Book Description

This Second Edition retains all the same primary objectives as the original text: First, to present basic combustion concepts using relatively simple and easy-to -understand analyses; and second, to introduce a wide variety of practical applications which motivate or relate to the various theoretical concepts. The overarching goal is to provide a textbook which is useful for both formal undergraduate study in mechanical engineering and in related fields, and informal study by practicing engineers. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Readable
This book is used at UCLA for a senior mechanical/aerospace engineering course. I would only recommend it to someone interested in pursuing graduate level course work in combustion. Suggested Prereq: Heat & MassX, Fluids, Chemistry, Thermodynamics, Differential Equations (ODE, PDE, CPU).

The good
It has good references to modern combustion sources/codes. good introduction to whats possible.

The bad
A lot of derivations are made, but the equations arent solved, except for the trivial or ultra-simplified cases. So its not too useful for a practicing engineer.

The ugly
He mispells prior as priori about 20 times, and refers to variable as rs. You dont know if it is r times s, or if it is multiple r's.

An Introduction to Combustion : Concepts and Applications
An excellent introductory book on combustion. Suitable for an undergraduate course or for self-study. Fundamental concepts are clearly explained with many calculation examples and problems to solve. The material is presented in a very attractive and easy to read way. Also, has numerous references to webpages with useful information, plus computer programmes to solve basic problems, like equilibrium composition. The overall approach is to provide tools to make practical calculations using computational tools.

a good cobustion course textbook
An appreciable attempt to cover the basics of all aspects of combustion science on a first comburtion-science course level, this book does manage to be very clear and structured, with good examples and clarifying illustrations, students of combustion science will find it a very helpful introduction. However, as many science books often are, it fails to present a synthetic view of this field, and the reader is left wondering if such a view is even possible, but the different chapters may serve those interested specifically in them.

Steve Turns makes Combustion easy
I think Steve has abilities to convey scientific ideas in a simple, easy to understand manner. His interaction with industrial clients, industrial applications and combustion equipment has given him an insight for explaining basics as applied to the real world. He also understands utilities of various combustion properties, parameters and correlations. He also knows how you can apply it for the maximim benefit for a given process. I recommend this book to any practicing engineer in the combustion field. Steve is a great communicator and a friend of combustion industry. At Air Liquide I have used this book to design burners, flames and combustion processes for steel, glass, chemical and process industries. Sincerely, Dr. Mike Joshi, Combustion Scientist, Air Liquide, Chicago Research Center, Countryside, IL 60525 ... Read more

Book Description

Monumental engineering text offers comprehensive, detailed coverage of every aspect of theory and design: elements of vertical flight, forward flight, performance, mathematics of rotating systems, rotary wing dynamics and aerodynamics, aeroelasticity, stability and control, stall, noise and more. Essential reading for any student or aeronautical engineer interested in the design and development of vertical-flight aircraft. 189 illustrations. Bibliography. 1980 edition.
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Reviews (6)

Helicopter Theory
OK for a reference book, but much too bulky for any classroom. Mr. Johnson would do well to write an abridged addition. There does not appear to be any attempt to start with basic concepts and proceed to more difficult ones. Try to get a copy to review before buying it.

Advanced concepts
This book is quite difficult to understand and the concepts contained in it are quite complicated. With that in mind, and the fact that I did not understand most of it, I can't fairly rate it. I will however warn any potential buyer that a thorough knowledge of Calculus and Matrix Algebra is required to fully understand the text.

Excellent job
I picked up this book with the intent of getting some ideas for physics demonstrations that illustrate the physics of helicopter flight. Also, I was curious as to why helicopters are not made that are three, four, or perhaps ten times the size that they are now, and if chaotic dynamics could be present in helicopters. Over a thousand pages long, this book gave me what I needed and much more. Written for design and mechanical engineers who are involved in helicopter manufacturing, the book could be read profitably by anyone who is curious about the physical principles behind helicopters.

In the introduction to the book, the author defines a helicopter as an aircraft that uses rotating wings to provide lift, propulsion, and control. He then discusses briefly the basic physical principles that a helicopter needs in order to sustain vertical lift, as well as to move translationally. The design engineer must then weigh the factors that enable the helicopter to move against the maintenance and human factors involved in the use of the helicopter for transportation. The rest of the book is then an extremely detailed and fascinating account of the engineering analysis that goes into the design of a succesful helicopter. The author also overviews the history behind the helicopter, beginning with the Chinese rotor, circa 400 B.C. and with the first succesful flight with one passenger, and one meter above the ground, for about one minute, by Breguet-Richet of France in 1907. The author remarks that helicopter engineering currently emphasizes research and development than with invention. This is especially true in the military environment, with the Apache helicopter being a superb example of just how sophisticated a helicopter can be. It will be interesting to see how the technology and design of helicopters will change in the decades ahead. The trend might be towards pilotless flight for delivering military supplies or manufactured goods from one point to another, or perhaps helicopters that can morph into completely vertical or horizontal aircraft as the need arises.

