Orbital Mechanics: Theory and Applications

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0471146366 ISBN 13: 9780471146360

Publisher: Wiley-Interscience, 1997

A lively study of orbital mechanics by the writer responsible for the computer simulations and systems analysis for the Saturn V moon rocket, Project Skylab and many others. Provides thorough coverage of all background theories, including unusual concepts and paradoxes that will enhance appreciation of this field. Includes discussion of rocket propulsion and optimization of techniques for maximizing payload and minimizing fuel consumption, plus complete coverage of the interaction of space vehicles and space bodies.

From the Back Cover:

A lively and engaging exploration of orbital mechanics and its rolein aerospace design and development Inspired by its author'sinternationally renowned short course by the same name, OrbitalMechanics is a practical introduction to a field of study ofcrucial importance to today's aerospace initiatives. Drawing uponnearly four decades of experience as an aerospace engineer andstudent of orbital mechanics, Tom Logsdon provides aerospaceprofessionals and students with many important and useful insightsinto the ways in which orbiting bodies interact and the behavior ofsatellites and rockets traveling through space. From theinvestigations of Renaissance astronomers to contemporarytrajectory control systems, Logsdon covers all the bases,including:
* Background theories, from Kepler's empirical laws to modernexplanations of orbital perturbations on artificialsatellites.
* Rocket propulsion systems and optimization techniques formaximizing payload and minimizing fuel consumption
* Frozen orbits, ballistic capture techniques, libration pointorbits, and practical constellation design
Orbital Mechanics is a valuable resource for aerospaceprofessionals and serves as an excellent upper-level text foraerospace engineering students.

About the Author:

TOM LOGSDON, a retired senior member of the technical staff at Rockwell International, teaches three-day courses on orbital mechanics and the Navstar GPS to enthusiastic professionals all over the world. A prolific author and editor, he has written more than 25 books on space technology, computer science, robotics, and knowledge-based problem-solving techniques.