Prof Nabity's research enables robust long-term and far-reaching human spaceflight systems. His research includes environmental control and life support systems (ECLSS), space habitat design, and in situ resource utilization. Doctoral students engage in the following research activities: 1) ionic liquids for atmosphere revitalization, gas separation and solvated extraction of minerals and oxygen, 2) methods to manage crew exposure to space radiation and the effects of space radiation on crew performance, 3) robust and self-aware ECLSS, 4) spacecraft and spacesuit thermal control, and 5) plant growth chambers. Funded projects research ECLSS for lunar landers and space habitats, supported liquid membranes for CO2 sequestration from space habitat and Mars atmospheres, and regolith dust mitigation. Manuscripts describe CO2 transport with supported ionic liquid membranes, origami-folded multilayer insulation, ECLSS fault detection and diagnostics, habitability, and nuclear propulsion and power.
ASEN 4013 - Foundations of Propulsion
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2020 / Fall 2020 / Fall 2022 / Fall 2023 / Fall 2024
Describes aerothermodynamics and design of both rocket and air-breathing engines. Includes ramjets, turbojets, turbofans, and turboprop engines, as well as liquid, solid, and hybrid rockets.
ASEN 5018 - Graduate Projects I
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2020 / Fall 2020 / Fall 2023 / Fall 2024
Exposes MS and PhD students to project management and systems engineering disciplines while working a complex aerospace engineering project as part of a project team. The project team may perform some or all of the following project activities during this first semester of the two-semester course sequence: requirements, definition, design and design review, build, test, and verification. Recommended prerequisite: ASEN 4138 or ASEN 5148 or ASEN 5158 or instructor consent required.
ASEN 5053 - Space Propulsion
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2024
This course is designed to teach the theory, analysis and design of modern space propulsion systems. Lectures describe the thermodynamics of rocket propulsion and nozzle flow theory, followed by in-depth study of cold gas thrusters, monopropellant and bipropellant liquid rockets, solid and hybrid rockets, electric propulsion, nuclear rockets, and solar sails. If time permits, other exotic propulsion technologies will be dealt with.
ASEN 6028 - Graduate Projects II
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Spring 2020 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Spring 2024
Exposes MS and PhD students to leadership positions in project management and systems engineering while working a complex aerospace engineering project as part of a project team. The project team may perform some or all of the following project activities during this second semester of the two-semester course sequence: requirements definition, design and design review, build, test, and verification. Recommended prerequisite: ASEN 4138 or ASEN 5148 or ASEN 5018 or ASEN 5158 or instructor consent required.
ASEN 6116 - Spacecraft Life Support Systems
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2019 / Spring 2021 / Spring 2023
Study the environmental control and the life support systems and technologies that keep people alive and healthy in spacecraft and habitats. Students will learn about thermal control systems, air revitalization processes, water reclamation and treatment, waste handling and the reuse of materials, and food and nutrition. Expect to develop analytical models from first principles and perform hands-on laboratory experiments. Formerly ASEN 5116.