The physics behind vertical flight is described by the author as 'momentum theory', which was developed for marine propellors in the late nineteenth century. As the name implies, this is just an application of the principle of conservation of momentum. The rotor disk of the helicopter feels a thrust created by the action of the air on the helicopter blades. It must therefore exert an equal and opposite force on the air. This forces the velocity of the air in the rotor wake to be opposite in direction to the direction of the thrust. Momentum conservation, energy conservation, and mass conservation then give a relation between the induced power loss and the rotor thrust. The author also gives details on the 'vortex theory', which is based more on fluid dynamical laws of the flow field of the rotor wake. Emphasizing the local aspects, it reduces to momentum theory in appropriate limits. The author also shows how momentum theory applies to the forward flight of the helicopter.

The author also treats helicopter performance analysis, which boils down to determining the power required and available for a range of flight conditions. The rotor forces and power must be calculated, and the author details two methods to do this: the 'force balance method' and the 'energy balance method'. The use of the computer has made this analysis considerably easier for the design engineer of course. The author gives a very interesting overview of helicopter speed limitations and how the helicopter could be landed safely after an engine failure, all of this being analyzed from a physics perspective.

The mathematics of rotating systems is included in the book, along with the differential equations of motion for the rotor blade. The motion of the blade is expanded into a normal mode representation and analyzed using Sturm-Liouville theory. The author though outlines other approaches to the blade dynamics, such as the Lagrangian formulation and the Galerkin method. And also, in spite of the ability of computers to solve for the aeroelastic equations of motion, the author considers their analytical solution for the cases where such solutions can be obtained. One very interesting part of this discussion was that of 'ground resonance', which is a dynamic instability involving the the coupling of the blade lag motion with the in-plane motion of the rotor hub. There is then a resonance between the frequency of the rotor lag motion and the natural frequency of the structure supporting the rotor.

Essential resource for Helicopter Engineering
The title is succinct and accurate: "Helicopter Theory" is a very complete reference on the engineering theory of helicopters. This book is aimed at the aeronautical engineering graduate student or practicing aeronautical engineer looking to understand helicopter aerodynamics, stability and control, and (to some extent) structural dynamics. Although the treatment of non-articulated rotors is somewhat skimpy (likely because the book was written in 1980), most other helicopter subjects are dealt with in great depth and reasonable clarity. The treatment of the 90 degree phase shift between rotor pitching and flapping, perhaps THE fundamental concept in understanding helicopters, is particularly good. A must for anyone seriously working with the detailed design and analysis of helicopters.

A must-have for aerospace engineers
Looking for information on how to fly a helicopter? Look elsewhere. Trying to design and build your own helicopter? Yeah, right, how about performing a quadruple bypass on your own heart? But if you are an aerospace engineer interested in helicopters, or if you are studying to become one (an engineer, not a helicopter), this is a must-have book.

This *is* an advanced textbook, which will take you from the fundamentals of helicopter aerodynamics, dynamics, and flight dynamics, all the way to the advanced topics. The book came out in 1980, and helicopter engineering has made a lot of progress since then. However, much of what is in the book remains current. The extensive bibliography gives a comprehensive picture of the state of the art until 1980.

Want some bedtime reading? Get Patricia Cornwell. Want to read stories about airplanes and military hi-tech? Read Dale Brown or Tom Clancy. Serious about learning helicopter engineering? Get this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Few events in history have been more monumental than the emergence of the Space Age, which began with the Soviet launch of Sputnik in 1957. The History of Space Vehicles uses a combination of high-quality photos, illustrations, fact tables, and authoritative text to describe all the vehicles and equipment used in space, past and present.It covers all types of rockets, satellites, and probes, as well as their equipment and cargo, includingradio transmitters, measuring instruments, and cameras. ... Read more

Book Description

The National Geographic Encyclopedia of Space offers clear and concise explanations of the planets; telescopes; manned space flight; satellites; the origin of the universe; the contributions of Nicolaus Copernicus, Edwin Hubble, and Stephen Hawking; and much more. The Encyclopedia of Space answers such questions as How vast is the Milky Way? What makes a satellite stay up? How does deep space affect our daily climate? Arranged in six thematic chapters, the Encyclopedia of Space brings together in one accessible volume the varied aspects of space science: the solar system, deep space exploration (manned and unmanned) and discovery, satellites and orbits, and the commercial, scientific, and military uses of space. Tables, diagrams, maps, and fact boxes provide additional information and value.The encyclopedia is enriched by recently declassified intelligence material and photographs from the U.S. Navy and the National Reconnaissance Office, the latest Hubble images, and essays written by leading professionals in the field, such as Kathryn Sullivan and Sylvia Earle. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who landed on the Moon with Neil Armstrong, will write a foreword to the encyclopedia. ... Read more

