This book features eight remarkable spacecraft that ventured to the outer planets—Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune—and the dwarf planet Pluto. It delves into the complex engineering behind each mission, detailing the spacecraft systems and the sophisticated scientific instruments they carried.Tracing the journey of outer planet exploration, the book narrates the evolution of spacecraft technology that helped unveil the long-sought secrets of these distant worlds. The innovative des...

A series of increasingly capable spacecraft were sent to explore the inner planets Venus and Mercury. The history of that planetary exploration is traced in this book along with the evolution of sophisticated spacecraft that unveiled long-sought secrets of the planets. The spacecraft were ingenious and reflected the best efforts of talented people working with the available technology of the day. Additionally, this book showcases engineering involved in those capable machines.A con...

A NASA science educator showcases important objects in space history from Galileo's telescope to the Curiosity rover: "Will fascinate readers of any age." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)This book examines 100 objects that forever altered what we know and how we think about the cosmos. From an ancient Mayan codex to Sputnik to Skylab and into the twenty-first century, some objects are iconic and some obscure—but all are utterly important.T...

Learn about satellites that affect us every day, how they work, and how we can place and keep them on orbit.Satellite Basics for Everyone presents an introduction and overview to satellites. Its written as clearly and understandably as possible for a wide audience. It provides a learning tool for grade school students. High school and college students can use it for helping them decide on career fields. Its for people with curious minds who want to know about sate...

Already one of the leading course texts on aerodynamics in the UK, the sixth edition welcomes a new US-based author team to keep the text current. The sixth edition has been revised to include the latest developments in compressible flow, computational fluid dynamics, and contemporary applications. Computational methods have been expanded and updated to reflect the modern approaches to aerodynamic design and research in the aeronautical industry and elsewhere, and new examples of 'the aero...

Introduction to Rocket Science and Engineering, Second Edition, presents the history and basics of rocket science, and examines design, experimentation, testing, and applications. Exploring how rockets work, the book covers the concepts of thrust, momentum, impulse, and the rocket equation, along with the rocket engine, its components, and the physics involved in the generation of the propulsive force. The text also presents several different types of rocket engines and di...

This comprehensive work takes you on a personal tour of the universe using nothing more than a pair of binoculars. More comprehensive than any book currently available, it starts with Earth's nearest neighbor, the moon, and then goes on to explore each planet in the solar system, asteroids, meteors, comets and the sun. Following this, the reader is whisked away into deep space to explore celestial bodies including stars that are known and many sights less familiar. The final chapter includ...

Is your picosatellite ready for launch? Can it withstand rocket thrusts and the vacuum of space? This do-it-yourself guide helps you conduct a series of hands-on tests designed to check your satellite’s readiness. Learn precisely what the craft and its electronic components must endure if they’re to function properly in Low Earth Orbit.The perfect follow-up to DIY Satellite Platforms (our primer for designing and building a picosatellite), this book also provides an overvi...

Radio astronomy is a mystery to the majority of amateur astronomers, yet it is the best subject to turn to when desirous of an expanded knowledge of the sky. This guideintends to instruct complete newcomers to radio astronomy, and provides help for the first steps on the road towards the study of this fascinating subject.In addition to a history of the science behind the pursuit, directions are included for four easy-to-build projects, based around long-term NASA and Stanford Solar...

Manned Spacecraft Design Principles presents readers with a brief, to-the-point primer that includes a detailed introduction to the information required at the preliminary design stage of a manned space transportation system. In the process of developing the preliminary design, the book covers content not often discussed in a standard aerospace curriculum, including atmospheric entry dynamics, space launch dynamics, hypersonic flow fields, hypersonic heat transfer, and skin friction, along...

A rotorcraft is a class of aircraft that uses large-diameter rotating wings to accomplish efficient vertical take-off and landing. The class encompasses helicopters of numerous configurations (single main rotor and tail rotor, tandem rotors, coaxial rotors), tilting proprotor aircraft, compound helicopters, and many other innovative configuration concepts. Aeromechanics covers much of what the rotorcraft engineer needs: performance, loads, vibration, stability, flight dynamics, and noise. ...

Out Of This World is jam-packed with everything children need to know about space - from facts and statistics to real-life adventures. Boys and girls can find their way around the solar system, learn if aliens really could exist and discover the origins of the universe.Shortlisted for the Royal Society Young People's Book Prize 2012!