Book Description

A breathtaking, first-hand account of the early days of the NASA space program, through the eyes of the man who held it all together... ... Read more

Reviews (73)

THIS BOOK ROCKED
I first learned about this book after I saw Apollo 13. I was inspired by Kranz's (Ed Harris in the movie) zealousness to bring our asronaughts home. I then purchased this book. As I got into it I found that I could not put the book down.. There is NEVER A DULL MOMENT.. somthing always seems to go haywire.. and when it does, The good ol boys at mission control with the skill of the astronaughts do their damnest to fix it. a Truly awe inspireing book not only for space buffs but for any one who needs a good pick er upper. A true tribute to our Space Program. Kranz inspired by Kennedy's words "ask not what your country can do for you .. ask you can do for your country" and "We choose to go to the moon - in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy but because they are hard." A true Patriot Kranz is. I wish there were more people like Gene Kranz out there. I salute you Gene Kranz!

Tour de Space
Using his extensive files (over 7 file cabinets) and numerous sources, Gene Kranz reviews each launch and narrates his participation in the space program from Mercury through Apollo. An amazing amount of detail is given for the numerous difficulties that were encountered in each phase of the space program. The recognition of problems, troubleshooting them and quick resolution is the driving force in this text. Readers remember Apollo 13's fuel cell crisis and the excellent job done by both Mission Control and the crew to safely return the space craft home. However, while not as dramatic as Apollo 13's potential for astronauts being lost in space, several other incidents that could have resulted in tragedy are detailed along with the actions taken to overcome each difficulty.

The text is an account of Gene Kranz's career from procedure writer to Flight Director and details the history of the development of NASA's Mission Control organization. There being no previous experience, the book outlines how the Mission Control organization was developed from scratch. The text illustrates that in space, team work and training was mandatory to be able to evaluate a problem and initiate action often within 60 seconds. This required a high degree of commitment and competence for all persons involved.

Kranz's accounts of training through simulation is fascinating. Malfunctions were programmed into the training without prior knowledge of the persons in the training session. In one case the simulated collapse of the mission doctor was so real that after the training session others had to be told the doctor was fine. Such detailed and stressful training and the actual mission performance required a detailed knowledge of systems by each person for their area of responsibility plus knowledge of adjoining areas. This training frequently revealed problems where such knowledge later paid off in successful missions.

The author briefly outlines the background of each person as they appeared in the narration. They were basically a mix of young engineers and aviators some having test pilot experience. All parties had to live by a time line whether it was during planning, training, launch, flight or recovery. The text clearly states that participation in the space program demanded discipline, commitment and risk. Some readers may criticize Gene Kranz for his strict military attitude, discipline and unwavering commitment but the question must be asked what other alternatives would have worked in situations where decisions had to be made in seconds for malfunctions involving life and death? I am reminded of the old saying "A camel is a race horse designed by a committee." As the author clearly illustrates, in space there was no margin for error or time for debate.

Also covered are several non-flight activities such as upper management, debriefings and press conferences. Each debriefing was critical to the success of the next mission especially if critical malfunctions had to be addressed. The text states that the space program was covered by a dedicated, well-informed, and highly professional press corps who "....knew the difference between objective reporting of news and hyping things up to entertain the audience...." Kranz notes that "The press conference was almost as much of an ordeal as the mission" and further states "They asked the tough questions, but they respected us and the work we did as long as we didn't try to mislead them."

Flight directors worked rotating shifts. Gene Kranz was a flight director for Apollo 11 during the actual first lunar landing and later led the team that developed the program to recover Apollo 13 after it suffered the fuel cell explosion. The text gives much interesting information about both flights. The last moon landing was Apollo 17 where once again Kranz was a flight director.

The book concludes with the usual chapter Where They Are giving an update of the history for the major players.

The book provides a tremendous amount of information. Readability may be a minor weakness of this work, but a most helpful appendix Glossary of Terms defines the many acronyms used in the text and helps the reader to move ahead. While not difficult to read, at times it is slow reading unless the reader is just skimming.

While some may take issue with Gene Kranz's stern, disciplined, military approach to the challenges faced, the results confirm the effectiveness of this approach to life and death situations where decisions must be made in seconds and there is no turning back once a decision was made.

A must read for those interested in a time when the United States successfully met a major challenge.

Must read after reading all the astronauts' books.
Gene Kranz's book tells a similar story, as told in books by Eugene Cerman, Scott Carpenter, and Chris Kraft, without being dominated by the author's ego. The others wrote good books. But Kranz avoids using personal attacks to tell his tale. The antidotes differ from those in other stories, as Kranz does not have a Boy Scout image to preserve. However, Kranz covers mission control only through Apollo 17.

This book is an excellent story of the space race from the ground.

Mercury to Apollo: the inside scoop on the US space program
In my boyhoood, I collected news clippings of space flights like some others collected stamps. While I knew of the the complete or near-disasters of Apollo 1 and 13 which never escaped media attention, I could not imagine how many more instances of nervous questions there were on the ground at Mission Control Center (MCC) during many of the celebrated successful space shots.

Gene Kranz's book provides an insider's view into the inner workings of MCC, all the way from the Mercury program to the final Apollo 17 mission in 1972. Probably better suited than almost any one else to tell this story on how things looked from the ground, Kranz worked his career in NASA up to Flight Director, including for the memorable Apollo 11 and 13 flights which provide some of the most dramatic passages in the book. While the world savored the euphoria of the first men landing on the moon, Kranz tells of how he and his team were worrying about near fatal computer problems with the lunar lander. Most readers will be familiar with the Apollo 13 episode which was well enacted on the big screen with Tom Hanks , but Kranz's book provides some of the finer detail that the movie misses.

The book not only provides flight details of the manned spaced shots, but discuss some of the important management and technical issues which need to be resolved to move from Mercury through Gemini and Apollo. Kranz's epilogue concludes with some of his broader observatons and recommendations for future space policy.

