Aerospace Engineering Foundations - Astrodynamics and Space Mission Design

Turn orbital mechanics into mission-ready decisions. This comprehensive, up-to-the-minute guide takes you from the fundamentals of celestial motion to interplanetary tour design, low-thrust optimization, entry/aeroassist strategies, and propulsion-airframe integration-the complete path from equations to executable missions.

Built for both students and working engineers, it unifies astrodynamics with propulsion and flight systems so you can close real trades under real constraints. Each chapter connects theory to flight-proven practice, giving you the tools to design orbits, maneuvers, and trajectories that meet performance, cost, and risk targets.

What you'll master

Orbits and maneuvers: Hohmann/bi-elliptic transfers, plane changes, phasing, rendezvous, Lambert targeting, gravity assists, and constellation deployment.Advanced dynamics: perturbations, SRP/drag, CRTBP and Lagrange-point operations, halo/NRHO/DROs, and low-energy transfers via manifolds.Low-thrust mission design: optimal control (indirect and direct), shape-based methods, power-limited flight with eclipses, and long-duration navigation.Atmospheric flight and EDL: aerobraking, aerocapture, entry guidance, and TPS-aware corridor design.Propulsion and integration: thermodynamic cycles and performance maps; compressor/turbine aerodynamics; surge/stall margins; combustor mixing and emissions; afterburners; inlets/isolators; nozzles and thrust vectoring; engine matching and transients; noise and acoustics; ramjet/scramjet fundamentals; and installation effects that shape ascent and on-orbit performance.

Practice that sticks

500+ practice problems with answers span quick checks to multi-step design studies, ideal for coursework, interviews, and design reviews.

Who it's for

Advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and professionals in aerospace, mechanical, and systems engineering who want a single, rigorous, and application-driven reference for modern mission design.

Design missions that fly-efficiently, safely, and on budget-with a toolkit that scales from LEO to deep space.