Atmospheric and Space Flight Dynamics

Modern aerospace vehicles, such as the space shuttle, other launch vehicles, and long-range ballistic missiles, do not discriminate between atmospheric and space flight. Most texts on flight dynamics, however, make this artificial distinction and therefore do not simultaneously cover aircraft and spacecraft. Bridging this gap in the literature, "Atmospheric and Space Flight Dynamics" is a unified presentation, demonstrating that the two disciplines have actually evolved from the same set of physical principles. Introduced is a broad range of modern topics in an accessible, yet mathematically rigorous presentation. A key feature of the text is the integration of many MATLAB- and Simulink-based numerical examples and real-world simulations throughout for the design of aircraft, missiles, launch vehicles, re-entry vehicles, and spacecraft. The author uses the software as an instructional, hands-on tool, moving away from the "cook book" approach found in other works. Replete with illustrations, end-of-chapter exercises, and selected solutions, the work is primarily useful as a textbook for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate-level students. The book is also suitable as a reference or self-study guide for researchers and practitioners in aerospace engineering, aviation, mechanical engineering, dynamics, astrodynamics, aeronautics, and astronautics.