Readers will be struck by the authoritarian and disciplined management style in the program, which Kranz does not easily hide. The author would probably have done well to use a ghostwriter or good editor. But apart from its prose which lacks elegance and an easy flow, this book provides an illuminating insight into how such a complex management feat was accomplished.

Disappointing
I consider myself an afficianado of the U.S. space program of the 1960s and early '70s, so I eagerly anticipated the arrival of Kranz's book.

Kranz has always seemed to be a man of the utmost integrity, dedication and competence. But a page-turning writer he is not. If he used a ghost writer on this book he was ripped off, seeing as how the prose is dry as dust.

The book is likely a valuable contribution to history, but it will probably be more referenced in future books than it will be read in its entirety. ... Read more

Book Description

Every chapter of Radiative Heat Transfer offers uncluttered nomenclature, numerous worked examples, and a large number of problems - many based on "real world" situations, making it ideal for classroom use as well as for self-study.The book's 22 chapters cover the four major areas in the field: surface properties; surface transport; properties of participating media; and transfer through participating media.Within each chapter, all analytical methods are developed in substantial detail, and a number of examples show how the developed relations may be applied to practical problems.

ú Extensive solution manual for adopting instructors
ú Most complete text in the field of radiative heat transfer
ú Many worked examples and end-of-chapter problems
ú Large number of computer codes (in Fortran and C++), ranging from basic problem solving aids to sophisticated research tools
ú Covers experimental methods ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Especially commended to students of engineering
Now in an updated and expanded second edition, Radiative Heat Transfer by Michael F. Modest is a college-level mechanical and chemical engineering textbook, specifically written and intended for advanced students already familiar with basic calculus. Individual chapters address radiative exchange between a variety of surfaces; equations, functions, and methodologies; the influence of conduction and convention, and much, much more. An advanced resource and an excellent text or supplement to engineering education, Radiative Heat Transfer is especially commended to students of Mechanical Engineering and Chemical Engineering. ... Read more

Book Description

This Second Edition continues the fine tradition of its predecessor by exploring the various automatic control systems in aircraft and on board missiles. Considerably expanded and updated, it now includes new or additional material on: the effectiveness of beta-beta feedback as a method of obtaining coordination during turns using the F-15 as the aircraft model; the root locus analysis of a generic acceleration autopilot used in many air-to-air and surface-to-air guided missiles; the guidance systems of the AIM-9L Sidewinder as well as bank-to-turn missiles; various types of guidance, including proportional navigation and line-of-sight and lead-angle command guidance; the coupling of the output of a director fire control system into the autopilot; the analysis of multivariable control systems; and methods for modeling the human pilot, plus the integration of the human pilot into an aircraft flight control system. Also features many new additions to the appendices. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Automatic Control of Aircraft and Missiles by J H Blakelock
Blakelock's text is a very fine book. You may also find Control Systems Engineering by Nise (now in 3rd Edn)of benefit.

The reference book to have for missile simulation
I used this book as a ready refence for all my six degree-of-freedom missile modeling. An excellent presentation. There are 13 chapters with 9 Appendices. I suspect this book is out-of-print - get it while you can! ... Read more

Book Description

For more than 30 years the book Practical Gear Design, later re-titled Handbook of Practical Gear Design, has been the leading engineering guide and reference on the subject. It is now available again in its most recent edition. The book is a detailed, practical guide and reference to gear technology. The design of all types of gears is covered, from those for small mechanisms to large industrial applications. The presentation is designed for easy reference for those involved in practical gear design, manufacture, applications and problem solving. The text is well illustrated with clear diagrams and photographs. The many tables provide needed reference data in convenient form. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Handbook Of Pratical Gear Design
Anyone who engineers or specifies gears or gear drives would benefit from this book. Information on the design and function of gears is found in this well thought out text book. This book (written 1983) is greatly expanded and updated from the original (1954) version that I read in 1973. At this time, Handbook of Practical Gear Design is not quite the state of the art in gear engineering it is an excellent resource. All types of gearing are discussed. Read all the articles completely because the last part of the articles usually has newer information. (for example: the article on Hunting Teeth on page 3.8.) This is one of the great books in gear engineering and I consider this book a basic source in gaining the knowledge of great gear design. ... Read more

Book Description

Recent advances in technology have allowed ever increasing speeds of aircraft. With this increase in speed comes the need for enhanced systems to navigate and control these vehicles to precise requirements. This book covers the basics through the recent advances in navigation theory and hardware/software. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Excellent book with exhaustive detail
This book contians all the information that anyone could ever need. It also has the best index I have ever seen, making finding the smallest section easy. It does not really cover the basics of each system, but provided you have a basic knowledge then it will build on that. It is up to the reader to decide how much depth they want to go into, this book will take them as far as they could possibly need to go.

A collection of disjoint writings
This book was obviously intended for the experienced navigator or system designer. It certainly reviews all of the traditional and modern navigation systems. However, in trying to explain every minute detail, the basic workings of the technology are never explained.

The average reader will have a very difficult time in just trying to understand how a GPS or VOR or DME system works. A search on the web will present much better explanations.

This is, by far, not a quick read, it is burdened by volumes of mathematics that are of little practical use, and the chapters, written by different authors, are often disjoint.

Simple, key explanations are mentioned (if at all) after pages of technical confusion. It is as if the author could spend several pages explaining to the average desert nomad how to build a snowman in every minute detail -- how to grow the carrot for the nose, how to pick out the best black rocks for the eyes, how to make the body round to "n" degrees of precision -- but he forgets to mention (until page 89) that, oh by the way, you need to have cold weather and snow to make one.

