Spaceflight Dynamics: Third Edition

The book arrived on time and is precisely what I needed for my Aerospace Mechanics class. I would recommend this to anyone needing the book for class.

This book is good.

Very informative book with good details

Very Good

I've used various versions of this book for more than 20 years (starting with the original photocopies). It is a standard "go to book" when I'm explaining concepts in orbital mechanics to my students. The physics haven't changed over the years, but the book has been updated along the way.As an added bonus, Wiesel CORRECTLY derives the rocket equation (Section 7.2) while the 1971 "classic" from Dover gets Newton's Second Law wrong while fumbling through the derivation of the rocket equation (on page 8 of that "classic"). :)

While the overall content was good, the paper that the book was printed on had numerous ink problems and creases, although I specifically purchased a NEW CONDITION Item. I can forgive a defective page with a folded edge, but there were at least 4 non consecutive pages with total page angled folds/creases/cuts so bad that the page of the book was almost perforated. It does not look like it was ever opened or a returned/USED item, so I can only surmise that the printing quality control of the publisher is terrible. I would not have spent the extra $10 for a new item if it could have gotten a gently used book in the same condition of this new one. Overall, I am disappointed in this purchase because I don't feel like paper defects are a reason to return a book, but spending full price for a damaged book frustrates me.

Some good some bad with this book: Most chapters include good introductory material, and suggestions for further reading. But explanations are often terse, and samples are generally theoretical. Challenging real problems are offered at the end of each chapter, but no solutions or answers to problems are given. I emailed Dr. Wiesel re. answers to problems, got an auto-confirm that my message was received, but no answer.To me, "Spaceflight Dynamics" implies interplanetary and perhaps interstellar flight. However, only one (very weak) chapter on this, Ch 11. Here Wiesel, for instance, refers to the "Olberth" maneuvers only in a problem, misspells Dr. Hermann Oberth's name, and ignores the significance of his work. And this is a 2010 3rd edition? Shameful. Then he spends 1/4 of the chapter on Lagrangian points and their stability. Really? References for this chapter are 1964 & 1971. A more usable title for this book would be its strength, "Earth Satellite Dynamics for Engineers". Maybe with Wiesel's name misspelled.If you like the clarity of physicist Dr. Richard Feynman, you will likely not appreciate the succinct engineer's approach of Wiesel. I have put Wiesel on the shelf, and have ordered Bate's "Fundamentals of Astrodynamics", which, per its on-line preview, should be to my liking. It looks more complete, is accurately dated 1971, and is by my favorite low cost publisher, Dover.

I agree that Wiesel text is a Succint and Direct to the Point reference on the subject with Straightforward analytical derivations.Dynamics field as a particular branch of Classical ( Newtonian & Keplerian ) Analytical ( Non Quantum ) Mechanics is indeed a Vast subject, and for such Mr. Wiesel has correctly Named the actual reference [ https://www.amazon.com/dp/1452879591/ ] "Spaceflight" dynamics in distinction from his other two works [ https://www.amazon.com/dp/1453781471/ ] on "Astrodynamics" and [ https://www.amazon.com/dp/1453611983/ ] on "Orbit Determination".The Vast and overlapping nature of research fields under Aerospace Dynamics "umbrella" encompasses Spherical Astronomy, Celestial and Orbital Mechanics, plus Solar System, Astro & Spaceflight Dynamics just to name a few.Just as an aid for other interested readers in further references on some of those fields, I am providing below a select list of titles covering as much as possible such a Vast territory ( which has been consistently "explored" since the very early days of "knowledge" revolution, with even further roots since the beginning of Humanity, recorded from our prehistoric counterparts fascination with the "movement" of celestial bodies ).[ SPHERICAL ASTRONOMY ]Textbook on Spherical AstronomySpherical AstronomyComputational Spherical AstronomyA Treatise On Spherical Trigonometry, and Its Application to Geodesy and AstronomyA Treatise on Spherical Astronomy[ CELESTIAL MECHANICS ]Methods of Celestial Mechanics: Volume I: Physical, Mathematical, and Numerical Principles (Astronomy and Astrophysics Library)Methods of Celestial Mechanics: Volume II: Application to Planetary System, Geodynamics and Satellite Geodesy (Astronomy and Astrophysics Library)Celestial Mechanics and Astrodynamics: Theory and Practice (Astrophysics and Space Science Library)Analytical Techniques of Celestial MechanicsEssential Relativistic Celestial MechanicsFundamentals of Celestial Mechanics, 2nd Revised & Enlarged EditionAn Introduction to Celestial Mechanics (Dover Books on Astronomy)[ ORBITAL MECHANICS ]Orbital MechanicsOrbital Mechanics for Engineering Students (Aerospace Engineering)Orbital Mechanics, Third Edition (AIAA Education Series)[ ORBITAL MOTION ]Orbital Motion, Fourth EditionOrbital Motion in Strongly Perturbed Environments: Applications to Asteroid, Comet and Planetary Satellite Orbiters (Springer Praxis Books)[ THEORY OF ORBITS ]Theory of Orbits: Volume 1: Integrable Systems and Non-perturbative Methods (Astronomy and Astrophysics Library)Theory of Orbits: Perturbative and Geometrical Methods (Astronomy and Astrophysics Library)Orbits: 2nd Order Singularity-free SolutionsTheory and Design Methods of Special Space Orbits[ SATELLITE ORBITS ]Handbook of Satellite Orbits: From Kepler to GPSSatellites: Orbits and MissionsSatellite Orbits: Models, Methods and ApplicationsLow Earth Orbit Satellite Design (Space Technology Library)[ ASTRODYNAMICS ]An Introduction to the Mathematics and Methods of Astrodynamics, Revised Edition (AIAA Education Series)Fundamentals of Astrodynamics and Applications, 4th ed. (Space Technology Library)Celestial Mechanics and Astrodynamics: Theory and Practice (Astrophysics and Space Science Library)Space Vehicle Guidance Control and Astrodynamics (AIAA Education Series)Practical Astrodynamics (Springer Aerospace Technology)Celestial Dynamics at High Eccentricities (Advances in Astronomy and Astrophysics)[ SPACEFLIGHT DYNAMICS ]Space Flight Dynamics (Aerospace Series)Astronautics: The Physics of Space FlightSpacecraft Modeling, Attitude Determination, and Control: Quaternion-Based Approach