School of Engineering and Built Environment

Session: 2024/25
Module: 55-509594
Systems modelling and simulation
Module Leader: Ningrong Lei
Assignment number/title: Individual project - Modelling and Simulating
the Trajectory of a Mid-Sized Rocket for Low
Earth Orbit
Academic contact for guidance: Ningrong Lei, [email protected]

Maximum word count or number of pages: 500 words per student + 5 mins video recording

Percentage contribution to overall module mark: 100%

Deadline for submission: 1/5/2025 at 3pm

Method and Location for Submission: Blackboard submission plus Turnitin

Insert Details of Other.

Deadline for return of feedback: 23/05/2025

Module learning outcomes:

LO1: Develop an understanding of systems theory and the relevance to the aerospace and automotive
industries.
LO2: Apply a systems approach to problem structuring and problem solving, and hence analyse
systems and their dynamic behaviour.
LO3: Design, implement and critically evaluate a range of systems models, methods, and
methodologies.
LO4: Select and apply the appropriate analytical tool and make sound engineering judgements as part
of a multi-disciplinary team.
References/recommended reading:
1. INCOSE (Ed.). (2023). INCOSE systems engineering handbook. John Wiley & Sons.
2. Gorod, A., White, B. E., Ireland, V., Gandhi, S. J., & Sauser, B. (Eds.). (2014). Case studies in system
of systems, enterprise systems, and complex systems engineering. CRC press.
3. Nise, N. S. (2003). Control Systems Engineering. 4th ed. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley, ISBN:
9780471445777.
4. Turk, I. (2019). Practical MATLAB : With Modeling, Simulation, and Processing Projects (1st ed.
2019.). press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4842-5281-9
Please ensure that all sources of information used are referenced. For guidance see
http://libguides.shu.ac.uk/referencing
All assessments are subject to SHU's collusion and plagiarism regulations. Please refer to:
https://students.shu.ac.uk/shuspacecontent/assessment/plagiarism
1. Title
Modelling and simulating the Trajectory of a Mid-Sized Rocket for Low Earth Orbit

2. Introduction
This coursework involves building a mathematical model and simulation of the dynamics of Rocket
Lab's Electron launch vehicle during its initial ascent. You are required to research Electron’s real-
world data for key parameters such as rocket diameter, drag coefficient, thrust, and initial mass.
Then formulate governing equations of motion and implement the model in MATLAB/Simulink.
Assumptions and Constraints
To simplify the simulation, the following assumptions are made:
• The rocket's motion is vertical (no ascending angle).
• Atmospheric density remains constant at sea-level conditions (ρ = 1.225 kg/m³).
• The rocket’s mass decreases at a constant burn rate of B kg/s due to fuel consumption. B
needs to be find out or educated guess.
• Thrust remains constant during the initial ascent phase.

3. Objectives
• Apply principles of systems modelling and simulation to a real-world engineering scenario.
• Understand and use drag forces, thrust forces, and gravitational effects in the context of
rocket dynamics.
• Simulate the system dynamic behaviour in Matlab/Simulink.
• Explore the impact of varying parameters (e.g., drag coefficient, cross-sectional area) on
the rocket's performance.

4. Task Breakdown
Part A: Research and Parameter Identification
• Brief research on system modelling and simulation application in industry with references.
• Research and relevant parameter identification of Electron rocket with references.
Part B: Mathematical Modelling
• Formulate the governing model (equations) of motion for the rocket's vertical ascent.
Include all derived equations and their explanations in the report.
Part C: MATLAB/Simulink Implementation
• Build a MATLAB script to compute the rocket's acceleration, velocity, and height over time.
• Develop a Simulink model to simulate the same system: Use appropriate blocks for forces,
mass variation, and integrators for velocity and height. Include scopes to visualize
acceleration, velocity, and height as functions of time.
• Validate the Simulink results by comparing them with the MATLAB script outputs.
Part D: Analysis and Discussion
• Analyse how changes in the drag coefficient and cross-sectional area affect the rocket's
performance.
• Discuss the real-world implications of your findings.
5. Deliverables
• An individual report including:
✓ Maximum 500 words.
✓ Include tasks in parts A & B in section 4.
✓ Screenshots of MATLAB Code and Simulink model.
• A video recording (5 minutes maximum) to explain the following files and key findings:
✓ MATLAB Code: Well-documented script files.
✓ Simulink Model: Simulink file (.slx) with a clear block diagram layout.
✓ Include tasks in parts C & D in section 4.
6. Submission of our assignment
• Submit your assignment electronically via the module site by the specified deadline.
• Your last submitted attempt will be marked.
• Filenames: Should start with your Surname Forename and module title, e.g. Blogg Joe
Systems modelling and simulation.pdf and Blogg Joe Systems modelling and
simulation.mp4.
• Do not password protect your file(s).
• Please ensure your file is smaller than 250 MB or you will be unable to submit it to
Blackboard.
• It is your responsibility to ensure that your work is successfully submitted. Always check
your email receipt and the submission point again following each submission.
• More guidance on online submission, including contacts for IT help can be found on the
Assessment4Students webpage: https://academic.shu.ac.uk/assessment4students/ Please
note the issues with some browsers.
• If you have a learning contract which recommends the use of stickers for your work,
please make sure that you type the wording of the sticker at the top of your assignment –
preferably in red so that it is as visible as possible for markers.
• Back-up and keep a copy of your work.
Formative Turnitin Checking
Turnitin is available to check your work for referencing accuracy and potential plagiarism prior to
your final submission. Turnitin is integrated into Blackboard Ultra; when you submit your work,
you will receive a Turnitin report. You can submit drafts to the submission point as many times as
you wish- we will mark the final version submitted.

