799 pgs, 1999, AIAA
ISBN 978-1563473425

During the three centuries between the work of Kepler and Newton and the launching of Sputnik, mathematicians developed sophisticated methods of predicting the natural movement of celestial bodies in our Solar system. Battin's textbook includes this rich history in a foundation of mathematical essentials on which he clearly and logically constructs the theories of astrodynamics and space navigation that eventually led to space exploration. The complete explanations for each concept presented eliminate the need for additional references, and the chapters' independence allows them to be taught in any order, at various levels.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Hypergeometric Functions and Elliptic Integrals
2. Some Basic Topics in Analytical Dynamics
3. The Problem of Two Bodies
4. Two-Body Orbits and The Initial-Value Problem
5. Solving Kepler's Equation
6. Two-Body Orbital Boundary-Value Problem
7. Solving Lambert's Problem

Part II

8. Non-Keplerian Motion
9. Patched-Conic Orbits and Perturbation Methods
10. Variation of Parameters
11. Two-Body Orbital Transfer
12. Numerical Integration of Differential Equations
13. The Celestial Position Fix
14. Space Navigation