This is a junior-level
orbital mechanics course. The required prerequisite is
Dynamics. We will cover basic
topics in analytical dynamics, two body orbits and the initial value
problem,
the two body orbital boundary value problem, Earth coverage and space
mission
geometry, non-Keplerian effects, orbital maneuvers and rendezvous, and
interplanetary transfer; fundamentals of ascent flight mechanics,
launch
vehicle selection, and fundamentals of entry flight mechanics.
Required
Text: Orbital Mechanics for Engineering Students,
by Curtis
Recommended
Texts: Mechanics,
by Symon QC 125 .S98 1971
Solar System
Dynamics,
by Murray & Dermott QB 500.5 .M87 1999
Orbital Mechanics, by Lodgson TL
1050 .L59 1998
Celestial Mechanics, by
Moulton (Reynolds' office)
Supplementary books: Amospheric
and space flight dynamics, by Tewari TL 1050 .T49 2007
Rocket science in the second millenium,
by Zaehringer TL 782 .Z29 2004
Theory of Orbital Motion, by
Tan QB
355 .T36 2008
Fundamentals of Celestial Mechanics,
by Danby QB 351 .D3
Collateral
reading: The Physics of Solar Sails, NASA
CD-ROM Oct 2003 Disc 2 (Special collections)
Newton's clock: Chaos in the solar
system,
by Peterson QB 351 .P48 1993
Analytical Mechanics of space systems,
by Schaub QB 350.5 .S33 2003
(with CD-ROM)
Methods of Celestial Mechanics,
by Brouwer QB 351 .B7 1961
Methods of orbit determination for
the microcomputer,
by Boulet QB 355 .B68 1991
The determination of orbits,
by Dubiago QB 355 .D813
(Special Collections)
Orbital motion,
by Roy QB
355 .R69 2005
Adventures in Celestial Mechanics,
by Szebehely QB 355 .S974 1998
The physics of stars simulated in
three dimensions,
by LLNL QB
460 .L39 2002
World geodetic system, 1984 (WGS-84)
manual, QB 275 .W67
Geodesy for the layman,
by Burkard QB 281 .G46 1968 (download here)
Recommended Hypertext: Hyperphysics
See the syllabus
for more detailed information.