7. University Generic Grade

As well assessing your work against the module assessment criteria, markers will use the
University Generic Grade Descriptor to award your final grade for individual tasks in the module.
This descriptor also provides you with additional guidance to enable you to improve your work. A
copy of the University Generic Grade Descriptors can be found here.

8. Academic misconduct:
"Academic misconduct is any action, attempted action or omission that may result in you gaining
an unfair advantage over other students in an assessment, where there is evidence to
demonstrate that your actions or behaviour arose from an intention to deceive the marker. It is a
breach of the Code of Academic Conduct and as such will be investigated under the Academic
Conduct Regulation. It is a serious matter and has the potential to result in several sanctions which
could impact on your ability to progress academically.
Acts of misconduct may take many forms. Indicative definitions can be found within the Academic
Conduct Regulation."
**The penalties for academic misconduct are severe and could result in you being terminated
from your programme of study at the University**
Further information is available at:
• https://students.shu.ac.uk/shuspacecontent/academic-misconduct
• https://www.shu.ac.uk/myhallam/university-life/university-rules-and-regulations
Use of Artificial Intelligence systems (e.g. ChatGPT) and other writing support is increasing. Used
properly in researching a topic or drafting a report, it can be a valuable tool to help develop your
academic skills. However, depending on generative AI wholly or extensively for the structure and
content of an assignment may be considered poor academic practice, and doing so without
acknowledgement is fraudulent practice and may result in disciplinary action.
• If you use ChatGPT or any similar AI to support the development and preparation of your
assignment, please include a statement at the end of the assignment indicating briefly (2-3
sentences) how you used the technology. This will not contribute to the word count.
Guidance on what to include in your AI acknowledgement statement can be found at
https://blogs.shu.ac.uk/assessment4students/preparing-to-submit-work/#AI. You do not need to
include the detail described in the ‘Description and use of AI’ section.
9. Marking grid: A detailed breakdown of the allocation of marks.
Assessment First (100 to 70%) Upper second (69 to 60%) Lower second (59 to 50%) Third (49 to 40%) Insufficient (39 to 1%) Ze
criterion 1st 2.1 2.2 3rd fail ro
Background Thorough review of background Good review of background Review of background is Some review of background Incomplete background
research theory and industrial theory and industrial provided, some minor errors / research but with some major research.
applications. Thorough research applications. Good research on omissions. errors and omissions.
(20%) on relevant information of relevant information of Electron Major inconsistency in
Electron rocket. rocket. Clear structured report. Average Report and writing needs the report. Insufficient
writing and communication. major improvements. Some references.
Excellent structured report, Well-structured report. Good Some inconsistency in the report. inconsistency in the report.
professional writing and writing and communication. References with some minor References with some major
referencing. problems. problems.

E H M L H M L H M L H M L B M L 0
Modelling Logical and correct system Correct system mathematical Complete system mathematical Incomplete system Incomplete and wrong
(30%) mathematical formulation. formulation. formulation with some minor mathematical formulation. system mathematical
Excellent explanation. The basics of the formulas are errors or omissions Models needs more formulation.
explained well. Models needs more justification. justification. Limited or no explanation.
E H M L H M L H M L H M L B M L 0
Implementati Professional, accuracy and Good and functional Functional MATLAB/Simulink MATLAB/Simulink models Incomplete
on (30%) functional MATLAB/Simulink MATLAB/Simulink models. models with minor problems with major problems MATLAB/Simulink
models. models.
Good presentation of the Matlab Acceptable presentation of the Presentation of the Matlab
Excellent presentation of the and Simulink models and their Matlab and Simulink models and and Simulink models and No or poor video
Matlab and Simulink models and outputs. their outputs. their outputs needs major presentation.
their outputs. improvements.
E H M L H M L H M L H M L B M L 0
Analysis In-depth discussion and real- Good discussion and real-world Some good discussion and real- The discussions with some Incomplete discussion.
(20%) world implications of the implications of the world implications of the errors.
MATLAB/Simulink models. MATLAB/Simulink models. MATLAB/Simulink models but No or poor video
Excellent presentation within 5 Good presentation within 5 needs more depth. Presentation needs major presentation.
minutes. minutes. Presentation within 5 minutes. improvements.

E H M L H M L H M L H M L B M L 0