The definitive text on the subject, for engineers and pilots
Engineers and pilots alike will appreciate this book if they skim the math and read it as a survey text, as all possible functional behavior is described for GPS, GLONASS, Inertial systems, VOR, DME, ILS, and more. The intro to the math involved is good, as it walks the line between satisfying a mathematician's love of state space and spherical trig, while not losing the average reader. As an Avionics Systems Engineer tasked with avionics integration, I found the right level of detail when the book describes electronic hardware, software requirements, and system error sources. As a "cover-to-cover" exercise, the reader is advised that this book asks for a high level of commitment. Read a chapter or two at a time (with trash novels in between), the reader's curiosity will sustain him /her for the duration of this well written book. ... Read more

Book Description

Now a third edition of this popular book is available for those who want to know why astronauts are weightless, what satellites do and why they don't fall from the sky, how we will live on Mars, and whether or not there is life elsewhere in the universe.New and expanded subjects include the latest concepts in propulsion, high resolution images of Earth from space, debris in orbit, Mir and the International Space Station, exploration of the Solar System and beyond, disturbances in the space environment, and much more.The book is profusely illustrated.This edition has twice as many color pages as the second edition. All quantities are now given in both common units and metric units ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Showcases all aspects of spaceflight
In a fully updated and revised third edition, Thomas Damon's Introduction To Space: The Science Of Spaceflight is an information packed compendium showcasing all aspects of spaceflight, including propulsion, orbits, high resolution images of Earth from space, satellites, debris in orbit, MIR, the International Space Station, space shuttles, working in space, exploration of the Solar System and beyond, disturbances in the space environment, and more. Profusely illustrated with color as well as black-and-what photography, charts, and graphs, Introduction To Space is an informative, superbly presented, and detailed history enhanced with both common units and metric unit descriptions of all quantities; a glossary; and an index. Highly recommended for school and community library space science and history collections. ... Read more

Book Description

This riveting work of investigative reporting and history exposes classified government projects to build gravity-defying aircraft--which have an uncanny resemblance to flying saucers.

The atomic bomb was not the only project to occupy government scientists in the 1940s.Antigravity technology, originally spearheaded by scientists in Nazi Germany, was another high priority, one that still may be in effect today.Now for the first time, a reporter with an unprecedented access to key sources in the intelligence and military communities reveals suppressed evidence that tells the story of a quest for a discovery that could prove as powerful as the A-bomb.

The Hunt for Zero Point explores the scientific speculation that a "zero point" of gravity exists in the universe and can be replicated here on Earth.The pressure to be the first nation to harness gravity is immense, as it means having the ability to build military planes of unlimited speed and range, along with the most deadly weaponry the world has ever seen.The ideal shape for a gravity-defying vehicle happens to be a perfect disk, making antigravity tests a possible explanation for the numerous UFO sightings of the past 50 years.

Chronicling the origins of antigravity research in the world's most advanced research facility, which was operated by the Third Reich during World War II, The Hunt for Zero Point traces U.S. involvement in the project, beginning with the recruitment of former Nazi scientists after the war.Drawn from interviews with those involved with the research and who visited labs in Europe and the United States, The Hunt for Zero Point journeys to the heart of the twentieth century's most puzzling unexplained phenomena. ... Read more

Reviews (49)

Very entertaining
If you enjoy "X Files", "Roswell", even "Star Trek" for the entertainment value (as I do) you will probably like this book. If you are a passionate believer, or disbeliever, you won't. In "The Hunt for Zero Point" Nick Cook has crafted a very readable, entertaining novel around a subject for which there is little hard evidence, historical or current. And in a field which is rife with conspiracy theories and theorists he manages to underplay this aspect - as a respectable journalist should.

My father-in-law turned me on to this book. He is a taciturn fellow; his comment to me was "there is not a lot here, but you might enjoy it." He was right on both counts, and my guess is he should know. He was an electrical engineer, drafted into the Army during WWII, worked for ARPA, was posted to Germany towards the end of hostilities to help "clean up" after the Wehrmacht, and then went back to DARPA until he retired as a full colonel. Perhaps unsurprisingly, both of his sons work for large defense contractors managing "confidential" engineering projects.

So, regarding that conspiracy theory stuff? Hey, humans hide things from each other - you aren't telling your friends that you dress up in a tutu, suck your thumb and cry while your spouse spanks you, are you? We have our reasons. Our governments have their reasons (security) and our industries do too (to protect revenue).

Imagine trillions of dollars invested in a world-wide infrastructure, millions of people directly employed and many millions more indirectly, large profits and tax revenue generated, and maybe even a belief in the manifest destiny of humankind to fully utilize the resources that God has provided. Along comes a technology that will render the infrastructure obsolete, put all those people out of work, and destroy the profits and tax revenue - overnight. What do you do? You sit on the new technology until the resources are depleted (or until the asteroid strike). That's not a conspiracy, that's just common sense.

Recommended. Buy this book, and enjoy it. Then get on the web and find out that maybe it is not all smoke after all.

Great Read!
This book is great example of someone writing with a passion for searching for the truth. Well documented, the author takes us back to the early days of rocket development to search out if indeed we truly have man-made UFOs and the secret of anti-gravity.

HOW TO LEARN TO LOVE THE BOMB, PART II
How does one develop and exploit technology that can provide tunable "death rays," great anti-missile, anti-arty, anti-meteor defense, unlimited cheap energy, "flying saucer" spacetime travel, unlimited supplies of potable water, remediate nuclear pollution, enrich nuclear material, alter atomic structure, manipulate massenergy (i.e. increase or reduce gravitational/inertial mass, alter the weather, create seismic disturbances, "tractor beams," etc.), see through walls, and offer instantaneous, secure communications, among other things, but also provide a weapon that can sufficiently disrupt spacetime to destroy an entire planet? One needs a secret international, if not intra-galactic, extra-governmental military-industrial complex control group of some really stand-up guys. Or, let's at least hope they're "stand-up" since we don't exactly elect them. Let's also hope that all that power does not go to their heads! This book will help you understand a very small part of this story, namely what some of the sons of Adam figured out and built in massive underground complexes in Nazi-occupied Central Europe some six decades ago and how, with the help of the OSS at the fall of the Third Reich, a certain thoroughly evil genius for organization and intrigue named Hans Kammler, came west with the fruits of this technology after killing as many people who worked on it as possible. Think he might have taught us anything? If I have any fault with this book, it is that I could not help but suspect that the author, Nick Cook, editor of Janes Defence - Aviation, is not entirely the uninformed, naive, outside investigator that he protrays himself.

