Satellite Dynamics
Satellite Dynamics covers Euler's equations, torque-free motion, stability, gyroscopic instruments, satellite stabilization, and rocket dynamics.
Summary
Past student reviews · Daniel Kammer
One student reported spending 20–30 hours weekly and noted that the grading scale was strict, with an A requiring 95–100% without curve.
What you’ll be able to do
Formulate and solve problems using attitude parameterizations to describe the motion of aerospace systems
Formulate and solve problems using linear and angular momentum to generate equations of motion for spacecraft
Formulate and solve problems using energy methods to predict the attitude motion of spacecraft
Demonstrate knowledge of spacecraft stability and control theory to assess and enforce spacecraft attitude
Source: UW Guide
Grade history
↗All recorded terms · compare terms & instructors
Prerequisites
Course mapE M A 442(or E M A 542 prior to Fall 2026),PHYSICS 311, graduate/professional standing, or member of Engineering Guest Students
- EMA 442 · unspecified
- E M A 542 prior to Fall 2026
- PHYSICS 311 · unspecified
- graduate/professional standing
- member of Engineering Guest Students
This is a best-effort interpretation; check the catalog requirements above.
Prerequisite text tree
- Any of
- Any of
- EMA 442 · unspecified
- E M A 542 prior to Fall 2026
- PHYSICS 311 · unspecified
- graduate/professional standing
- member of Engineering Guest Students
- Any of
Professors
Spring 2027No instructors recorded for this selection.
Historical instructors & teaching patterns
DANIEL KAMMER is recorded teaching in Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2017. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
Calendar & sections
Spring 2027Schedule loads here as you scroll.
| Section | Mode | Enrolled / capacity | Waitlist |
|---|
Times are Central. Select a meeting for details; export includes recorded dates for the selected sections.
Meeting source records
Student experience
the class
Past student reviews · Daniel Kammer
A student described the course as unhelpful, citing condescending communication from the instructor and a disconnect between homework preparation and exam content.
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2023: 3.50 GPA, 62.5% A/AB (n=8 letter grades); Spring 2024: 3.50 GPA, 71.4% A/AB (n=7 letter grades); Spring 2025: 3.45 GPA, 63.6% A/AB (n=11 letter grades).
difficulty & workload
Past student reviews · Daniel Kammer
One student reported spending 20–30 hours weekly and noted that the grading scale was strict, with an A requiring 95–100% without curve.
Past student reviews · Daniel Kammer
The reviewer found the professor’s responses to questions condescending and lacking helpful content, which contributed to a negative overall experience.
Topics
- Euler's equations, torque-free motion, stability of rotation, and energy dissipation effects
- Gyroscopic instruments and gyrodynamics of the Earth
- Gravity gradient, spin, dual spin, and tethered satellites; mass movement techniques
- Space vehicle motion and rocket dynamics
Skills
- Use attitude parameterizations to describe aerospace system motion
- Generate spacecraft equations of motion using linear and angular momentum
- Predict spacecraft attitude motion using energy methods
- Assess and enforce spacecraft attitude using stability and control theory
Grades
Latest available · Spring 2025— not enough history to project Spring 2027.
Grade distribution · % of letter grades
Grades over time
Through Spring 2025
More grade details Grade mix, volume & source data
Not enough comparable courses for Spring 2027 in UW–Madison.
Sources & history
Catalog & offerings
Descriptions, prerequisites, and recorded course offerings.
Catalog observation history
Observations at scan time; dates do not imply when a catalog change took effect.
Selected offering source records
No offering records for the selected term.
Raw records
[]
Student reviews
Original comments behind the course and instructor summaries.
Read original reviews
Grade history
Recorded grade distributions by term, section, and instructor.
Explore recorded gradesRecorded 2026-10-14
Model outputs & technical records
LLM outputs across runs
Full model traces
Recorded model configuration, reasoning, and tool conversations.
Model & dataset provenance
{
"model": "Qwen/Qwen3.8-27B",
"model_revision": "1d4bf0f2ff6012fd82039f2fa52739d0dd7c60c0",
"task_version": "17",
"output_id": "4124bd39788093b141e94482e6969a5889cc9f64212962c6ecbe863c459899a9",
"requirements_status": "needs_review",
"dataset_revision": "fc1811fa52e581ea57a35c0cf3343f8740a8ffbf",
"observed_at": "2026-10-14 17:50:09.728220+00:00"
}