Spacecraft Dynamics and Control: A Practical Engineering Approach (Cambridge Aerospace Series, Series Number 7)

Used increasingly in telecommunications, scientific research, surveillance, and meteorology, satellites rely heavily on complex onboard control systems. This book explains the basic theory of spacecraft dynamics and control and the practical aspects of controlling a satellite. The emphasis is on analyzing and solving real-world engineering problems. Among the topics covered are orbital dynamics, attitude dynamics, gravity gradient stabilization, single and dual spin stabilization, attitude maneuvers, attitude stabilization, and structural dynamics and liquid sloshing.

Satellites are used increasingly in telecommunications, scientific research, surveillance, and meteorology, and these satellites rely heavily on the effectiveness of complex onboard control systems. This book explains the basic theory of spacecraft dynamics and control and the practical aspects of controlling a satellite. The emphasis throughout is on analyzing and solving real-world engineering problems. For example, the author discusses orbital and rotational dynamics of spacecraft under a variety of environmental conditions, along with the realistic constraints imposed by available hardware.