Not what you'd think
"Antigravity" is too restrictive a subtitle. It implies the author is focusing on gravity. In fact, he focuses on a search for technology that allows flight based on principles other than chemistry and aerodynamics. He chronicles his hunt for clues to alternative technologies hinted at in the footnotes of recent history. These technologies are based upon unusual phenomena, observed and partly tamed but not understood. He believes that significant advances were made in WWII Germany and continue to be developed today in "black" government programs. There are many intriguing hints of the existence of this technology and its direction, but the description of theoretical possibilities such as "zero point energy" seem only uninformed speculation. The author is severely hampered by a lack of technical training or mindset. Yet, this is an interesting tale with lots of diverse threads woven into an intriguing picture.

In and Out of the Shadows
In this shadowy world of antigravity, there is deliberate deception and false stories pointing to UFO's, and then ridiculing that possibility by others. People are whipped around by propaganda worthy of "1984". Nick Cook writes an excellent undercover book in The Hunt for Zero Point, but I am left wondering if he is participating in truth-telling, or deception, or both? It's well written, intriguing, and I cannot see any reason why anyone wouldn't like this book. But....at the end, is it true? My opinion is that antigravity is a deep black program and a lot of UFO sightings are sightings of already flying disc craft of human origin. ... Read more

Book Description

The breakup of the Space Shuttle Columbia as it reentered Earth's atmosphere on February 1, 2003, reminded the public--and NASA--of the grave risks posed to spacecraft by everything from insulating foam to space debris. Here, Alan Tribble presents a singular, up-to-date account of a wide range of less conspicuous but no less consequential environmental effects that can damage or cause poor performance of orbiting spacecraft. Conveying a wealth of insight into the nature of the space environment and how spacecraft interact with it, he covers design modifications aimed at eliminating or reducing such environmental effects as solar absorptance increases caused by self-contamination, materials erosion by atomic oxygen, electrical discharges due to spacecraft charging, degradation of electrical circuits by radiation, and bombardment by micrometeorites. This book is unique in that it bridges the gap between studies of the space environment as performed by space physicists and spacecraft design engineering as practiced by aerospace engineers.

... Read more

Reviews (3)

Pretty good text for Space Environment Interactions
I wouldn't call this text amazing, but it is certainly adequate. I used this book for a graduate level course in space environment interactions mostly because there was a lack of other resources available. This book gives a decent overview, without getting too bogged down with the physics involved. However, the professor had to pull a large chunk of his material from other sources (out of print sources) because Tribble is a little to basic. As an aerospace engineer, I don't care so much about the EE stuff, so Tribble does a good job summarizing the EE physics. Overall, a sufficient reference that gives a good overview of s/c-environment interactions.

AMAZING!!
I bought this book along with about 7 others like it and this was only one of two that were great at explaining everything in words a high school student would understand! This book is amazing and after taking AP Chemistry and Physics it has become even more useful! If you want to design the fuselages of spacecraft this is a must buy! Also Alan Tribble has written a few other good books I have seen.

Excellent.
This book is one of the best I have found on the topic of a spacecraft's environment. It provides an introduction the many environments one finds with launch, various orbits and deep space missions. The physic of space are presented with enough detail that the engineer involved in spacecraft design gains an understanding of the environments that are encountered in space. The excellent references at the end of each chapter allow the reader to study the topic in more depth when needed. The book is written in a textbook format, with compulsory study questions at the end of each chapter. At times the math seemed disproportionate or irrelevant to the topic, but that is not unlike most textbooks. The several charts and figures are clear and applicable to the discussion in the text, never superfluous. I expected this book to serve as a reference that I could pull from the shelve, when needed, but the book is so well written and enjoyable, I instead read the book cover to cover. ... Read more

Book Description

One of five texts in Glencoe's Aviation Technology Series, (formerly the Northrop series), Aircraft Electricity and Electronics provides your students with the information they need to perform return-to-service-quality maintenance and repair of aircraft electrical systems.

The material covered includes the details necessary for the Federal Aviation Administration certification of Airframe and Powerplants Technicians. The text expands well beyond this basic information, however, providing as in-depth study of both ac and dc systems for virtually all varieties of aircraft. The text takes students through the fundamentals of electron theory and on to the study of aircraft digital control systems. Integrated into the text are various examples of troubleshooting techniques as they apply to aircraft systems. The text also provides details on a variety of general and commercial aircraft electrical/electronic systems, including avionic systems. One of the major changes in this edition is the modernization of material about electrical and electronic equipment to reflect current practices. Coverage of transistors and semiconductors, lighting systems, and nickel cadmium batteries has been updated while troubleshooting techniques using digital and analog meters have been added.

This edition includes a Student Study Guide that parallels the text. It provides fill-in-the-blank questions that identify key term, demonstrates applications of mathematical relationships, and validates learning progress by offering multiple-choice questions. The Instructor's Manual provides answers to the review questions and transparency masters to help you illustrate key concepts. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Don't waste your time
I have this book and it sits on my bookself collecting dust. It was a required text for school and I could never use it. It is poorly laid out and the descriptions of the systems are not in depth enough to actually give you a decent understanding of the material. The systems are out dated with current technology unless you are a general aviation mechanic. For the few systems that are in detail, the writer makes it very difficult for the beginning student to understand. When I taught I tried to lead the other students through the text and I found it easier to just use the book as a door stop than a teaching tool. The rest of the books in this series are wonderful, but I would never use this one again.

