Mission Geometry: Orbit and Constellation Design and Management (OCDM) is the most complete treatment available for many elements of space mission design and astronautics. OCDM discusses both the similarities and differences between orbit and altitude systems in terms of hardware, algorithms, design, and processing requirements. With the demand for reduced cost and the introduction of extensive on-board computing, what were once entirely separate disciplines have begun to merge. This volume will speed that process. In all areas, OCDM is meant to be practical, with recommendations, insights, formulas, and numerical recipes based on 40 years of spaceflight experience from organizations worldwide. It is meant to be both a text and reference work that can be used by those entering the field and by senior engineers engaged in the design, analysis, construction, or on-orbit operations of orbit and attitude systems and components.

This Handbook 0/ Geostationary Orbits is in principle an extension of the Introduction to Geostationary Orbits that was printed as a special publica tion by the European Space Agency (ESA) in 1983. The immediate purpose was to provide the theoretical background and some practical advice for the orbit control of geostationary spacecraft by means of the software package "PEPSOC". PEPSOC, short for "Portable ESOC Package for Synchronous Orbit Con trol" , was produced by the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) to support spacecraft operations in the routine phase. The resulting publication was a handbook for engineers and spacecraft operators, rather than a clas sical textbook in celestial mechanics. During the past eleven years, the software system PEPSOC has found a wide application both within and outside the ESA member states. At the same time, the original Introduction found numerous readers also outside the group of PEPSOC operators. The continuing development and the in creasing use of the geostationary orbit has now created the need for a new, more detailed publication to include new aspects that have emerged. The present Handbook contains several additional subjects and more math ematics to describe the methods applied in PEPSOC. The geophysical and astronomical parameters have been updated to reflect the latest recom mended values. This results in small deviations of the numerical data compared to the Introduction.

Advances in Geo-Spatial Information Science presents recent advances regarding fundamental issues of geo-spatial information science (space and time, spatial analysis, uncertainty modeling and geo-visualization), and new scientific and technological research initiatives for geo-spatial information science (such as spatial data mining, mobile data modeling, and location-based services). The book contains selected and revised papers presented at the joint International Conference on Theory, Data Handling and Modelling in GeoSpatial Information Science (Hong Kong, 26–28 May 2010), and brings together three related international academic communities: spatial information science, spatial data handling, and modeling geographic systems. Advances in Geo-Spatial Information Science will be of interest for academics and professionals interested in spatial information science, spatial data handling, and modeling of geographic systems.

Fundamentals of Astrodynamics and Applications is rapidly becoming the standard astrodynamics reference for those involved in the business of spaceflight. What sets this book apart is that nearly all of the theoretical mathematics is followed by discussions of practical applications implemented in tested software routines. For example, the book includes a compendium of algorithms that allow students and professionals to determine orbits with high precision using a PC. Without a doubt, when an astrodynamics problem arises in the future, it will become standard practice for engineers to keep this volume close at hand and `look it up in Vallado'. While the first edition was an exceptionally useful and popular book throughout the community, there are a number of reasons why the second edition will be even more so. There are many reworked examples and derivations. Newly introduced topics include ground illumination calculations, Moon rise and set, and a listing of relevant Internet sites. There is an improved and expanded discussion of coordinate systems, orbit determination, and differential correction. Perhaps most important is that all of the software routines described in the book are now available for free in FORTRAN, PASCAL, and C. This makes the second edition an even more valuable text and superb reference.

Expanding the Envelope is the first book to explore the full panorama of flight research history, from the earliest attempts by such nineteenth century practitioners as England's Sir George Cayley, who tested his kites and gliders by subjecting them to experimental flight, to the cutting-edge aeronautical research conducted by the NACA and NASA. Michael H. Gorn explores the vital human aspect of the history of flight research, including such well-known figures as James H. Doolittle, Chuck Yeager, and A. Scott Crossfield, as well as the less heralded engineers, pilots, and scientists who also had the "Right Stuff." While the individuals in the cockpit often receive the lion's share of the public's attention, Expanding the Envelope shows flight research to be a collaborative engineering activity, one in which the pilot participates as just one of many team members. Here is more than a century of flight research, from well before the creation of NACA to its rapid transformation under NASA. Gorn gives a behind the scenes look at the development of groundbreaking vehicles such as the X-1, the D-558, and the X-15, which demonstrated manned flight at speeds up to Mach 6.7 and as high as the edge of space.

How were the features on the Moon created?. What is the evidence for past or future life on Mars? What might cause the Earth to become as hot and steamy as Venus? . Why do some say that a colliding asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago? From the earliest of times the human race has pondered upon the nature of the Heavens. The moons and planets have changed from mere points of light to fascinating, diverse worlds. Spacecraft have visited all the planets known to ancient people. Human beings have visited the Moon, and robot spacecraft have landed on Venus and Mars. This book presents the result of this captivating voyage of discovery, recording more than two decades of extraordinary accomplishments. The voyage starts with the still, silent and lifeless Moon. Then on to the contrasting world of Mars with its towering volcanoes and deep canyons. The exploration continues across asteroid belts and icy comets to the outer planets where Voyager II revealed cyclonic storms, liquid hydrogen and helium rain and the beautiful pink and blue dynamic world of Neptune. This book includes numerous photos from spacecraft as well as a few works of modern art. They provide the best available metaphors and images of the previously invisible worlds.