Introductory Orbit Dynamics

The study of the dynamics of satellites has a unique fascination for student and lecturer alike. It is not only a logical subject explainable by the few basic principles of mechanics, but has contributed so extensibly to the formulation of mechanics in the first place, and is still continuing to do so. With the launching of Sputnik I on October 4, 1957, engineers have entered the field for good, and the study of the dynamics of spacecraft is taking its rightful place as a subject within engineering mechanics. The primary purpose of the present text is to acquaint engineering students with the fundamentals of spacecraft orbit dynamics. The text is intended for senior undergraduate or for graduate students, as well as for engineers in the various branches of the aerospace industry. Students using the text are expected to know the rudiments of astronomy and to have an adequate com- mand of elementary dynamics, of differential and integral calculus, and of vector and matrix algebra. Vec- tors and tensors appear in matrix form, since the matrix formulation is not only well suited for computer programming, but also because it affords a quick and intelligible assessment of the problem situation, so essential for engineering practice.