Orbital Mechanics: For Engineering Students - Softcover

Curtis, Howard D.

9780080971902: Orbital Mechanics: For Engineering Students

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0080971903 ISBN 13: 9780080971902

Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2011

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Orbital mechanics is a cornerstone subject for aerospace engineering students. However, with its basis in classical physics and mechanics, it can be a difficult and weighty subject. Howard Curtis-Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Embry-Riddle University, the US's #1 rated undergraduate aerospace school-focuses on what students at undergraduate and taught masters level really need to know in this hugely valuable text. Fully supported by the analytical features and computer based tools required by today's students, it brings a fresh, modern, accessible approach to teaching and learning orbital mechanics. A truly essential new resource.

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Review

Curtis, a professor with many years of technical teaching experience (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univ., FL), presents the foundations of orbital mechanics. The book has 11 chapters, four of which are optional, that concentrate on basic orbital mechanics, orbital maneuvers, and satellite mechanics. The reader should know calculus and be able to use computers with software packages in mathematics. A background in physics, dynamics, differential equations, vector notation, and linear algebra is presumed. The book contains worked-out problems and derivations in which each step is provided so that the reader does not have to puzzle over missing steps--an attractive feature. The reader can download copies of needed programs and obtain a solutions manual separately. Use of the five appendixes is often needed to address the information in the chapters. Figure quality is excellent and there is a 15-page index. This work is suitable for readers adequately prepared in mathematics and physics. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals. -- W. E. Howard III, formerly, Universities Space Research Association - July 2005, CHOICE.
"...this textbook must be praised for its clear derivations of all equations, presentation of even the most difficult aspects of orbital mechanics based on first principles and a very large amount of well-chosen solved examples. This book will be exceedingly attractive and useful not only to students but also to other researchers or practiced engineers attempting to understand the very exciting and useful field of orbital mechanics."
- Alexander M. Jablonski, 'Orbital Mechanics for Engineering Students', June 2005

From the Back Cover

Orbital Mechanics for Engineering Students is a foundation text for this cornerstone aerospace subject. It offers a rigorous and contemporary introduction to the physical phenomena and analytical procedures required to understand and predict the behaviour of orbiting spacecraft. Structured to cover the requirements of one and two semester courses in orbital mechanics, it is also a springboard to more advanced study.

Key Features:
� Straightforward teach-by-example approach
� Assumes no prior experience; delivers the detail to ensure that concepts are grasped on the first reading, leaving nothing to the reader’s imagination
� Supported by an unusually large number of worked examples, computer-based tools and extensive end of chapter exercises
� Accompanying website with Instructor's Solutions Manual and downloadable MATLAB code for project work

Written for undergraduate students of aerospace engineering, astronautical engineering, engineering mechanics and engineering physics who have completed first courses in physics, vector dynamics and mathematics (through to differential equations and linear algebra), it will also be appropriate for graduate students new to the subject. The book otherwise assumes no previous experience and is self-contained. All of the required basic dynamics principles are developed in detail so that neither student nor instructor will have to refer to other sources.

Dr Howard D. Curtis, an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a licensed Professional Engineer, is Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida, USA.|Orbital Mechanics for Engineering Students is a foundation text for this cornerstone aerospace subject. It offers a rigorous and contemporary introduction to the physical phenomena and analytical procedures required to understand and predict the behaviour of orbiting spacecraft. Structured to cover the requirements of one and two semester courses in orbital mechanics, it is also a springboard to more advanced study.

Key Features:
� Straightforward teach-by-example approach
� Assumes no prior experience; delivers the detail to ensure that concepts are grasped on the first reading, leaving nothing to the reader’s imagination
� Supported by an unusually large number of worked examples, computer-based tools and extensive end of chapter exercises
� Accompanying website with Instructor's Solutions Manual and downloadable MATLAB code for project work

Written for undergraduate students of aerospace engineering, astronautical engineering, engineering mechanics and engineering physics who have completed first courses in physics, vector dynamics and mathematics (through to differential equations and linear algebra), it will also be appropriate for graduate students new to the subject. The book otherwise assumes no previous experience and is self-contained. All of the required basic dynamics principles are developed in detail so that neither student nor instructor will have to refer to other sources.

Dr Howard D. Curtis, an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a licensed Professional Engineer, is Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida, USA.