Table Of ContentPurchased from American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Space Vehicle Design
Second Edition
Purchased from American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
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Purchased from American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc., Reston, Virginia
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Griffin, Michael D. (Michael Douglas), 1949-
Space vehicle design / Michael D. Griffin, James R. French. - 2nd ed.
p. cm. - (AIAA education series)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-56347-539-1
1. Space vehicles-Design and construction. I. French, James R. II.
Title. III. Series.
TL875.G68 2004
629.47-dc22
2003019167
ISBN 1-56347-539-1
Copyright © 2004 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics,
Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States. No part of this publication
may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, or
stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of
the publisher.
Purchased from American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
AIAA Education Series
Editor-in-Chief
Joseph A. Schetz
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Editorial Board
Takahira Aoki Brian Landrum
University of Tokyo University of Alabama,
Huntsville
Robert H. Bishop Robert G. Loewy
University of Texas at Austin Georgia Institute of Technology
Aaron R. Byerley Achille Messac
U.S. Air Force Academy Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Richard Colgren Michael Mohaghegh
Lockheed Martin Corporation The Boeing Company
Kajal K. Gupta Todd I Mosher
NASA Dryden Flight Research University of Utah
Center
Albert D. Helfrick Dora E. Musielak
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Northrop Grumman
University Corporation
David K. Holger Conrad F. Newberry
Iowa State University Naval Postgraduate School
Rakesh K. Kapania David K. Schmidt
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and University of Colorado,
State University Colorado Springs
David M. Van Wie
Johns Hopkins University
Purchased from American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Space Vehicle Design
Second Edition
Michael D. Griffin
Oak Hill, Virginia
James R. French
Las Cruces, New Mexico
EDUCATION SERIES
Joseph A. Schetz
Series Editor-in-Chief
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, Virginia
Published by
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc.
1801 Alexander Bell Drive, Reston, VA 20191-4344
Purchased from American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
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Purchased from American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Foreword
This second edition of Space Vehicle Design by Michael D. Griffin and James
R. French is an updated, thorough treatment of an important and rapidly evolving
subject in the aerospace field. The first edition has been a valuable part of the
AIAA Education Book Series, and we are very pleased to welcome this new
edition to the series. The second edition features the addition of a new chapter on
reliability analysis, as well as more and updated technical material and many
excercises.
This design textbook is arranged in a logical fashion starting with mission
considerations then spacecraft environment, astrodynamics, propulsion, atmos-
pheric entry, attitude control, configuration and structures, subsystems, and
finally reliability, so that university courses at different academic levels can be
based upon it. In addition, this text can be used as a basis for continuing education
short courses or independent self study. The book is divided into 12 chapters and
2 appendices covering more than 600 pages.
The AIAA Education Series aims to cover a broad range of topics in the
general aerospace field, including basic theory, applications, and design. A
complete list of titles published in the series can be found on the last pages in this
volume. The philosophy of the series is to develop textbooks that can be used in a
college or university setting, instructional materials for intensive continuing
education and professional development courses, and also books that can serve as
the basis for independent self study for working professionals in the aerospace
field. Suggestions for new topics and authors for the series are always welcome.
Joseph A. Schetz
Editor-in-Chief
AIAA Education Series
VII
Purchased from American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
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Purchased from American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Foreword to the Previous Edition
The publication of Space Vehicle Design by Michael D. Griffin and James
R. French satisfies an urgent need for a comprehensive text on space systems
engineering. This new text provides both suitable material for senior-level
courses in aerospace engineering and a useful reference for the practicing
aerospace engineer. The text incorporates several different engineering
disciplines that must be considered concurrently as a part of the integrated
design process and optimization. It also gives an excellent description of the
design process and its accompanying tradeoffs for subsystems such as propulsion,
power sources, guidance and control, and communications.
The text starts with an overall description of the basic mission considerations
for spacecraft design, including space environment, astrodynamics, and
atmospheric reentry. Then the various subsystems are discussed, and in each
case both the theoretical background and the current engineering practice are
fully explained. Thus the reader is exposed to the overall systems-engineering
process, with its attendant conflicting requirements of individual subsystems.
Space Vehicle Design reflects the authors' long experience with the spacecraft
design process. It embodies a wealth of information for designers and research
engineers alike. But most importantly, it provides the fundamental knowledge for
the space systems engineer to evaluate the overall impact of candidate design
concepts on the various component subsystems and the integrated system leading
to the final design selection.
With the national commitment to space exploration, as evidenced by the
continuing support of the Space Station and the National Aero-Space Plane
programs, this new text on space system engineering will prove a timely service
in support of future space activities.
J. S. PRZEMIENIECKI
Editor-in-Chief
AIAA Education Series
1991
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