Fundamentals of astrodynamics
by Roger R. Bate · first published 1971
55% recommend45% neutral
Why HN recommends it
An approachable introduction to orbital mechanics covering core theory before research papers. Often used as a college textbook, it suits engineering students and self-learners.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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…trajectories are actually ellipses, not parabolas. If the Earth were flat and the gravity vector were constant, then they would be actual parabolas. Orbital mechanics is very counterintuitive. I recommend Fundamentals of Astrodynamics if you'd like to learn more, or play KSP rather than FSP. > Well it's more like a quarter On this you are correct, the map I looked at deceived me. :)
on “Blue Origin: Images and Videos from Our First Flight” ↗…favorite readings for anyone willing to delve into the subject: Orbital Mechanics for Engineering Students by Howard D. Curtis https://www.amazon.com/Orbital-Mechanics-Engineering-Student... Fundamentals of Astrodynamics (aka BMW) by Roger R. Bate, Donald D. Mueller, Jerry E. White, William W. Saylor https://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Astrodynamics-Second-Dov...
on “Orbital Mechanics” ↗…Strategic Missile Guidance, Seventh Edition https://www.amazon.com/Tactical-Strategic-Missile-Guidance-S... Tactical missile warheads https://www.amazon.com/Tactical-Warheads-Progress-Astronauti... Fundamentals of Astrodynamics https://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Astrodynamics-Second-Dov...
on “Homemade polarimetric synthetic aperture radar drone” ↗…bachelor's and master's in aerospace engineering, and they are not to be taken lightly; 24% of engineering students dropped out after freshman year at my university. The only book I recommend for you is Fundamentals of Astrodynamics (BMW); it's an approachable introduction orbit design/analysis that you should be able to take on knowing calculus through differential equations.
on “SpaceX Launching Dragon Capsule to Space Station” ↗The book Fundamentals of Astrodynamics" by Bate, Mueller and White, where it seems like these notes come from was my Orbital Mechanics textbook in college. Our final project was to program a crude missile defense system. Great book. It's…
on “Basics of Space Flight: Orbital Mechanics” ↗I started with Bate, Mueller, White: Fundamentals of Astrodynamics, which is US Air force material. It contains two courses, so you should skip some of the chapters at first. Then I read a bunch of research papers and more in depth literature. Richard Battin's work…
on “Ask HN: What kind of math do you study in your free time?” ↗There's also Fundamentals of Astrodynamics https://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Astrodynamics-Second-Dov... Which builds up from first principles a ballistic missile defence system. Always useful to have.
on “Homemade 6 GHz pulse compression radar” ↗This page is mostly a digest of the book "Fundamentals of Astrodynamics" by Bate, Mueller and White (known as the "BMW" after the authors). This page is useful as a reference but not really good for learning material. I find the Wikipedia pages on this subject a bit shallow…
on “Basics of Space Flight: Orbital Mechanics” ↗…info from Jim from a follow-up interview[2]: >Cantrell ... loaned him some textbooks to study. The books were "Rocket Propulsion Elements," "Aerothermodynamics of Gas Turbine and Rocket Propulsion," "Fundamentals of Astrodynamics," and the "International Reference Guide to Space Launch Systems." He would quote passages verbatim from these books. He became very conversant in the material. ... Musk would absorb this information…
on “Elon Musk Tried to Destroy a Tesla Whistleblower” ↗…of detail about what he read leading up to his founding of SpaceX. They're all hard science texts – Rocket Propulsion Elements (Sutton), Aerothermodynamics of Gas Turbine and Rocket Propulsion (Oates), Fundamentals of Astrodynamics (Bate). From everything I've heard, he's well-versed in the material in a way that not many CEOs are.
on “Background on the Falcon 9 Launch” ↗> I have a copy of "Fundamentals of Astrodynamics" by Bate, Mueller et al and I would love to do something with it this holiday season. What do you plan on doing with it? I'd love to hear more about what the book is about and a project you might do.
on “Challenging projects every programmer should try (2019)” ↗> I don’t think he reads I've read that he's read "Rocketeers" by Belfiore, along with "Rocket Propulsion Elements" and "Fundamentals of Astrodynamics". I have all three. The latter two are very non-trivial. Musk is extremely well informed about technology. The idea that he doesn't read is not compelling.
on “Libraries and Well-Being: A Case Study from The New York Public Library” ↗"Musk had spent months studying the aerospace industry and the physics behind it. From Cantrell and others, he'd borrowed Rocket Propulsion Elements, Fundamentals of Astrodynamics, and Aerothermodynamics of Gas Turbine and Rocket Propulsion, along with several more seminal texts." "Elon Musk" by Vance pg 108 All three of those books are advanced engineering books (I have a copy…
on “Steve Wozniak: Life to me was never about accomplishment, but about happiness” ↗