Great Book on Theory but...
This is a great book on theory, but if you're a kit aircraft builder like me, it doesn't have enough specific "how to" information. A great resource to go along with this book is "The Aeroelectric Connection", not available on Amazon as of the writing of this review. It has all the information you need to know about to wire your aircraft; tools, supplies, and the most valuable of all: wiring diagrams for every possible configuration.

Aircraft Electricity & Electronics
I believe this text to be the most comprehensive reference available on basic electricity, electrical & electronic systems and avionics. When I need information about an electrical system or component it is the first place I look.

The scope and detail of the text vastly exceeds that of any of the other A&P "textbooks". The text is not written at a fourth grade level like the other textbooks. If remedial instruction is your objective, this is not the textbook for you. If, however, your objective is quality instruction on basic electricity, electrical systems, and present day avionics systems this comprehensive text is vastly superior to others I have examined.

In the A&P and advanced maintenance curriculum at the university where I teach, this text is used as a reference in five different courses. This text is the one you want to "hold on to" as a reference for your future maintenance activities.

The only flaw in the text I perceive is given the rapid pace of adoption of new electronics and computer equipment in the aviation industry, the text will soon need revision to remain current.

Every Aircraft Mechanic Should Own This Book!
This book covers the entire gamut of aircraft electrical systems; from basic theory and fundamentals to complex avionics (comms/nav/autoflight). Especially useful as a reference for digital electronic systems. A must for anyone studying or working on aircraft. Packed full of diagrams, this book is without a doubt the single most useful text written about aircraft electrical and avionics systems. As an A&P mechanic, this one is constantly being pulled off of my bookshelf.

Not enough specific, somewhat outdated
If your knowledge in electronics and avionics is very little and you look for an easy introduction this book is for you. But if you are an engineer and you are looking for a specific reference, this book is definitively NOT for you. Of 400 pages, almost 300 cover general subjects in electronics, and only 100 are specifically about high level avionics. It includes new standards such as ARINC629, but still describes very old devices and techniques no longer used in commercial airliners. ... Read more

Book Description

The second edition features several exciting changes to this exceptional book. 30 pages longer than the original, there are ground illumination calculations, Moon rise and set data, a listing of relevant Internet sites. Moreover there are improved and expanded discussions of coordinate systems, orbit determination and differential correction, along with FREE Software available in Fortran, Pascal and C!

Summary

The increased power of microcomputers has changed the study of perturbations perhaps more than any other subfield of astrodynamics, but students and practitioners still need a compendium of well-documented algorithms to use that power. Vallado's book is just such a compendium, integrating two-body dynamics with perturbation methods and real-world applications while consolidating recent literature about coordinates and fundamental concepts. It attempts to use new programming capabilities to exploit the keys for the future-- standardizing, documenting, modularity, efficiency, and maintainability.

Ample algorithms, numbered and handily summarized at the beginning of the book, and extensive derivations have been included to save time often spent recreating something that has already been proven. The author cites many references and alternative methods to expand understanding of the topics discussed ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Aerospace Engineering Student
As a student taking a graduate-level course in astrodynamics, this book has been a fantastic resource. It has (for the most part), the same material as Prussing & Conway, but it really develops the topics much more. The algorithms Dave Vallado outlines in his book have helped me tremendously in my research. I have found this book to be the most comprehensive astrodynamics book I have ever come across - a definate must have for anyone studying astrodynamics!

New and Improved 2nd Edition
I liked the original edition of this book very much, and I like the second edition even better. It is a unique format in that Vallado presents algorithms of all the major routines such as Lambert's Problem (several methods), Kepler's Problem (again, several methods), time conversion, date conversion, orbital element to ECI, and many, many other transformations. Although I no longer work in the field actively, I bought the second edition and would highly recommend it to anyone as an introduction and/or a reference to astrodynamics. ... Read more

Book Description

Concise compilation of subsonic aerodynamic characteristics of NACA wing sections, plus description of theory. 350pp. of tables.
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Reviews (7)

classic aeronautical text
This is a classical text for aeronautical engineering for the expert, expert-to-be or novice. A large portion of the book deals with specific NACA airfoils and the math is advanced. But even without the math, one can glean much knowledge between these covers.

The book is truly a must edition for any aviation library, whether you are an engineer, kit builder or simply an aviation enthusiast. Last, I gain nothing from this review other than the satisfaction of providing an objective opinion for anyone selecting books due to an interest in aviation. Learn to fly. Build an aircraft

Great Supplement
I use this for my Aerodynamics courses (recomended by prof.). It is a great supplement to our book "Fundementals of Aerodynamics" by Anderson. Great buy for the price.

The classical approach and text to section design
I have worn out two copies of this in my professional days, and I am doing so again with my 'hobby' copy. It is much handier that the on-line references for NACA data and for doing the 'quick flip through' when thinking about design. It is not, however, for either the mathematicall un-initiated, nor for the first-time designer. The book is both thorough and rigorous in its treatment of the topics it covers. All in all, along with the other standard texts, it supplies the needed data ad information when thinking 'I wonder if that will work...'

A must for Aerospace Students or Engineers.
Even if the book is old, it's the base of the airfoil understanding, because of the data included. Don't look for strange things here, just the classic stuff, but very complete.