Book Description

Discusses applications of failures and evaluation techniques to a variety of industries.
* Presents a unified approach using two key elements of structural design. ... Read more

Book Description

Spacecraft interact with the space environment in ways that may affect the operation of the spacecraft as well as any scientific experiments that are carried out from the spacecraft platform. In turn the study of these interactions provides information on the space environment. The adverse environmental effects, such as the effect of the radiation belts on electronics, and spacecraft charging from the magnetospheric plasma, means that designers need to understand interactive phenomena to be able to effectively design spacecraft. This has led to the new discipline of spacecraft-environment interactions. The emphasis in this book is on the fundamental physics of the interactions. Spacecraft-Environment Interactions is a valuable introduction to the subject for all students and researchers interested in the application of fluid, gas, plasma and particle dynamics to spacecraft and for spacecraft system engineers. ... Read more

Book Description

"FASCINATING . . . MEMORABLE . . . REVEALING . . . PERHAPS THE BEST OF CARL SAGAN'S BOOKS."
--The Washington Post Book World (front page review)

In Cosmos, the late astronomer Carl Sagan cast his gaze over the magnificent mystery of the Universe and made it accessible to millions of people around the world. Now in this stunning sequel, Carl Sagan completes his revolutionary journey through space and time.

Future generations will look back on our epoch as the time when the human race finally broke into a radically new frontier--space. In Pale Blue Dot Sagan traces the spellbinding history of our launch into the cosmos and assesses the future that looms before us as we move out into our own solar system and on to distant galaxies beyond. The exploration and eventual settlement of other worlds is neither a fantasy nor luxury, insists Sagan, but rather a necessary condition for the survival of the human race.

"TAKES READERS FAR BEYOND Cosmos . . . Sagan sees humanity's future in the stars."
--Chicago Tribune ... Read more

Reviews (49)

An inspiring and fascinating journey
Carl Sagan is one of the most brilliant thinkers of our generation and this book is an exclamation mark on a fruitful and alas, too short, career. This book is a sequel to the well-known "cosmos" in which, the author contemplates on the future of humankind on earth and in the farthest regions of space. As always, it is a riveting journey guided by the enthusiastic, humorous and eloquent Sagan who manages to leave the reader with a feeling of cautious optimism despite the many reasons humankind has to worry about its future. An excellent read.

Humbling and Inspirational
Read the opening sequence of the book and see our world as a tiny blue pixel from beyond Neptune's orbit. Try, as Sagan admonishes you to do, to imagine the conflicts fougt and wholesale murder that has been committed to control a fraction of that pixel. You are forced by the very grandeur of the Universe to think beyond your own provincialisms and imagine us as one world, one species, with the capability to go on to something great or destroy ourselves in an instant. This is the most frightening part of Sagan's book to some: Whether we make it or not, is up to us; the Universe won't care one way or another.

Sagan then introduces you to the wonders awaiting us when we move off our dot and explore the solar system and surrounding stars. It's a magnificent journey filled with all the wonders that the cosmos has to offer. From the safety of your easy chair, you can journey to Mars, the moons of Jupiter and the outer planets. A truly worhty sequel to Cosmos.

Reply to a brief comment
Einstein religious? not at all. I quote from Einstein directly in "The Human Side" Ed. Dukas, Hoffman.

"It was of course a lie what you read about my religious convictions, a lie which is being systematically repeated. I do not believe in a personal god and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly. If something is in me which can be called religious then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as our science can reveal it"

As for the issue of whether religious types should fear the scientific worldview; of course they should since organised science and organised religion are incompatible as long as religious leaders continue to claim authority on questions which can be experimentally determined (which is proving to be just about everything).

Politics, not Science
Make no mistake, just as Sagan reveals his opinion that Apollo 11 was about politics, not science, I tell you that Pale Blue Dot is about politics, not science. And just as it is my opinion that his book is political, it is only his opinion that Apollo 11 was political. His remarks in this area have inspired professors and scientists around the country to parrot that Apollo 11 was not about science, but about politics.
His books are all politico-philosophical, as he is a devoted humanitarian.

Philosophy and cosmology at its best
Pale Blue Dot is probably one of the best introductions to astronomy available to the public. In this book Dr. Sagan argues against human chauvinism, praises international efforts of space exploration, speculates about the future of human animal, describes evolution of science and much, much more.

