Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

For over fifty years satellites have circled the Earth and spacecraft have been used to explore our solar system. Every day ordinary people around the world use satellites for satellite television, GPS navigation, weather forecasts and other technologies. Many people are curious about how something gets into space - and stays there - and what the terms used in the media actually mean. Also, with the advent of space tourism, some people are starting to wonder if they too could go into space and what it would be like.

Here, the author explains the basics of what is involved, from the initial idea to the completion of the mission.

The beauty of this text, written by an engineer who is also an accomplished science writer, is that it covers the subject comprehensively, and yet is almost entirely descriptive and non-mathematical.

It deals with all aspects of spaceflight, from how to leave the Earth (including the design of the rocket, mission planning, navigation and communication), to life in space and the effects of weightlessness.

The book also includes sections describing how an amateur can track satellites and understand their trajectories, and on the future of spaceflight, touching on what is, and what is not, possible given present and expected future technologies.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• 1 Introduction (p. 1)
• Space (p. 2)
• Solar Wind and the Van Allen Radiation Belts (p. 2)
• Gravity (p. 5)
• Propulsion (p. 7)
• Orbits (p. 12)
• Inclination (p. 12)
• Eccentricity (p. 13)
• Space Debris (p. 14)
• Magnitude (p. 15)
• Space Law (p. 16)
• General Information (p. 17)
• 2 Rockets and Spacecraft (p. 19)
• Pre-spaceflight (p. 19)
• Rocket Basics (p. 26)
• Multistaging (p. 26)
• Launch Pad to Orbit (p. 29)
• Launch Vehicles (p. 30)
• Sounding Rockets (p. 33)
• Attitude Control and Movement (p. 34)
• Gravity Gradients and Tidal Forces (p. 34)
• Spin Stabilization (p. 37)
• Three Axis Stabilization (p. 37)
• Magnetic Torquers (p. 39)
• Spacecraft (p. 40)
• Communication and Navigation Spacecraft (p. 40)
• Fly-by Spacecraft (p. 40)
• Orbiter Spacecraft (p. 41)
• Atmospheric Spacecraft (p. 41)
• Lander and Rover Spacecraft (p. 42)
• Observatory Spacecraft (p. 42)
• Penetrator Spacecraft and Impactors (p. 43)
• Manned Spaceflight (p. 43)
• Power Systems (p. 44)
• Primary Energy Source (p. 44)
• Secondary Power Source (p. 48)
• Power Control and Distribution System (p. 50)
• Thermal Control Systems (p. 50)
• Thermal Protection for Re-entry Vehicles (p. 51)
• 3 Space Missions (p. 55)
• Launch System (p. 57)
• Launch Sites (p. 57)
• Launch Windows (p. 60)
• Landing Sites (p. 62)
• Earth Landing Sites (p. 62)
• Landing on Other Bodies in the Solar System (p. 67)
• Emergency Systems (p. 74)
• Launch Escape System (p. 74)
• Shuttle Emergency Egress System (p. 75)
• Shuttle Launch Abort (p. 75)
• In-flight Crew Escape System (p. 77)
• Mission Operations (p. 78)
• Testing and Pre-launch (p. 78)
• Launch (p. 78)
• End of Life (p. 79)
• Reliability (p. 80)
• 4 Movement in Three Dimensions (p. 83)
• Orbits (p. 84)
• Orbit Shape (p. 85)
• Types of Orbit (p. 88)
• Lagrangian Points (p. 93)
• Lagrangian Point 1 (L1) (p. 93)
• Lagrangian Point 2 (L2) (p. 94)
• Lagrangian Point 3 (L3) (p. 95)
• Lagrangian Points 4 and 5 (L4 and L5) (p. 95)
• Getting into Orbit (p. 96)
• Changing Orbits (p. 96)
• Perturbations (p. 97)
• Station-keeping (p. 97)
• Changing the Altitude or Shape of an Orbit (p. 98)
• Low Thrust Trajectory (p. 101)
• Orbit Inclination Changes or Out-of-Plane Orbit Changes (p. 102)
• Rendezvous and Intercept (p. 103)
• Interplanetary and Interstellar Trajectories (p. 104)
• Gravity Assist, Fly-by or Sling Shot (p. 105)
• Ground Tracks (p. 108)
• 5 Propulsion Systems (p. 115)
• Chemical Rocket Propulsion (p. 116)
• Solid Propellants or Rocket Motors (p. 116)
• Liquid Propellants or Rocket Engines (p. 120)
• Gelled Propellants (p. 126)
• Hybrid Propellants (p. 126)
• Cold Gas Propellants (p. 127)
• Electric Propulsion (p. 127)
• Electrothermal Systems (p. 128)
• Electrostatic Engines or Ion Drives (p. 128)
