The Basic Rocket Science (BRS) short course provides a practitioner-based training experience in the key principles, disciplines, technologies, and how-to protocols of suborbital rocket flight.

Participants learn about the various phases of rocket flight including launch, boost, coast, and recovery.  The workings of the atmosphere and its influences on endoatmospheric rocket flight performance are examined. The principles of solid rocket propulsion are presented, and representative solid rocket motor propulsion characteristics reviewed.

Trajectory simulation based on the round Earth equations of motion is a significant topic of instruction.  Key rocket vehicle aerodynamics data such as zero-lift drag characteristics and aerodynamic force and moment derivatives are
examined as are methods for computing these parameters. Vehicle mass properties such as weight, center-of-gravity, and moments of inertia are discussed as well as methods for computing these quantities.

Course members also receive instruction on the static and dynamic stability requirements for each stage of a rocket-powered vehicle. Aerodynamic heating effects and methodologies are presented from the standpoints of vehicle thermal design, analysis, and survivability. Parachute recovery of rocket components is discussed as is the generation of debris dispersion footprints sometimes required for range safety clearance.

J. Terry White is the founder, senior advisor and former president of White Eagle Aerospace. His 50 years of professional aerospace experience includes the NASA Space Shuttle Program, NASA X-43A Flight Research Project, and the United States Navy STANDARD Missile Program.  During his far-ranging professional career, Terry has served on the engineering technical staff of Rockwell International, General Dynamics Corporation, Hughes Missile Systems Company, NASA Dryden Flight Research Center and Raytheon Missile Systems.  In addition, he has served as an engineering consultant to numerous corporate and private aerospace enterprises.

Terry is a subject matter technical expert in the disciplines of  aerodynamics, 6-DOF aerodynamics models, aerothermodynamics, hypersonics, flight simulation, and flight testing.

Terry previously served as manager of the Aerodynamics Department in the Guidance, Navigation, and Control Center at Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Arizona. In this capacity, he was responsible for all aerodynamics work performed at the world’s largest tactical missile producer.  He concluded his career with Raytheon in 2010 as a Senior Engineering Fellow in Aerodynamics.

Terry has authored more than 180 technical papers on a wide variety of aero-science and aerospace subjects. His teaching credentials include 15 years as an instructor in the Aerospace Engineering Department of the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, 10 years as an instructor in the professional development program at Raytheon and 17 years developing and teaching technical courses at White Eagle Aerospace. Those who have taken Terry’s courses say that he brings an extensive technical knowledge and uncommon instructional skill to the training environment.

Terry is particularly well-known for his inspiring aerospace history presentations, which are intense, technically relevant reviews of significant events in United States aerospace history. He has lectured extensively on aerospace history topics at the USAF Test Pilot School, the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, academia and industry.

Terry and his wife Phyllis reside in Oro Valley, Arizona. They are the happy parents of five remarkable children and the grateful grandparents of nine delightful grandchildren.