Indispensable reference text for airfoils
This book contains a historical review of the development of wing sections along with their mathematical basis and provides not only coordinates but performance data on many. Most of the source data for my shareware program came from this book. ... Read more

Book Description

This book unifies all aspects of flight dynamics for the efficient development of aerospace vehicle simulations. It provides the reader with a complete set of tools to build, program, and execute simulations. Unlike other books, it uses tensors for modeling flight dynamics in a form invariant under coordinate transformations. For implementation, the tensors are converted to matrices, resulting in compact computer code. The reader can pick templates of missiles, aircraft, or hypersonic vehicles to jump-start a particular application.

It is the only textbook that combines the theory of modeling with hands-on examples of three-, five-, and six-DoF simulations. Free access to eight prototype simulations and to CADAC Studio–used in the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany–is included with the book.

Amply illustrated with 318 figures and 44 examples, the text can be used for advanced undergraduate and graduate instruction or for self-study. Also included are 77 problems that enhance the ability to model aerospace vehicles and nine projects that hone the skills for developing three-, five-, and six-DoF simulations. Instructors may request a solution manual at no cost from the publisher. ... Read more

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Here we have a modern Flight Dynamics treatise!
Comments on
"Modeling and Simulation of Aerospace Vehicle Dynamics"

Here we have a modern Flight Dynamics treatise!

Dr. Zipfel presents his book as an account of Modeling and Simulation techniques; in fact, it is much more: it is, as we just said, a modern, exhaustive and deep Flight Dynamics treatise.

In the first six chapters, where Dr. Zipfel presents the theoretical foundations of Flight Dynamics, he introduces the reader to the very powerful, elegant and concise Tensorial formulation (which is uncommon except in very few, specialized reports), which is elevated to an axiomatic level ("from tensor modeling to matrix coding", in his words). This formulation, when applied to the Rational Mechanics and Modeling chapters(2 to 6), should allow the undergraduate (or recently graduated) student to see and enjoy the power and beauty underlying in these old physics branch. These chapters could configure an excellent text as part of a Mechanical or Aeronautical Engineering graduated level Rational Mechanics course (which we will intend to verify in the following course at National University of Córdoba, Argentina).

The second part of the book (which we should define as the "Aerospace" part), is devoted to Aerospace System simulation itself: beginning (in Chapter 7) with a blow of fresh air on our old, loved Perturbation Equations introducing the reader in the specificities of the Flight Dynamics (i.e. Aerodynamic forces and moments modeling), Dr. Zipfel leads with the most awkward part of Dynamics Analysis: The modeling of complete vehicles (regardless they are planes, missiles, launch vehicles or spacecrafts), in which the range of subsystems, and links between them, involved may feel sick to the beginner (and, sometimes, to experienced engineers). Again, beginning with basics (3-D.O.F. modeling), the reader is conveyed in a simultaneously strict an pleasant way to the deeps of full 6-D.O.F. simulations, including items such as Control, Guidance and Navigation Systems, Seekers, full non-linear aerodynamics and stochastic effects. The specialized engineer will find these Chapters as primary reference for any concrete modeling task.
The primary tool used by Dr. Zipfel in his task is CADAC software (Computer Aided Design of Aerospace Concepts), which we see as one of the bests Aerospace Simulation open codes available worldwide. Its modularity, documentation and completeness allow the reader to quickly understanding, as well as to perform modifications to suit it to specific needs. This software is highly valuable both for students and specialized engineers needed to develop simulation tools.

In brief, we found Modeling and Simulation of Aerospace Vehicle Dynamics a great book for both engineering students and specialized engineers; everybody will enjoy reading it, because its elegant and concise notation and its deep and rigorous mathematical treatment, as well as the powerful tools that Dr. Zipfel puts in the engineers' hands. This book should be on the desk of any simulation engineer as a primary reference in his day-to-day job.

Eduardo Zapico Professor, Aer. Eng., National University of Córdoba, Argentina, Scientific manager, Nostromo Consulting, Córdoba

Marcelo Martinez Manager Aerodynamics ,Nostromo onsulting ,Cordoba -Argentina ... Read more

Book Description

The updated revision of the well-respected book on analyzing aircraft performance
This Second Edition of the bestselling Aircraft Control and Simulation has been expanded and updated to include the latest technological advances in the field. In addition, a new section on basic aerodynamics, aircraft configuration, and static stability makes this complex material more accessible to beginners.
This comprehensive guide discusses the fundamental principles and theory of aircraft control and simulation. It also covers modeling and dynamic analysis, stability evaluation, multivariable control theory, and computer-aided design techniques. The inclusion of topics from geodesy and gravitation lays the groundwork for a discussion of the theory for suborbital aircraft now under development.
Special features of this new edition include:
* New and updated computer calculations using MATLAB(r)
* A new section on basic aerodynamics, aircraft configurations, and static stability
* Coverage of new MIMO design techniques, robustness theory, and nonlinear design
Complete with examples of actual designs from the aircraft industry plus exercise problems, Aircraft Control and Simulation, Second Edition is an excellent reference for anyone involved in the design and modeling of aerospace vehicles and an outstanding text for both undergraduates and graduate students. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Aircraft Control and Simulation
This book is an excelent reference for anyone who works on, has an interest in or has studied the design and modeling of aircrafts. Its explainations are very clear and understandable ... Read more

Amazon.com

On April 13, 1970, three American astronauts were on their way to themoon when a mysterious explosion rocked their ship, forcing them to abandon the main ship and spend four days in the tiny lunar module which wasintended to support two men for two days.A harrowing story ofdanger, courage and brilliant off-the-cuff engineering solutions which resulted in a dramatic rescue. ... Read more

Reviews (33)

This is a really great book
Apollo 13 was a really well written book that tells all about not only the voyage of Apollo 13, but of the space program from begining to the end of the Apollo era. It covers the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs extremely well, and captures the suspense and action of the Apollo 13 voyage from all angles, whether it was the bleary-eyed crew, crammed inside the lunar module, or Marilyn Lovell facing the very real possibility that her husband may not come home again.

