco Section Engineer of the Year Award in Astronautics, the AIAA San Francisco Section Engineering Educator of the Year Award, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Santa Clara Valley Section Distinguished Mechanical Engineer Award, the American Astronautical Society (AAS) Outstanding Achievement Award, and the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company President’s Award. Mr. Levinson is the author or coauthor of 43 published technical papers, and a coauthor of the two McGraw-Hill textbooks, Spacecraft Dynamics and Dynamics: Theory and Applications, as well as four desktop-published mechanics textbooks. He is also the author of the desktop-published undergraduate textbook Dynamics for Engineering Analysis. Mr. Levinson is a Fellow of both the AAS and the ASME, and is an Associate Fellow of the AIAA. As a participant in the Discover “E” K-12 engineering outreach program for more than 20 years, he has given 270 classroom presentations to middle school and high school students and teachers about careers in engineering. He is a popular speaker, and was an ASME Distinguished Lecturer from 2000 through 2004. For more than forty years he has lectured on technical subjects to a wide variety of audiences, including Cub Scouts, fifth graders, swimming coaches, middle school and high school students, school teachers, Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, physicians, practicing engineers, engineering graduate students, and university professors.

David Levinson

8/25/2025 8:00:00 PM

Kinematics and Dynamics for Practicing Engineers Lecture 13: An Exegesis of Newton’s Second Law

Discipline: Flight Mechanics Abstract: Although the famous equation F = ma (or its scalar equivalents) is attributed to Newton, no form of this equation can be found anywhere in his 1687 magnum opus Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy (usually called the Principia and pronounced Prinkipia from the Latin). Scalar versions of the equation do, however, appear in a 1749 paper by Euler, but with a mysterious 2 in each of the expressions. In this talk, a possible solution of the mystery is put forth. One often encounters statements to the effect that Newton’s Second Law of Motion fails to provide correct descriptions of the motion of a particle in non‐Newtonian reference frames. Such statements are misleading and reflect fuzzy thinking on the part of those who make them. In the second part of this talk, the case is made, and illustrated with an example, that Newton’s Second Law governs the motion of a particle in any reference frame, and that proper use of sufficiently explicit notation can prevent the conceptual error that leads to the opposite conclusion. About the Speaker: David Levinson has 47 years of experience as a dynamicist in the space industry, where he has been responsible for producing special purpose computer programs for simulating motions of complex mechanical systems, such as multibody spacecraft, robotic devices, and aerospace mechanisms. Mr. Levinson, currently retired, was employed at Lockheed Martin (formerly Lockheed Missiles and Space Company) from 1977 to 2013, and at Maxar Space Systems (formerly Space Systems Loral) from 2013 to 2024. Over the years, Mr. Levinson has been the recipient of numerous engineering awards, among them the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) San Francisco Section Outstanding Young Engineer Award, the AIAA San Francisco Section Engineer of the Year Award in Astronautics, the AIAA San Francisco Section Engineering Educator of the Year Award, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Santa Clara Valley Section Distinguished Mechanical Engineer Award, the American Astronautical Society (AAS) Outstanding Achievement Award, and the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company President’s Award. Mr. Levinson is the author or coauthor of 43 published technical papers, and a coauthor of the two McGraw-Hill textbooks, Spacecraft Dynamics and Dynamics: Theory and Applications, as well as four desktop-published mechanics textbooks. He is also the author of the desktop-published undergraduate textbook Dynamics for Engineering Analysis. Mr. Levinson is a Fellow of both the AAS and the ASME, and is an Associate Fellow of the AIAA. As a participant in the Discover “E” K-12 engineering outreach program for more than 20 years, he has given 270 classroom presentations to middle school and high school students and teachers about careers in engineering. He is a popular speaker, and was an ASME Distinguished Lecturer from 2000 through 2004. For more than forty years he has lectured on technical subjects to a wide variety of audiences, including Cub Scouts, fifth graders, swimming coaches, middle school and high school students, school teachers, Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, physicians, practicing engineers, engineering graduate students, and university professors.