The book is printed on high-quality glossy stock paper that makes the reading even more enjoyable. Unlike Cosmos, Dr. Sagan's other book on astronomy, photos in this book correspond perfectly to the text you are reading. Most photos were taken from NASA archives and are of best quality and resolutions available to human kind at the time. The book ,as any other book written on astronomy, is becoming outdated a bit (published in 1994). This ,however, should not sway you from reading this book at all. You can always catch up on new developments on NASA site. There were some new developments in space exploration that Sagan had no way of predicting. I'll give one example. Author writes about the largest moons of Saturn, Titan, and speculates about its surface and composition. It is now known that Titan contains methane seas. So every time you see speculations in book make sure you research on the topic to find newer information that is readily available.

There is one more thing. In Pale Blue Dot, author gives detailed information on most of the nine planets and many of their moons. However, Sagan decides to omit detailed information on planet Jupiter from Voyager 1 and 2 encounters (not Jovian moons) and explains that Jupiter was talked about in Cosmos.

My whine aside, Pale Blue Dot will endure. ... Read more

Book Description

Amazon.com

Tom Wolfe began The Right Stuff at a time when it wasunfashionable to contemplate American heroism. Nixon had left the White House in disgrace, the nation was reeling from the catastrophe of Vietnam, andin 1979--the year the book appeared--Americans were being held hostage by Iranian militants. Yet it was exactly the anachronistic courage of his subjects that captivated Wolfe. In his foreword, he notes that as lateas 1970, almost one in four career Navy pilots died in accidents. "The Right Stuff," he explains, "became a story of why men were willing--willing?--delighted!--to take on such odds in this, an era literary people had long since characterized as the age of theanti-hero."

Wolfe's roots in New Journalism were intertwined with the nonfictionnovel that Truman Capote had pioneered with In Cold Blood. AsCapote did, Wolfe tells his story from a limited omniscient perspective,dropping into the lives of his "characters" as each in turn becomes a majorplayer in the space program. After an opening chapter on the terror of being a test pilot's wife, the story cuts back to the late 1940s, whenAmericans were first attempting to break the sound barrier. Test pilots, wediscover, are people who live fast lives with dangerous machines, not all of them airborne. Chuck Yeager was certainly among the fastest, and his determination to push through Mach 1--a feat that some had predictedwould cause the destruction of any aircraft--makes him the book's guiding spirit.

Yet soon the focus shifts to the seven initial astronauts. Wolfe traces Alan Shepard's suborbital flight and Gus Grissom's embarrassing panicon the high seas (making the controversial claim that Grissom flooded his Liberty capsule by blowing the escape hatch too soon). The author also produces an admiring portrait of John Glenn's apple-pie heroism and selfless dedication. By the time Wolfe concludes with a return toYeager and his late-career exploits, the narrative's epic proportions andliterary merits are secure. Certainly The Right Stuff is the best, the funniest, and the most vivid book ever written about America's mannedspace program. --Patrick O'Kelley ... Read more

Reviews (69)

I'd Give it 6 Stars If I Could
With the exception of The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test, no story is a better match for Wolfe's hyperbolic, stream of consciousness writing style than The Right Stuff.

"the Honorable Mrs Squirming Hatch Blower!"--'nuff said.

the right stuff
"The Right Stuff" by Thomas Wolf details the manned space race between Russia and the United States. It focuses on the United States' effort to put a man into space. The story of the first seven American astronauts is told, along with a description of test pilots, scientists, and others involved with space flight during this time. Tom Wolfe accurately depicts the personalities of the cocky test pilots and their change throughout the book, where in the end, the end of being the heroes of the Space Race. The Space Race was, in fact, a vital part of our history and is the reason for some of our major technological advances today. This book is a great read and will really give the reader a taste of the time and views from Americans about this Race at the time.

The Right Stuff
This book accurately documents the Space Race between the U.S. and Russia. Im so happy Thomas Wolfe wrote this book because i never would have known that these events had happened this way. There is a lot to learn about the way space programs worked and the details and hardships these people endured. I was thoroughly intrigued by the way the sound barrier was broken and the skill it takes to fly airplanes at such high altitudes and velocities. The way the men trying to explore space believed in the programs was truly an inspiration to me. Up until this time, space travel seemed like such an impossible task, but after these accomplishments, the universe seemed just a tiny bit smaller. The way Wolfe displays the perserverence of the men inspires me everyday and I hope that it helps me to do something incredible one day as well.

Russia had the Right Stuff
This book was well written and enjoyable, and I like Tom Wolfe, but I kind of do not really see the point. The Russians put a man not only into space a month before we did in 1961, but put him into orbit. Good old righteous stuff Alan Shepard and John Glenn went subsequently in '61 and '62, but... what exactly was the point? Russia had already defeated us in this space race, and had sent Gagarin into orbit? JFK and US were so proud that many were crying when they saw what Shepard and Glenn did, but the truth is, America was behind USSR! Furthermore, Wolfe makes clear than it did not take too much to be an astronaut, as even a chimpanzee named Ham was able to do it. True skill in flying was like being X-1 test fighters, not being astronauts just "floating" in space. So where exactly was the right stuff? Russia beat us, and to be an astronaut was to float like a chimpanzee, seems that a more appropriate right stuff subject is the 1969 Moon Landing.

