Flight dynamics (spacecraft)

Spacecraft flight dynamics is the use of dynamics to show how forces can act on a space vehicle or spacecraft. The aim is to determine the flight path of spacecrafts.

A body (or a thing, or a celestial body) is shown in orbit around Earth. Two orbital elements are shown: tangential velocity is shown as a red arrow. The green arrow shows the direction of a force of acceleration - inward acceleration.

Flight path of the Apollo 11 flight in 1969. One spacecraft - a mothership - traveled from the Earth to an orbit around the Moon. A lunar lander (a smaller spacecraft) left the mothership and landed on the Moon; Later it left the Moon's surface and went back to the mothership. Then it connected with the mothership. The mothership went back to Earth.

The angular orbital elements of a spacecraft orbiting (or going around) a central body, defining orientation of the orbit in relation to its fundamental reference plane. On the drawing, the central body is supposed to be in the place where the three straight lines meet:two red lines and one blue line.

Related pages

• Flight dynamics

Books

• Anderson, John D. (2004), Introduction to Flight (5th ed.), McGraw-Hill, ISBN 0-07-282569-3
• Fellenz, D.W. (1967). "Atmospheric Entry". In Theodore Baumeister (ed.). Marks' Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers (Seventh ed.). New York City: McGraw Hill. pp. 11:155–58. ISBN 0-07-142867-4.
• Glasstone, Samuel (1965). Sourcebook on the Space Sciences. D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc.
• Hintz, Gerald R. (2015). Orbital Mechanics and Astrodynamics: Techniques and Tools for Space Missions. Cham. ISBN 9783319094441. OCLC 900730410.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
• Kromis, A.J. (1967). "Powered-Flight-Trajectory Analysis". In Theodore Baumeister (ed.). Marks' Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers (Seventh ed.). New York City: McGraw Hill. pp. 11:154–55. ISBN 0-07-142867-4.
• Perry, W.R. (1967). "Orbital Mechanics". In Theodore Baumeister (ed.). Marks' Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers (Seventh ed.). New York City: McGraw Hill. pp. 11:151–52. ISBN 0-07-142867-4.
• Russell, J.W. (1967). "Lunar and Interplanetary Flight Mechanics". In Theodore Baumeister (ed.). Marks' Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers (Seventh ed.). New York City: McGraw Hill. pp. 11:152–54. ISBN 0-07-142867-4.
• Sidi, M.J. "Spacecraft Dynamics & Control. Cambridge, 1997.
• Thomson, W.T. "Introduction to Space Dynamics." Dover, 1961.
• Wertz, J.R. "Spacecraft Attitude Determination and Control." Kluwer, 1978.
• Wiesel, W.E. "Spaceflight Dynamics." McGraw-Hill, 1997.