David Levinson

9/8/2025 8:00:00 PM

Kinematics and Dynamics for Practicing Engineers Lecture 14: The Explorer I Anomaly

Discipline: Flight Mechanics Abstract: On January 31, 1958, the United States Army Ballistic Missile Agency successfully launched America’s first satellite, Explorer I, into orbit around Earth. As is well known, not only did this achieve the political goal of putting the United States back in the space race it was losing badly to the Soviet Union, but instruments onboard Explorer I sent back the first data revealing the existence of the Van Allen radiation belts – a major scientific triumph. What is not so well known is that Explorer I also made its mark in aerospace engineering lore by exhibiting an attitude motion anomaly that none of the extensive published literature from the previous two centuries of research on rigid body dynamics had accounted for. During this talk, the anomaly will be described in detail, and, through the use of modern-day dynamics simulation tools, including animation, the principles of mechanics underlying what happened will be discussed in terms suitable for a general technical audience. The consequences for later spacecraft design from what was learned from the Explorer I anomaly will be explained. About the Speaker: David Levinson has 47 years of experience as a dynamicist in the space industry, where he has been responsible for producing special purpose computer programs for simulating motions of complex mechanical systems, such as multibody spacecraft, robotic devices, and aerospace mechanisms. Mr. Levinson, currently retired, was employed at Lockheed Martin (formerly Lockheed Missiles and Space Company) from 1977 to 2013, and at Maxar Space Systems (formerly Space Systems Loral) from 2013 to 2024. Over the years, Mr. Levinson has been the recipient of numerous engineering awards, among them the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) San Francisco Section Outstanding Young Engineer Award, the AIAA San Francisco Section Engineer of the Year Award in Astronautics, the AIAA San Francisco Section Engineering Educator of the Year Award, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Santa Clara Valley Section Distinguished Mechanical Engineer Award, the American Astronautical Society (AAS) Outstanding Achievement Award, and the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company President’s Award. Mr. Levinson is the author or coauthor of 43 published technical papers, and a coauthor of the two McGraw-Hill textbooks, Spacecraft Dynamics and Dynamics: Theory and Applications, as well as four desktop-published mechanics textbooks. He is also the author of the desktop-published undergraduate textbook Dynamics for Engineering Analysis. Mr. Levinson is a Fellow of both the AAS and the ASME, and is an Associate Fellow of the AIAA. As a participant in the Discover “E” K-12 engineering outreach program for more than 20 years, he has given 270 classroom presentations to middle school and high school students and teachers about careers in engineering. He is a popular speaker, and was an ASME Distinguished Lecturer from 2000 through 2004. For more than forty years he has lectured on technical subjects to a wide variety of audiences, including Cub Scouts, fifth graders, swimming coaches, middle school and high school students, school teachers, Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, physicians, practicing engineers, engineering graduate students, and university professors.

David Levinson

9/15/2025 8:00:00 PM

Kinematics and Dynamics for Practicing Engineers Lecture 2: Direction Cosines Made Easy