Insights into the Early History of Space Flight
For those familiar with the history of manned space flight, most of the information in this book is familiar. But there are also some "what if" alternatives mentioned. For instance, Shepard wanted a 3-day Mercury flight in 1963 following the flight of Cooper's Faith 7. This never came to pass. Considering how far the US was behind the USSR in man hours of space flight, this would have been a good idea.
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Book Description

Most pilots and flight students wince at the mention of the term "aerodynamics" because most courses and books dealing with the subject do so using complicated scientific theory and intricate mathematical formulas. And yet, an understanding of aerodynamics is essential to the people who operate and maintain airplanes. This unique introductory guide, which sold more than 20,000 copies in its first edition, proves that the principles of flight can be easy to understand, even fascinating, to pilots and technicians who want to know how and why an aircraft behaves as it does. Avoiding technical jargon and complex calculations, Hubert "Skip" Smith demonstrates how aerodynamic factors affect all aircraft in terms of lift, thrust, drag, in-air performance, stability, and control. Readers also get an inside look at how modern aircraft are designed-including all the steps in the design process, from concept to test flight and the reasoning behind them. This edition features expanded coverage of aircraft turning and accelerated climb performance, takeoff velocities, load and velocity-load-factors, area rules, and hypersonic flight, as well as the latest advances in laminar flow airfoils, wing and fuselage design, and high-performance lightplanes. Question and answer sections are added for classroom use. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Basics and More
This book will be very helpful to pilots who want an "intuitive" understanding of aerodynamics. It will allow them to apply the information that is only touched on in other beginning piloting texts. I am considering using it as a textbook for a community college pilot technology curriculum. His explanation of wing lift does not emphasize Newton enough and seems to over emphasize Bernoulli, but this is not intended as a highly technical or mathematical approach. It is real world information for the pilot.

An excellent reference for pilots and aircraft homebuilders
I found Skip Smith's book to be an excellent layman's introduction to aerodynamics. Fluid mechanics does not usually make for interesting, easily comprehensible reading, but Dr. Smith's book is clearly the exception. I'm constantly irritated by the very inaccurate descriptions of aerodynamics given in many flying magazines and instructional books. This book has none of those common errors. Reading this book should greatly increase the average pilot's knowledge of how his plane flies and what huge design constraints aeronatical engineers have to live with. Highly recommended reading for all those who are interested in learning more about the principles of flight.

Comprehensive, simple and comprehensible
Unless one has considerable experience interpreting mathematical formulae, it may be worth their while to consider a book such as this before reading a university level aerodynamics textbook. The textbook will be made somewhat more comprehensible knowing the basic principlew which a more descriptive book, such as this one, can teach simply. Most textbooks in the subject, even those meant as introductory, give a painfully mathematical and theoretical treatment with insufficient verbal explanation. They are meant for complete school courses, where a teacher can qualitatively describe the physical principles.

Without the benefit of professors, a book like Smith's isrequired to provide the intuitive capacity which then makes the textbooks useful. The Illustrated Guide to Aerodynamics was not prepared as a university textbook, hence its semi-quantitative, largely practical, explanation of aerodynamics principles, but students will still find it valuable in reducing the effort needed when they turn to their textbooks. The important concepts are all covered and explained well, along with aerodynamics terms and design considerations. Use this book to help you understand, the others to help your grade point average. Smith's book would also be understandable to those who are not students, but do want to know about the physical principles involved in aircraft flight. Many diagrams and graphs explain the subject matter in pictures. A knowledge of basic mechanics and basic fluid mechanics is required, however.

My only complaint is the author's use of English units on an SI continent. English units are somewhat forgiveable however, since aerodynamics and fluid mechanics are areas which continue to resist complete conversion to SI. In any case, the formulae in the book are meant mainly to illustrate cause and effect relationships. Though the book was for the topic of flight, some basics in materials and structures would have been welcome too.

Thank you, "Skip", for writing a comprehensive book on aerodynamics which is enjoyable and comprehensible. You have taught us to read aerodynamics. ... Read more

Book Description

This edition of this work is updated and expanded to reflect the latest developments in the planning and design of airports. It now features coverage of the geometric design of landing areas, air traffic control systems, airport security, demand forecasting, airport financing, environmental assessment, terminal and ground access system planning, and heliport and vertiport design. It also provides modern approaches to lighting, signing, and marking of airfields. . .paving runways. . .and much more. Planning and Design of Airports is an indispensable reference for civil engineers, transportation engineers, government planners, architects, and all others involved in any aspect of airport planning and design. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Airport engineer's viewpoint
The best of its kind. We have all the other airport and terminal design books on the bookshelf (up to 1998 publication date), but every time we come back to using Horonjeff for the serious masterplanning and design of new airports and extensions. It is also good for layout design by the engineer for terminals - although the architects may want more books.

