Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics: Advances in Aeronautical Engineering

Dynamics is the study of the relationship between motion and the forces that affect motion. Astrodynamics is a sub-discipline of dynamics and studies objects in interplanetary or interstellar space. Celestial mechanics and attitude dynamics are the two major divisions of astrodynamics. Attitude dynamics is the study of controlling the positioning of an aerospace vehicle with respect to an inertial frame of reference or another entity. Adjusting vehicle attitude requires sensors, actuators and algorithms. There are a number of reasons due to which the attitude of a spacecraft must be stabilized and controlled. A few of them are accurately pointing the high gain antenna towards the Earth, and using the heating and cooling effects of sunlight and shadow for thermal control. This book strives to provide a fair idea about this discipline and to help develop a better understanding of the latest advances within this field. There has been rapid progress in spacecraft attitude dynamics and its applications are finding their way across multiple industries. This book aims to equip students and experts with the advanced topics and upcoming concepts in this area.