A MUST READ!! TEN STARS!!

Tying up loose ends...
Did you see the movie and wonder some things? Like what WAS that PC+2 burn they kept talking about in the movie? (A burn to speed up the ship that occured 2 hours after the craft reached the pericynthion of its orbit, or the closest point the craft came to the moon) Did that seat-of-the-pants burn that was shown actually occur? (Yes, it did, but only lasted 14 seconds instead of the 30 in the movie) Did Jim Lovell really tell his wife that they were not going to Acupulco (sic) but instead the moon? (Yes, but during Apollo 8)

Just as engaging as the (wonderful) movie and twice as informative (not that the movie WASN'T, just that the book lasts longer then the movie), this book is a great read even if you are not into the Apollo era. It is filled with ironic humor ("...Apollo 13, so the Houston guys now had it, would be coming home on the afternoon of April 17 - or perhaps on the evening of the seventeenth, or perhaps sometime on the eighteenth - and would be splashing down in the South Pacific - or perhaps the Indian Ocean, or perhaps the Atlantic.") and loads of information, which make the movie look like it tells you nothing. Information is included on the trans-lunar injection simply mentioned in the movie (which got Apollo 13 going towards the moon), the PC+2 burn, an explosion of one of the betteries in the LEM, yet another quick burn about 5 hours before reentry, and a description of why the explosion occured that is far more satisfying then what was offered in the movie.

See the movie, then read the book. Then see the movie again. And enjoy. :)

An Heroic Journey
I listened to the audio version (abridged) of this book. It is an incredible story, about incredible men, facing incredible odds. The chances of getting back to earth after Apollo 13 encountered her "problem" were very low. It was the brains of NASA ("work the problem people") and the cool demeanor of the three astronauts, who were under incredible stress, that made the successful return possible.

The audio version was incredible. The narrator was very good and they incorporated actual transmissions from Apollo 13 which gave the listening experience an authenic touch. Jim Lovell read certain parts of the book and that also gave the audio book a more personal touch. I think some of the more technical aspects of the book were easier to absorb in an audio format.

Overall, a great story of heroic achievment for the American space program. Apollo 13 may not have made it to the moon, but they made it home, when home seemed very far away.

Best Astrounaut Book Ever !!!!!!
Excellent book a portail of the trial and tribulations that led up to the accident that happend on the fateful night of April 13, 1970. I have read the book about 10 times already and still to this day this is probably the best portail of the real thing because of the fact it was the longest 2 days of their lives and all of the world especially the media was involved. I think the best thing is that this became a movie that starred Tom Hanks and Kevin Bacon. Great Flick see it soon and enjoy the book.

Movie whets appetite, book fills it!
It had been a long time since I first saw the Apollo 13 movie and it was on TV, so I stopped and watched (and didn't move again until it was finished). The movie was fascinating, and it really triggered an interest to know more about what actually happened. With the limited time format in a movie to convey the technical information and the science behind 'slingshotting' the Apollo spacecraft around the moon, it was difficult to the full impact of the immense effort to get these men back safely. So when I had an opportunity to get the book, I did.

I think this is the first time I've read a book and seen a movie that were both excellent. The movie did the best possible job in a limited time to convey the urgency. The book, which is filled with the conversations of the astronauts with NASA space center, as well as the innovation behind the scenes of all the men involved (and the companies) is absolute 'must' reading for anyone who wants to understand the science and engineering behind this almost-disaster. I beg to differ with the men who felt they had failed, including Lovell who did not get to land on the moon. Without the knowledge they gained from this flight, more people may have died...and it certainly advanced knowledge and understanding for space flight for the rest of us left on earth below.

This is an incredible story and an well-written book. I could hardly put the thing down, and this is not an area of expertise or interest for me usually. It's a little hard to keep the names and people straight, because so many were involved. But it is worth the effort. This is an excellent book to give to students interested in space or engineering. I could see requiring this book to be read in science classrooms, showing the movie, and then having the students get more involved in the actual science, such as calculations of distances...map/reliefs of why the moon for a slingshot effect, etc.

Great stuff, and for once, great men who truly can be called heroes (both on the earth and in space). A means of teaching that true heroes are those who use their minds and actually 'do' something that has an impact for good.

Karen Sadler,
Science Education,
University of Pittsburgh ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent Aviation Reference For All Experience Levels
"The Encyclopedia of Technical Aviation" is a valuable addition to the library of any pilot, or for that matter anyone interested in aviation. It is organized alphabetically, as you would expect, and has extensive explanations of most any aviation related term you can think of. As an aside, the only term I have tried to look up and have not found is "RAT" (Ram Air Temperature). It does include "TAT" (Total Air Temperature), but I was trying to find the definitive answer on how the two differ.

The lack of "RAT", though, is (by far) the exception, as the book covers most all other topics more thoroughly and concisely than any other single volume I have found. This volume would be especially useful to people upgrading to complex aircraft (especially jets) for the first time. The section discussing FMS (Flight Management System) information and use would be very helpful to pilots transitioning to their first 'glass' airplane. The book has hundreds of illustrations, and all key points requiring visual illustration seem to have an easy to grasp drawing, chart, diagram, or graph, as appropriate.