Horonjeff has got the full set of data tables and charts to enable you to design anything. I seldom need to use the ICAO Manuals on a daily basis, and only use them for cross checking an obscure point. The upgrade from the 3rd edition to the 4th edition was a big one - it metricated much of the book, added in the latest aircraft (late model 737, 767s and ER, and the 777-200), and generally updated the book. Examples of new information are some good stuff on runway/taxiway capacity, and some additions to ACN/PCN. Worth spending the money to update. Essential to buy if starting from scratch. The best textbook for a course on Airport Engineering. Equal to other textbooks for a course on Aviation and Airports. Good textbook for a course on Airport Operations. ... Read more

Book Description

This book presents fundmentals of orbit determination--from weighted least squares approaches (Gauss) to today's high-speed computer algorithms that provide accuracy within a few centimeters. Numerous examples and problems are provided to enhance readers' understanding of the material.

*Covers such topics as coordinate and time systems, square root filters, process noise techniques, and the use of fictitious parameters for absorbing un-modeled and incorrectly modeled forces acting on a satellite.
*Examples and exercises serve to illustrate the principles throughout each chapter.
*Detailed solutions to end-of-chapter exercises available to instructors. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A Pulitzer Prize-winning Explanation of the Space Race
Although there were notable forerunners, spaceflight historiography came of age with the 1985 publication this book by Walter McDougall. It received Pulitzer Prize and a host of other well-deserved awards with its analysis of the origins and conduct of the space race. This book explores the Cold War rivalry in race with the preparations for and launch of Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957, through the race to the Moon in the 1960s. The author argues that the mandate to complete Apollo on Kennedy's schedule prompted the space program to become identified almost exclusively with high-profile, expensive, human spaceflight projects. This was because Apollo became a race against the Soviet Union for recognition as the world leader in science and technology and by extension in other fields as well.

McDougall juxtaposes the American effort of Apollo with the Soviet space program and the dreams of such designers as Sergei P. Korolev to land a Soviet cosmonaut on the Moon. The author recognizes Apollo as a significant engineering achievement but concludes that it was also enormously costly both in terms of resources and the direction to be taken in state support of science and technology. In the end, NASA had to stress engineering over science, competition over cooperation, civilian over military management, and international prestige over practical applications. Not all agree with McDougall's arguments, but since the publication of "the Heavens and the Earth..." historians have been striving to equal its scintillating analysis, stellar writing, and scope of discussion.

Recommended Bargain
I`ll have to congratulate Mr McDougall with an excellent effort in capturing the essence cold war from the point of view of the space programs of the superpowers. It is somewhat difficult for me to review a book that I regard so much as this one, so please forgive me when I only give my unconditional praise to the book in question.

However, I got the inspiration for my nick from this book.

?
My, what a little cat fight we have hear. Hissssss

a compelling political analysis of the space program
The political history of the space age in _...The_Heavens_and_the_Earth_ provides a fascinating glimpse of the considerations taken within the Eisenhower administration and the Khrushchev regime regarding the orbital realm. Unlike other authors issuing paeans to Kennedy for his expensive though successful challenge of a manned lunar program, Professor McDougall renders a more sympathetic assessment of Eisenhower's reluctance to commit federal resources to open-ended and prestige-focused stunts. The hesitance in launching the first orbital satellite, although politically disastrous, was prudently based on concerns that foreign countries might object to orbital overflights by potential reconnaissance vehicles. With the Soviet Union launching the first satellite _Sputnik_, such criticism would be rendered moot, although this triumph enabled Khrushchev to persuasively promote Soviet hegemony and stoke American fears of missile delivery for nuclear explosives.

Most Americans have forgotten that Eisenhower advocated "open skies" to reduce the potential of overreacting to a perceived threat due to insufficient or faulty mobilization information, as well as reduce military expenditures (comparatively higher than today). Khrushchev, hoping to obscure both intentions and especially the capabilities of Soviet military power projection for preserving options in diplomatic and domestic intimidation. The United States wanted more open information so as to avoid a future "Pearl Harbor" and the Russians wanted to maintain their eastern-European gains without obligation to show their economic weakness and armed force limitations. Although sharing the information with the citizenry was an ultimate preference (now available thanks to LandSat, SPOT and other orbiting cameras), Eisenhower directed the first reconnaissance satellites as the Discovery series to look behind the Iron Curtain.

Kennedy responded to Khrushchev's overtures by upping the stakes, federalizing research towards attention-grabbing endeavors with an eye towards employing technological problem-solving ultimately to social engineering against poverty and racism. Neither Kennedy nor Johnson appeared to realize that engineering solutions and welfare statism address not only different problem categories, but their agents differ -- engineers tend to focus on the measurable and quantitative, whereas social workers (unless flaking for larger budgets) appeal to a more ethereal empathy with their charges. Professor McDougall shows the underlying hubris behind these policies, and how this was integrated into the manned (and unmanned) programs for NASA.

