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University of Colorado      Aerospace Engineering Sciences

This specialty area of Aerospace Engineering encompasses biological, behavioral and medical aspects governing humans and other living organisms in a space flight environment; and includes design of payloads, spacesuits, spacecraft habitats and life support systems. In short, it spans the study and support of life in space.

Bioastronautics courses offered as of 2012

ASEN 5016 Space Life Sciences (spring)

http://www.colorado.edu/ASEN/asen5016/

Familiarizes students with factors affecting living organisms in the space flight environment.  Covers basic life support requirements, human physiological adaptations and cellular-level gravity dependent processes.  Emphasis placed on technical writing and research proposal preparation.

ASEN 5158 Space Habitat Design (fall)

http://www.colorado.edu/ASEN/asen5158/

Utilizes systems engineering methods for designing a spacecraft intended for human occupancy and provides a working knowledge of the subsystems needed to sustain human life. Emphasis is placed on deriving functional requirements from stated mission objectives, developing integrated vehicle schematics, and comparing options by trade study.

ASEN 5018/6028 Graduate Projects I & II - Human Spacecraft section (spring & fall)

http://www.colorado.edu/aerospace/GraduateProjects.html

The course meets the 2 semester sequence MS project requirement for students with an interest in human space vehicles and related infrastructure.  The pilot project for this area was set up to examine trade space parameters applicable to the design of a Lunar Lander Habitat (http://www.colorado.edu/LunarMARS/).  In 2010, the application shifted to a new commercial vehicle design call the Dream Chaser, being developed by the Sierra Nevada Corporation (http://engineering.colorado.edu/news/CUE/2010/features/aero.htm). Current efforts are focused on cockpit displays and controls.

ASEN 5506 Bioastronautics Seminar (spring)

http://www.colorado.edu/ASEN/asen5506/

Focuses on current research involving space flight medical and biological topics ranging from human life support to molecular-level processes. Literature analysis and scientific presentations are expected. Emphasis placed on biophysical mechanisms, comprehensive models and related technology development.

ASEN 3519 Introduction to Human Space Flight (spring)

http://www.colorado.edu/ASEN/asen3036/

Introduces students to the challenges and rewards of human space flight.  Topics include: historical overview, motivation and rationale, astronaut selection and training, physiological and psychological concerns, human factors, basics of space habitat and life support system design, mission operations, and future program directions.

Related Bioastronautics Programs (site under construction)

http://spot.colorado.edu/~klaus/BioastroPrograms.htm

Compilation of other academic programs with related content addressing various aspects of human space flight, work in progress…

 

Courses previously taught, but not currently offered

ASEN 3519 Fundamentals of Human Spacecraft (last taught Fall 2005)

Addresses analysis and design of human space missions.  Topics include: definition of top-level objectives, identification of requirements and constraints, development of concepts and architectures, and assessment of vehicle performance, mass, cost and risk.  Systems engineering is stressed throughout the design process for human-occupied space vehicles.

ASEN 5116 Spacecraft Life Support Systems (last taught Fall 2006 -- content was merged into ASEN 5158 beginning Fall 2008)

Provides a working knowledge of the systems needed to sustain human life in a spacecraft environment. Emphasis on understanding functional requirements of a life support system; operational details of subsystem technologies; new concepts currently being considered in NASA's advanced programs; and conducting a technical trade study.

 

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