This book is useful to pilots at all levels, as it discusses the very basic things like the forces acting on an aircraft in flight, to advanced EFIS and FANS concepts. This book is a one stop reference goldmine for pilots. The chances are very high that if it isn't in here, it isn't that important for a pilot to know. ... Read more

Book Description

Here is an introduction to structural dynamics and aeroelasticity, with an emphasis on conventional aircraft. The primary areas considered are structural dynamics, static aeroelasticity and dynamic aeroelasticity. Aeroelastic phenomena discussed include divergence, aileron reversal, airload redistribution, unsteady aerodynamics, flutter and elastic tailoring. Over one hundred illustrations and tables help clarify the text, while more than fifty problems enhance student learning. ... Read more

Book Description

The text presents a complete and realistic aircraft engine design experience. From the request for proposal for a new aircraft to the final engine layout, the book provides the concepts and procedures required for the entire process. It is a significantly expanded and modernized version of the best-selling first edition that emphasizes recent developments impacting engine design such as theta break/throttle ratio, life management, controls, and stealth. The key steps of the process are detailed in 10 chapters that encompass aircraft constraint analysis, aircraft mission analysis, engine parametric (design point) analysis, engine performance (off-design) analysis, engine installation drag and sizing, and the design of inlets, fans, compressors, main combustors, turbines, afterburners, and exhaust nozzles.

The AEDsys software that accompanies the text provides comprehensive computational support for every design step. The software has been carefully integrated with the text to enhance both the learning process and productivity, and allows effortless transfer between British engineering and SI units. The AEDsys software is furnished on CD-ROM and runs in the Windows operating system on PC-compatible systems. A user?s manual is provided with the software, along with the complete data files used for the Air-to-Air Fighter and Global Range Airlifter design examples of the book. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Simply the best introductory book on aircraft engine design
A clearly-written, logically-organized overview of aircraft jet engine design including thermodynamics, cycle analysis, and component design and evaluation. Includes an overview of how jet engine design fits into the overall process of aircraft design. ... Read more

Book Description

The authors, widely known for their contributions to airplane design and development, have captured both the technological progress and the excitement of this important facet of aviation. This updated edition includes new developments in propulsion-controlled aircraft, fly-by-wire technology, redundancy management, applications, and safety. It is profusely illustrated with photographs and figures, and includes brief biographies of noted stability and control figures along with a core bibliography. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (21)

The best and MOST ACCURATE book on the subject!
When I first picked up David West Reynolds' APOLLO: The Epic Journey To The Moon, the first thing I did was turn to the index to seek out "Disney, Walt" and "von Braun, Wernher," two names that greatly influenced my childhood (had "Rogers, Roy" been a space cowboy, I'd've looked him up too). Déjà vu: I was instantly taken back to the past looking toward the future with a 10-year-old's wide-eyed awe and wonderment. That's what this amazing book instills in the reader: that same sort of wonder and expectation, as if the Apollo missions were about to lift off tomorrow, yet providing a jolt to the memory that causes you to gasp, "Omigod, I remember that!"

Reynolds writes about the first of three "sci-fi" segments of ABC-TV's Disneyland that aired on March 9, 1955: "Man In Space explained the challenges that would face humans traveling into space and detailed von Braun's concepts for a reusable space shuttle, dramatizing one of its missions and ending with a spectacular night landing...It was watched by an audience of 100 million. [It] was so popular and so provocative...that President Eisenhower [till then, a doubting Thomas] called Disney to order a copy for review by his staff and the Pentagon. It felt to many like a new age was just around the corner."
Man And The Moon, which was televised the following year, was "a preview of what would become the real Apollo 8...portrayed realistically with actors and included a mysterious sighting of unexplained lights on the surface of the Moon, strangely prefiguring events that would occur during the Apollo missions."

At 36, Dr. Reynolds, who has published scholarly articles on archaeology and ancient exploration, also authored the New York Times #1 bestseller Star Wars: Episode 1, The Visual Dictionary, among other books. However, he is truly at the top of his space game here. This is fascinating stuff, and Reynolds writes in a clear, concise, and entertaining style that makes even technophobes like yours truly easily comprehend one of the most spectacular - and complex -- scientific and historical achievements of the last century.

With a "you are there" Foreword by Apollo 7's Mission Commander Wally Schirra, and the cooperation of NASA and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the reader can be assured of the accuracy of the detailed facts and figures Reynolds presents.

Richly illustrated with some rare and never-before-seen photos, it also includes many new rocket cutaways, and custom-keyed maps and panoramas that put you more lucidly in the lunar landscape.

Photographed for the first time is the famous memo to LBJ in which JFK asks, "Do we have a chance of beating the Soviets by putting a laboratory in space, or by a trip around the moon, or by a rocket to land on the moon, or by a rocket to go to the moon and back with a man?"

(Amusing to think that nowadays, American multimillionaires like 60-year-old money manager Dennis Tito and 23-year-old Lance Bass of the boy band N'Sync so casually shell out [$]million apiece to the Russians for the privilege of becoming Soyuz cosmonauts.)

However, this merely scratches the surface of the moon, for Reynolds pilots us to an ethereal kind of Tomorrowland in his Jules Vernesque conclusion: "We will one day surpass the achievement of Apollo. In reaching beyond it, we will at last fulfill its promise, a promise that lies waiting today, waiting for anyone to look up at the glow of the night sky, a promise recorded in the footprints on the Moon."

It is the profoundly inspiring Afterword by Gene Cernan, Mission Commander of Apollo 17, which brilliantly encapsulates Reynolds' comprehensive tome.

"One cannot behold all the lands and seas of the Earth in a single glance and remain unchanged by the experience," says Cernan. "Returning to Earth from the Moon poses the challenge of finding a perspective within yourself that can encompass what has happened to you, that can accommodate the matters of ordinary life as well as the memory of having looked into the endlessness of space and time from another world. I once stood upon the dust of the Moon and looked up, struggling to comprehend the enormity of the message that we found in Apollo. All that is here. In this book..."

No way, no how, could I have said it better.

Spiffy!
There are a number of books on the American Apollo Moon program,
most prominently Andrew Chaikin's excellent A MAN ON THE MOON, and so
the question that David West Reynolds' APOLLO: THE EPIC JOURNEY TO THE
MOON poses is whether another book on the subject really brings
anything to the party.

The answer is YES, in that Reynolds is taking a somewhat different
approach to the subject. Chaikin's book is relatively long and
detailed, but has