Fine Work
Another fine work from Walter Mcdougall. This is the most thorough treatment of the political history of the space race available, and for those who find it dry, I suggest that you not read too often, lest your brain break down. This is fine historical research, told in fluid prose, which makes highly original proposals for future research in the area. Like the reviewer below said, it is not MTV, and for that, McDougall need not pologize. Of course, if you know the correct spelling of "Obi Wan's" last name, or are upset that you cannot understand the big words, then perhaps you should avoid books without pictures altogether -- i.e., it is no surprise that you think this book is dry. ... Read more

Book Description

Low-speed aerodynamics is important in the design and operation of aircraft flying at low Mach number, and ground and marine vehicles.This text offers a modern treatment of both the theory of inviscid, incompressible, and irrotational aerodynamics, and the computational techniques now available to solve complex problems.A unique feature is that the computational approach--from a single vortex element to a three-dimensional panel formulation--is interwoven throughout. This second edition features a new chapter on the laminar boundary layer (emphasis on the viscous-inviscid coupling), the latest versions of computational techniques, and additional coverage of interaction problems.The authors include a systematic treatment of two-dimensional panel methods and a detailed presentation of computational techniques for three-dimensional and unsteady flows. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A must for anyone interested in panel methods
Comprehensive in both theoretical and numerical presentation. The authors show how to model invicid, incompressible aerodynamics using pnael methods which are based on potential theory. They also show how to incorporate viscosity inside the boundary layer. I found the book's detailed treatment of panel methods for unsteady aerodynamics particularly useful. Most textbooks only show the steady state case. The book is very practical with very good description of algorithms. At the end of the book, you can also find sample programs developed by authors' students. ... Read more

Reviews (57)

Read Much Ado about Rod Machado
(...) I am a published writer, and recently became a pilot. In my zeal to learn all I could about flying (...) I went about buying almost any good books I could find. (...) During the course of my reading various Flying magazines I had become familiar with Rod's easy-going, humorous (and yes, corny [it takes one to know one]) style of explaining things. (...) the book is absolutely the best investment you can make in a combined tool that covers the fundamentals of flight, the theory and issues related to the knowledge required, actual flying and aeronautical knowledge, nuggets of information, advice, yes, more corny (but fitting/explaining) humor, and more illustrations and color images than you could expect to get for such a reasonably priced book.
I am serious, I have paid double or more for books with one-tenth of the color images that this book provides. No, he just does not print different pages in different ink colors to prove how colorful he is, but page upon page of well written text, great images and illustrations, and photos are what make the book a winner.
The pleasant surprise is that I believe he made the pictures and illustrations himself and they are actually very good (simple, clear, and very effective), so he is a man of many talents (...)
So, if you buy ONE book related to flying, this should be it. (...)
Enjoy the book, and Happy Flying.

Great book, makes dry areas palatable.
Machado's book covers a wealth of information and interjects a lot of humor to keep some of the drier areas (e.g,. airspace -- yawn) of aviation palatable.

I would recommend readers not get too hung up on the FAA Knowledge Exam, aka "the written test." While this book IS an excellent review for it -- except possibly the minor continuous changes in FAA regulations -- it covers far more material. As such, it's an invaluable review for the practical test, as well as a reference when you pursue your instrument and commercial ratings. For example, among the numerous diagrams and pictures, are some excellent cutaway illustrations of instruments. Supplementing this is a good discussion on instrument limitations and errors. Although the same material is in the FAA Instrument Flying book, Machado's presentation is clearer.

Especially nice are excerpts from ASRS (aka "NASA form") reports about a particular incident or accident germane to the topic at hand. These help provide the "why" behind the material, e.g., "why do we ALWAYS physically verify that both gas caps are tight?"

The humor, while welcomed, can be a little too much at times. For the reader who wants a more direct approach, I'd recommend William Kerschner's books published by Iowa Press. Kerschner is legendary.

Frozen Duck Control Freak Godsend
I'm not happy just knowing what an instrument does. Nor am I satisfied if I can just pass "The Test".

I'm a control freak. I have needs.

This book is essential if this sounds familiar. You won't be left with Whys and Howsats. It's also a great confidence builder for a beginner without the smiling, happy "you can do it, it's easy! :)" that seems pretty common in other private pilot material that I've taken in. Some people aren't into the side-stories and ASRS Reports, etc in the book. For me even the doodles on the diagrams help to retain knowledge, as I'm sure Mr. Machado intended.

