Modern aerospace vehicles, such as the space shuttle, other launch vehicles, and long-range ballistic missiles, do not discriminate between atmospheric and space flight. Most texts on flight dynamics, however, make this artificial distinction and therefore do not simultaneously cover aircraft and spacecraft. Bridging this gap in the literature, Atmospheric and Space Flight Dynamics is a unified presentation, demonstrating that the two disciplines have actually evolved from the same set of physical principles.

Key features:

* Introduction to a broad range of modern topics in an accessible, yet mathematically rigorous presentation

* Many numerical examples and simulations utilizing MATLAB^® and Simulink^® fully integrated throughout the work

* Simulations presented-usually not found in books on the same topic-are both realistic and instructive

* Examples allow readers to easily build their own simulations for aircraft, missiles, launch vehicles, reentry vehicles, and spacecraft

* Software is used as an instructional, hands-on tool, moving away from the "cookbook" approach found in other works

* Supplementary material and MATLAB/Simulink code available

* Numerous illustrations and end-of-chapter exercises

* Separate solutions manual available to instructors upon request

Primarily useful as a textbook for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate-level students, the work is also an excellent reference or self-study guide for researchers and practitioners in aerospace engineering, aviation, mechanical engineering, dynamics, astrodynamics, aeronautics, and astronautics.

Attitude and Kinematics of Coordinate Frames.- Planetary Form and Gravity.- Translational Motion of Aerospace Vehicles.- Orbital Mechanics.- Perturbed Orbits.- The Three-Body Problem.- Rocket Propulsion.- Planetary Atmosphere.- Elements of Aerodynamics.- Airbreathing Propulsion.- Atmospheric and Transatmospheric Trajectories.- Attitude Dynamics.- Attitude Control Systems.- Advanced Modeling and Simulation Concepts.