Guest Lecturer: Prof. Aaron Cohen

Professor Aaron Cohen was born in Corsicana, Texas, on 5 January 1931. He received a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University in 1952 and an M.S. degree in Applied Mathematics from Stevens Institute of Technology in 1958. He received an Honorary Doctor of Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology (1982) and an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from University of Houston-Clear Lake (UH-CL) (1989). In August 1993, Professor Cohen was appointed H.B. Zachry Professor of Engineering at Texas A&M University, where he taught senior mechanical engineering design. In August 2000 he became a professor emeritus of mechanical engineering. Professor Cohen served as Director of NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, culminating a career that began there in 1962. He held several positions leading to his appointment as Manager of the Command and Service Module in the Apollo Spacecraft Program Office. In 1972, he was named Space Shuttle Orbiter Project Manager, responsible for design, development, production, and test flights. In 1982, as Director of Research and Engineering, he directed and managed all engineering and life science research and development. In 1986, Professor Cohen was named Center Director, directing approximately 3,600 NASA employees and 14,000 support contractor personnel. In addition, he served for a year as the Acting Deputy Administrator of NASA. Professor Cohen is a Fellow of American Astronautical Society (AAS), an Honorary Member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and an Honorary Fellow in American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. At NASA, he was awarded two Exceptional Service Medals, two Outstanding Leadership Medals, and four Distinguished Service Medals. Other awards include Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive for Senior Executive Service (SES) (1981); Distinguished Executive for SES (1982, 1988); AAS’ W. Randolph Lovelace II Award, Space Flight Award, and President's Certificate of Recognition; AIAA Von Braun Award for Excellence in Space Program Management; Goddard Astronautics Award (1996); Von Karman Lectureship in Astronautics; 1984 ASME Medal; Texas A&M College of Engineering Alumni Honor Award (1987), Distinguished Alumni Award (1989); and UH-CL Distinguished Leadership Award (1988). He was elected a member of National Academy of Engineering (1988), was a joint recipient of the 1989 Goddard Memorial Trophy, and was awarded the Gold Knight of Manage¬ment Award, NMA Texas Gold Coast Council (1989). He received the Senior Executives Asso¬ciation Professional Development League Executive Excellence Award for Distinguished Executive Service and the National Space Trophy from the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement Foundation, and the 1992 Roger W. Jones Award for Executive Leadership from American University. Professor Cohen has authored many articles for scientific and technical journals and publications and presented the Lawrence Hargrave Lecture at the International Aerospace Congress in 1991.

Topics Included:
Auxiliary Power Unit subsystem, coupling, shut-off valve, flexible nose, dynatube fitting, pressure relief, APU, Rockwell, Hydraulic Actuator System, aerosurfaces, umbilical retraction, main engine, thrust vector control actuator, FCS - Flight Control System, IMU - Inertial Measurement Unit, MDM - Multiplexer, Demultiplexer, MPS - Main Propulsion System, RCS - Reaction Control System, SRB - Solid-Rock Booster, TACAN - Tactical Air Control and Navigation, TVC - Thrust Vector Control, Apollo Lunar Return, Apollo Orbital Return, Shuttle Orbiter, Integrated Heat Load, Maximum Heating Rate, Main Engine, Servoactuators, Body Flap Power, Elevon Four-Channel Servoactuators, Main Landing Gear, Main Power Pumps, Nose Landing Gear Valves, Nose Landing Gear Strut Actuator, Nose Landing Gear Uplock Actuator, Fuselage, Tail, Aluminium Honeycomb Covers, Conventional Aluminium Structure, Maximum Temperature, Final Design Refinement, Comparative Launch costs, Saturn, Atlas, Titan, Thor Delta, Orbiter, Thermal protection System, Emittance Coating, Tile Body, RTV, SIP
 

1. The Origins of the Space Shuttle
2. Space Shuttle History
3. Orbiter Sub-System Design
4. The Decision to Build the Shuttle
5. Orbiter Structure and Thermal Protection System
6. Propulsion - Space Shuttle Main Engines
7. Aerodynamics - (From Sub - to Hypersonic and Back)
8. Landing and Mechanical Systems
9. OMS, RCS, Fuel Cells, Auxiliary Power Unit and Hydraulic Systems
10. The DoD and the Space Shuttle
11. Use of Subsystems as a Function of Flight Phase
12. Aerothermodynamics
13. Environmental Control Systems
14. Ground Operations - Launching the Shuttle
15. Space Shuttle Accidents
16. Guidance, Navigation and Control
17. Mission Control 1
18. Mission Control 2
19. Design Process as it Relates to the Shuttle
20. EVA and Robotics on the Shuttle
21. Systems Engineering for Space Shuttle Payloads
22. Test Flying the Space Shuttle
23. Exemplary Lecture: Shuttle Operations Video

16.885J offers a holistic view of the aircraft as a system, covering: basic systems engineering; cost and weight estimation; basic aircraft performance; safety and reliability; lifecycle topics; aircraft subsystems; risk analysis and management; and system realization. Small student teams retrospectively analyze an existing aircraft covering: key design drivers and decisions; aircraft attributes and subsystems; and operational experience. Oral and written versions of the case study are delivered. For the Fall 2005 term, the class focuses on a systems engineering analysis of the Space Shuttle. It offers study of both design and operations of the shuttle, with frequent lectures by outside experts. Students choose specific shuttle systems for detailed analysis and develop new subsystem designs using state of the art technology. http://ocw.mit.edu