Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics

From its roots in classical mechanics and reliance on stability theory to the evolution of practical stabilization ideas, this volume offers comprehensive coverage of environmental torques encountered in space; energy dissipation and its effects on the attitude stability of spinning bodies; motion equations for four archetypical systems; orientation parameters; illustrations of key concepts with on-orbit flight data; and typical engineering hardware, with examples of the implementation of dynamic ideas. The sole prerequisites are a fundamental knowledge of vector dynamics and matrix algebra; suitable for use as a text for advanced undergraduates and graduate students, this unified treatment is also a valuable reference for professionals. 1986 ed.