Spacecraft Systems Engineering

by Peter Fortescue (Editor), Graham Swinerd (Editor), John Stark (Editor)

Updated edition of this bestselling & well-established introductory guide to the engineering of spacecraft Thoroughly revised and updated, this fourth edition of Spacecraft Systems Engineering provides the reader with comprehensive coverage of all the different areas of engineering required in the design and implementation of spacecraft and space missions. The authors describe the workings of various types of spacecraft systems together with the essential disciplines which ensure that they work reliably and in harmony with each other. With emphasis on recent developments in space activities, all chapters have been rewritten with major revisions to the chapters on launch vehicles, structures, ground stations and mechanisms, and a brand new chapter on Assembly, Integration and Test. Spacecraft Systems Engineering, 4th Edition begins with front-end system level issues such as environment, mission analysis and system engineering, and progresses to a detailed examination of subsystem elements which represent the core of spacecraft design -- mechanical, electrical, propulsion, thermal, control etc. This quantitative treatment is supplemented by an appreciation of the interactions between the elements, which deeply influence the process of spacecraft systems design.

Genres: Engineering, Space, Science, Nonfiction, Reference, Textbooks, Stem

736 pages, Hardcover

First published February 20, 1991

Reviews

[Bruno Sánchez-Andrade]

Can´t understand why people don´t like it.

It´s a good book. I am not in the field, but skimming the book every now and then lets you learn concepts quite fast. Somehow, it is also written in a way that I tend to end up thinking about concepts for a few days. Like the use of the different inner geometries to shape the thrust profile. I am not in this field, so I´m sure this might be a 101 concept, but I really enjoyed reading about that, and then thinking the implications and variations...

[Kirsty]

I read this for work but for the type of book, it was easy to read and for me super useful and interesting 🙂

[Carter]

This was my first introduction to spacecraft engineering; there is likely a lot of ground to cover here. With the reduced launch costs this might be quite timely. If freight space/mass can be booked openly for space. There is the E. Olistrom CPR or Tragedy of the Commons issue, if this happens excessively. Recommended.

[Mario]

Very nice comprehensive book

It has a very wide and detailed coverage. Excellent to get a general perspective on systems engineering, specially as applied to earth orbiting satelites and probes.

[Sam]

I mean, this is impossible to review. It was a textbook for my course, and I learned a lot from studying it. It was also well beyond me in a lot of sections! As a reference and a resource, it was very interesting.

[Alice]

wow such a light read for the weekend. really breezed through this

[Gabs]

Only covered chapters 4 (Celestial Mechanics) and 5 (Mission Analysis).