Discipline: Flight Mechanics Abstract: Many engineers have considerable difficulty working effectively with direction cosines because they were taught in their university courses to deal with direction cosines in a matrix format, which does not adequately take into account the important role that basis vectors play in simplifying and clarifying direction cosine calculations. In this presentation, the shortcomings inherent in matrix formulations of direction cosines will be brought to light, and an alternative, less error-prone approach will be presented. About the Speaker: David Levinson has 47 years of experience as a dynamicist in the space industry, where he has been responsible for producing special purpose computer programs for simulating motions of complex mechanical systems, such as multibody spacecraft, robotic devices, and aerospace mechanisms. Mr. Levinson, currently retired, was employed at Lockheed Martin (formerly Lockheed Missiles and Space Company) from 1977 to 2013, and at Maxar Space Systems (formerly Space Systems Loral) from 2013 to 2024. Over the years, Mr. Levinson has been the recipient of numerous engineering awards, among them the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) San Francisco Section Outstanding Young Engineer Award, the AIAA San Francisco Section Engineer of the Year Award in Astronautics, the AIAA San Francisco Section Engineering Educator of the Year Award, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Santa Clara Valley Section Distinguished Mechanical Engineer Award, the American Astronautical Society (AAS) Outstanding Achievement Award, and the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company President’s Award. Mr. Levinson is the author or coauthor of 43 published technical papers, and a coauthor of the two McGraw-Hill textbooks, Spacecraft Dynamics and Dynamics: Theory and Applications, as well as four desktop-published mechanics textbooks. He is also the author of the desktop-published undergraduate textbook Dynamics for Engineering Analysis. Mr. Levinson is a Fellow of both the AAS and the ASME, and is an Associate Fellow of the AIAA. As a participant in the Discover “E” K-12 engineering outreach program for more than 20 years, he has given 270 classroom presentations to middle school and high school students and teachers about careers in engineering. He is a popular speaker, and was an ASME Distinguished Lecturer from 2000 through 2004. For more than forty years he has lectured on technical subjects to a wide variety of audiences, including Cub Scouts, fifth graders, swimming coaches, middle school and high school students, school teachers, Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, physicians, practicing engineers, engineering graduate students, and university professors.

David Levinson

6/16/2025 8:00:00 PM

Kinematics and Dynamics for Practicing Engineers Lecture 8: Angular Momentum and Kinetic Energy

Discipline: Flight Mechanics Abstract: Precise definitions are given for angular momentum and kinetic energy, and the often counterintuitive results obtained by correct implementation of these functions in connection with mechanical systems are discussed in detail with the aid of examples. About the Speaker: David Levinson has 47 years of experience as a dynamicist in the space industry, where he has been responsible for producing special purpose computer programs for simulating motions of complex mechanical systems, such as multibody spacecraft, robotic devices, and aerospace mechanisms. Mr. Levinson, currently retired, was employed at Lockheed Martin (formerly Lockheed Missiles and Space Company) from 1977 to 2013, and at Maxar Space Systems (formerly Space Systems Loral) from 2013 to 2024. Over the years, Mr. Levinson has been the recipient of numerous engineering awards, among them the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) San Francisco Section Outstanding Young Engineer Award, the AIAA San Francisco Section Engineer of the Year Award in Astronautics, the AIAA San Francisco Section Engineering Educator of the Year Award, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Santa Clara Valley Section Distinguished Mechanical Engineer Award, the American Astronautical Society (AAS) Outstanding Achievement Award, and the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company President’s Award. Mr. Levinson is the author or coauthor of 43 published technical papers, and a coauthor of the two McGraw-Hill textbooks, Spacecraft Dynamics and Dynamics: Theory and Applications, as well as four desktop-published mechanics textbooks. He is also the author of the desktop-published undergraduate textbook Dynamics for Engineering Analysis. Mr. Levinson is a Fellow of both the AAS and the ASME, and is an Associate Fellow of the AIAA. As a participant in the Discover “E” K-12 engineering outreach program for more than 20 years, he has given 270 classroom presentations to middle school and high school students and teachers about careers in engineering. He is a popular speaker, and was an ASME Distinguished Lecturer from 2000 through 2004. For more than forty years he has lectured on technical subjects to a wide variety of audiences, including Cub Scouts, fifth graders, swimming coaches, middle school and high school students, school teachers, Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, physicians, practicing engineers, engineering graduate students, and university professors.

David Levinson

7/28/2025 8:00:00 PM

NASA Spacecraft TRaDe Modeling System (NSTRDMS)

Abstract: A rapid mission analysis tool is developed to support the ongoing design of a Lunar Transit trajectory of the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) between a Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) parking orbit and a lunar L2 southern Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NRHO). A parameterization is developed by which the Lunar Transit can be analyzed in the context of varying vehicle mass, solar electric propulsion (SEP) configurations, and solar array power output. A rapid and novel mission analysis tool enables a wide array of these trade analyses to be completed without the need for extensive computing resources or time.