As a new pilot I am absolutely committed to developing the best possible skills, and this book is doing me right where others have lacked. Pick this up with the King's study guides and radio communications guide, then save the rest of your checking account for your friendly neighborhood CFI. Also - read the weather chapter outdoors if you can. Helped me out greatly.

Great!
Well, i think that every pilot should get this book! It's pretty steep for beginners and should be used more as a referance. Great book!

A wonderful reference and learning guide
I read the other reviews here, and felt the need to add my opinion. I've been flying for over twenty years, and teaching for over three. As Rod suggests, I offer my students the choice between the Jeppesson and Machado texts. Not only do my students enjoy the Machado flight manual, I find that they understand the material better. If any material is interesting to the student, they will learn it more easily and remember it.

I also am curious that another review found the book to be less than technically correct. Simply look at the stack of awards that this book and it's author has received. Without hesitation, I let my students learn from Rod who is one of the most published and honored flight instructors in the United States. The book is not an engineering text book, and few students would finish their training if we treated them all like engineering students. I find Rod's explanations to be more accurate and understandable than the FAA's own manuals.

I highly recommend this book based on the content, and the impact I've seen this book have on my students. ... Read more

Book Description

Highly regarded resource deals with practical aspects of aeroelasticity as well as underlying aerodynamic and structural tools. Topics include compressible flow, flutter, deformation of structures, aeroelastic model theory, model design and construction, testing techniques and much more. Many numerical examples. Appendices. References. Over 300 illustrations. 1955 edition.
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Reviews (2)

Goldies but oldies
It would be fair to mention that the book was first published more than forty years ago, and that the most recent reference still dates back to the mid-fifties..

Excellent reference for those serious about aircraft
Aeroelasticity is one of those classic aeronautical references that presents material that is found nowhere else. It is the definitive work on scaling as applied to aircraft structures under aerodynamic loading. If you are serious about understanding the elastic behavior of an airplane's structure, you owe it to yourself to get this book and STUDY IT! ... Read more

Book Description

The approach of this book is to demonstrate how theoreticalaspects, drawn from topics on airplane aerodynamics, aircraft structures,stability and control, propulsion, and compressible flows, can be applied to produce a new conceptual aircraft design. The book cites theoretical expressions wherever possible, but also stresses the interplay of different aspects of the design which often require compromises.Coverage includes the conceptual design of an aircraft; iterative and repetitive calculations, and the different degrees of dependence of the aircraft characteristics on changing input conditions.For professionals in the Aerospace Engineering field. ... Read more

Book Description

In the 1960s and 1970s deep space missions were dispatched in pairs in case one was lost in launch or failed during its journey. Following the triumphs of the Viking landings on Mars in 1976 and both Voyagers spacecraft successfully surveying the outer giant planets of the Solar System, it was decided by NASA to cut costs and send out just a single probe. Although Magellan successfully mapped Venus by radar, it suffered from problems during the flight. Then came the loss of Mars Observer, whose engine exploded as it was preparing to enter Mars’ orbit because it was using technology designed for Earth’s satellites and the engine was not suited to spending several months in space. Later came the high-profile losses of Mars Climate Observer and Mars Polar Lander - a consequence of the faster, better, cheaper philosophy introduced by Dan Goldin in 1993. Even the highly successful Galileo mission suffered a major setback when its high-gain antenna (also based on satellite mission suffered a major setback when its high-gain antenna (also based on satellite communication technology) failed to deploy fully, greatly diminishing the craft’s radio transmission capabilities, forcing the ground crew to re-programme the on-board computer to enable it to fulfil its mission and provide stunning images of Jupiter and its moons. In Space Systems Failures, David Harland (here working with co-author Ralph Lorenz) describes the many quite fascinating tales of woe involving failures of rockets, satellites and deep space missions in his inimitable style, providing a unique insight into the trials and tribulations of exploration at the high frontier. ... Read more

Book Description

Spaceflight Life Support and Biospherics is the introduction to space life support systems and artificial ecosystems that has so far been lacking. It is a source of information for everyone involved in the life support system design and development process -- engineers, scientists, and students -- as well as all those who are simply interested in this existing discipline. The structure of this book is such that it gives step-by-step answers to the basic questions concerning life support systems on any scale -- from small microbial systems to the Earth's biosphere: + Why life support system development and biosphere research? + How does our natural life support system, the biosphere, work? + What are the environmental conditions for life support systems in space? + What are the fundamental terms and requirements of life support? + Which physicochemical life support subsystems currently exist? + Which are the potential bioregenerative life support technologies of the future? + What are life support systems of future planetary habitats going to look like? + What are the experiences of the largest artificial ecosystem -- Biosphere 2? + What are the potential terrestrial benefits of life support development? ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A very good introduction and summary to the topic
Spaceflight life support and biospherics is a very well written bookthat gives engineers, scientists and students all information neededfor this topic. It may become, or it is already, the Standard-Handbook on life support systems for space. ... Read more