ABSTRACT

This monograph contains an overview of classical dynamics, providing a solid basis on which to build an understanding of the theory of interplanetary flights. The treatment of the topic is based on both historical and topical perspectives. The theoretical development is illustrated with a number of practical examples, bringing to bear the author's experience gained from working on the Soviet space programme. Many examples are taken from current space missions - new data is included on the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet, the flight of ULYSSES over the Solar poles and the Voyager's tour of the solar system.

chapter Chapter I|30 pages

The Universal Law of Gravitation

chapter Chapter II|8 pages

The Two Body Problem

chapter Chapter III|30 pages

Derivation of Kepler’s laws from Newton’s law

chapter Chapter IV|22 pages

Motion of Celestial Bodies

chapter Chapter V|7 pages

Ephemerides of Celestial Bodies

chapter Chapter VIII|24 pages

The N—body Problem

chapter Chapter IX|36 pages

The Restricted Three-Body Problem

chapter Chapter X|40 pages

The Theory of Perturbations

chapter Chapter XI|29 pages

Trajectories of Interplanetary Flights

chapter Chapter XII|27 pages

Flights to the Moon

chapter Chapter XIII|41 pages

Flights to the Planets

chapter Chapter XIV|42 pages

Canonical Equations of Celestial Mechanics