SHS3 Aviation And Aerospace Engineering · Semester 1, Week 6
Aircraft Structures and Control
Lesson notes
Learning Objectives
Indicator: 3.1.3.LI.3 - Describe the control mechanisms of spacecraft.
By the end of the lesson, learners can:
- Identify and describe at least three distinct control mechanisms used on spacecraft, including thrusters, reaction wheels, and gyroscopes.
- Explain how each control mechanism produces torque or force to change a spacecraft’s attitude (orientation) or trajectory.
- Compare and contrast spacecraft control mechanisms with the aerodynamic control surfaces of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft studied in Weeks 4 and 5.
- Describe the role of sensors (such as star trackers and sun sensors) in providing feedback for spacecraft attitude control.
- Justify why certain control mechanisms are chosen for different mission phases (e.g., launch, orbit, deep space), using strategic reasoning.
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Sign in with phone numberCurriculum details
- Strand
- Core Concepts in Aerospace Engineering (Strand 1)
- Sub-strand
- Aircraft Structures and Control (1.3)
- Content standard
- 3.1.3.CS.2 - Demonstrate understanding of how an aerospace vehicle (aircraft, spacecraft) is controlled in flight. 3.1.3.LO.1 Identify the structural design of an airframe. 3.1.3.LO.2 Discuss the flight controls of aerospace vehicle and its impact on the movement of the vehicle. 3.1.3.LO.3 Explain the concepts of static dynamic stability of aerospace vehicles.
- Indicator
- 3.1.3.LI.3 - Describe the control mechanisms of spacecraft.
- Suggested placement
-
Semester 1, Week 6
(Week 6 of the year)
Our suggestion, laid out in curriculum order across three terms of twelve weeks. NaCCA does not fix the week, so follow your school's scheme of learning.
- Curriculum reference
- NaCCA curriculum document, p. 94
Exemplars (from the NaCCA curriculum)
Talk for Learning: With the aid of audio-visuals, learners watch and describe the control mechanisms for spacecraft. Teaching and Learning Resources: - Audio-visuals on how fixed-wing aircraft are controlled - Audio-visuals on how rotary wing aircraft are controlled - Flip board paper/A4 sheets - Audio-visuals on how spacecraft - are controlled Assessment (3.1.3.AS.3). The document marks these depth-of-knowledge levels for this indicator: Level 3 Strategic reasoning.