Scott Karn

4/13/2023 11:57:00 AM

OpenMDAO: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Derivatives

Rob Falck

3/22/2023 6:00:00 PM

Overview of Solar Sail Mission Design Implementation

Discipline: Flight Mechanics This presentation provides a comprehensive exploration of the key challenges encountered in the design of solar sails. It delves into various facets of development, including material testing, mission planning, trajectory optimization, precise thrust modeling for flexible membranes, actuator sizing, and the implementation of guidance, navigation, and control systems, with a particular emphasis on effective momentum management. About the Speaker Naeem Ahmad is the Guidance Lead at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory and has over 10 years of experience designing guidance systems for the Space Launch System (Artemis), Lunar Landers (HLS) and Solar Sail design. In addition, Naeem has supported development of novel Flywheel systems, lead GN&C development of Small-Sat program as well as Product development Lead for NASA’s Onboard Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing (OSAM) Rendezvous and Proximity Operations(RPO) subsystem. Currently, Naeem is the Guidance Lead supporting various DoD Strategic Defense missions with emphasis across all phases, from Boost and Re-Entry to Terminal Operations.

Naeem Ahmad

11/15/2023 8:46:00 PM

Piloted Simulation Based Assessment of Simplified Vehicle Operations for Urban Air Mobility

Abstract: The Simplified Vehicle Operations paradigm seeks to achieve significant reductions in pilot workload and training requirements through the holistic design of flight control laws, control inceptors, and cockpit displays. This talk investigates the paradigm in the context of vertical takeoff and landing urban air mobility flight vehicle concepts using piloted flight simulations. Two inceptor designs, differing in the physical design of the inceptors and in the inceptor-to-command mappings, are evaluated using two flight simulators and study participants with varying prior aviation experience. Part three of a three part series.

Dr. Imon Chakraborty

3/8/2023 6:00:00 PM

Space Debris

Discipline: Flight Mechanics Abstract: Space debris is a growing concern among satellite operators because the number of objects that have the potential to destroy a satellite now number in the hundreds of thousands. The history of space debris generation, tracking, modeling, collision risk, and atmospheric reentry is presented. Examples of debris generating events are used to illustrate the complexity of the problem and the risk to satellite operations. Deficiencies in our ability to quantify and mitigate the risk are noted. Animations of space debris orbits over the last 65 years visually illustrate the rapidly increasing density of the space debris environment. About the Speaker: Dr. Roger C. Thompson is a senior engineering specialist for The Aerospace Corporation’s Space Safety and Situational Awareness Department and a member of the NESC Flight Mechanics TDT. During his 28-year career at Aerospace, he has provided support for space situational awareness, collision avoidance, on-orbit breakup analysis and risk assessment, space debris issues, deorbit/reentry prediction, and orbital operations for many programs and space missions. He is one of the corporation’s leading analysts in collision avoidance and space traffic management and has represented Aerospace at high-level government and industry meetings where future space policy will be determined.

Dr. Roger Thompson

3/6/2025 4:00:00 PM

Total Energy based Flight Control System Architecture for a Lift-Plus-Cruise Urban Air Mobility Aircraft

Abstract: This talk deals with the development and optimization of a flight control system for a lift-plus-cruise urban air mobility aircraft that is based on the Total Energy Control System algorithm. The Modular Aircraft Dynamics and Control Algorithm Simulation Platform (MADCASP) framework is used to implement the aircraft simulation model and the flight control laws, whose parameters are then optimized. Maneuver simulations are analyzed to assess the behavior of the flight control system in preparation for subsequent piloted simulations. Part two of a three part series.

Dr. Imon Chakraborty

3/1/2023 6:00:00 PM

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