Orbital and Celestial Mechanics (Progress in Astronautics & Aeronautics)

Orbital and Celestial Mechanics affords engineering students, professors, and researchers alike an opportunity to cultivate the mathematical techniques necessary for this discipline—as well as physics and trajectory mechanics—using the familiar and universal concepts of classical physics. For nonspecialists and students unfamiliar with some of the underlying math principles, the Vinti Spheroidal Method demonstrates computer routines for accurately calculating satellite orbit and ballistic trajectory. More than 20 years ago, Dr. Vinti's revolutionary method was used aboard a ballistic missile targeting program with great success. His work continues to enable both students and professionals to predict position and velocity vectors for satellites and ballistic missiles almost as accurately as numerical integration. Now, the best Vinti algorithms and companion computer source codes are available in one comprehensive package. System Requirements: PC-compatible with MS Windows 95, FORTRAN, and Visual C++ Powerstation 4.0; also mentions UNIX Powerstation with Vi editor. Content: Newton's Laws; The Two-Body Problem; Lagrangian Dynamics; The Hamiltonian Equations; Canonical Transformations; Hamilton-Jacobi Theory; Hamilton-Jacobi Perturbation Theory; The Vinti Spheroidal Method for Satellite Orbits and Ballistic Trajectories; Delaunay Variables; The Lagrange Planetary Equations; The Planetary Disturbing Function; Gaussian Variational Equations for the Jacobi Elements; Gaussian Variational Equations for the Keplerian Elements; Potential Theory; The Gravitational Potential for a Planet; Elementary Theory of Satellite Orbits with Use of the Mean Anomaly; Elementary Theory of Satellite Orbits with Use of the True Anomaly; The Effects of Drag on Satellite Orbits; The Brouwer-von Zeipel Method 1; The Brouwer-von Zeipel Method 2; Lagrange and Poisson Brackets; Lie Series; Perturbations by Lie Series; The General Three-Body Problem; The Restricted Three-Body Problem; Staeckel Systems. Appendices: Coordinate System and Coordinate Transformations; Vinti Spheroidal Method Computational Procedure and Trajectory Propagators; Examples; How to Use the Vinti Routines. "Orbital and Celestial Mechanics affords engineering students, professors, and researchers alike an opportunity to cultivate the mathematical techniques necessary for this discipline - as well as physics and trajectory mechanics - using the familiar and universal concepts of classical physics. For nonspecialists and students unfamiliar with some of the underlying math principles, the Vinti Spheroidal Method demonstrates computer routines for accurately calculating satellite orbit and ballistic trajectory. More than 20 years ago, Dr. Vinti's revolutionary method was used aboard a ballistic missile targeting program with great success. His work continues to enable both students and professionals to predict position and velocity vectors for satellites and ballistic missiles almost as accurately as numerical integration. Now, the best Vinti algorithms and companion computer source codes are available in one comprehensive package" --Publisher Affords engineering students, professors and researchers an opportunity to cultivate the mathematical techniques necessary for orbital and celestial, as well as physics and trajectory mechanics.