• Electromagnetic or Magnetoplasma Engines (p. 130)
• Nuclear Propulsion (p. 131)
• Nuclear Electric Rocket (p. 131)
• Solar Thermal Propulsion (STP) (p. 131)
• Other Forms of Propulsion (p. 132)
• 6 Navigation in Three Dimensions (p. 133)
• Coordinate Systems (p. 134)
• Locating Spacecraft (p. 139)
• Inertial Navigation (p. 140)
• Magnetometers (p. 142)
• External References (p. 143)
• Earth-based Navigation and Tracking Systems (p. 148)
• Lunar and Interplanetary Systems (p. 148)
• Time Dilation and Relativistic Effects (p. 149)
• 7 Communication (p. 151)
• Tracking, Telemetry and Command (p. 151)
• Radiowave Communication (p. 152)
• Ground Stations (p. 152)
• Spacecraft Systems (p. 154)
• Antennas, Transmitters and Receivers (p. 154)
• Radio Blackout (p. 158)
• Radar (p. 162)
• Parcels to Space (p. 163)
• Parcels from Space (p. 164)
• Human Communications (p. 165)
• Radio and Video Links (p. 167)
• 8 Humans in Space (p. 169)
• Launch and Re-entry (p. 169)
• Acceleration (p. 169)
• Vibration and Sound (p. 173)
• Environmental Control and Life Support (p. 174)
• Air Quality (p. 174)
• Pressure (p. 175)
• Temperature (p. 177)
• Fire Suppression (p. 179)
• Water (p. 180)
• Radiation (p. 181)
• Meteoroid Strike and Space Debris (p. 184)
• Living in Space (p. 185)
• Freefall Effects (p. 185)
• Space Sickness (p. 188)
• Toilet (p. 189)
• Ablutions (p. 194)
• Clothing (p. 195)
• Sleep (p. 199)
• Psychological Effects (p. 200)
• Food (p. 201)
• Return to Earth (p. 207)
• 9 Observing Satellites (p. 209)
• Catalogues of Objects in Space (p. 212)
• International Identification Number (p. 213)
• Space Catalogue (p. 213)
• Natural Bodies (p. 214)
• Tracking Spacefaring Objects (p. 216)
• Optical (p. 217)
• Infrared Tracking (p. 221)
• Radio (p. 221)
• Radar (p. 222)
• Deep Space (p. 223)
• Tracking from Space (p. 225)
• Amateur Tracking (p. 226)
• Optical (p. 226)
• Radio (p. 232)
• Radar (p. 235)
• 10 Where to Go (p. 237)
• The Sun (p. 237)
• Planets and Their Satellites (p. 240)
• Mercury (p. 240)
• Venus (p. 245)
• Earth (p. 247)
• Mars (p. 251)
• Jupiter (p. 255)
• Saturn (p. 258)
• Uranus (p. 261)
• Neptune (p. 263)
• Dwarf Planets (p. 264)
• Pluto (p. 265)
• Ceres (p. 266)
• Eris (2003 UB313) (p. 266)
• Small Solar System Bodies (p. 267)
• Asteroids (p. 267)
• Comets (p. 269)
• 11 The Future (p. 273)
• Commercial Space Flight (p. 274)
• Space Tourism (p. 276)
• Future Propulsion Systems (p. 279)
• Solar Sailing (p. 279)
• Beam Sailing (p. 284)
• Tethers (p. 292)
• Space Elevators (p. 296)
• Space Fountain (p. 297)
• Sky Hooks (p. 298)
• Nuclear (p. 298)
• Magnetic Satellite Launch System or Magnetic Mass Drivers (p. 300)
• The Distant Future (p. 301)
• Appendix A Orbital Elements (p. 303)
• Inclination (i) (p. 303)
• Longitude of the Ascending Node ([Omega]) (p. 304)
• Argument of Periapsis or Perigee ([omega]) (p. 305)
• Eccentricity (e) (p. 305)
• Semi-major Axis (a) (p. 306)
• Anomaly at Epoch (v) (p. 306)
• Time of Periapsis or Perigee Passage (T) (p. 306)
• Appendix B Coordinate Systems (p. 307)
• Geocentric Coordinate Systems (p. 307)
• Heliocentric Coordinate Systems (p. 307)
• Perifocal Coordinate System (p. 307)
• Appendix C Web Site Addresses (p. 309)
• Appendix D Practical Information for Observing Satellites (p. 311)
• Two-Line Element (TLE) Sets (p. 312)
• Positional Observations (p. 314)
• Flash Period Observations (p. 316)
• Types of Reflection (p. 316)
• Synodic Effect (p. 316)
• Measurement of Flash Period (p. 317)
• Brightness Measurement (p. 318)
• Glossary (p. 319)
• Bibliography (p. 327)
• Index (p. 329)

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

The term "rocket science" implies that one needs a very sophisticated level of technological and scientific knowledge to understand the principles of this field. However, Rogers (Isle of Wight, UK) attempts to explain these seemingly complex phenomena in relatively simple terms, i.e., without reference to mathematics. The introduction considers basic definitions of space, gravity, propulsion, and orbits, and presents the concept that the definition of space is flexible. Other chapters consider in detail diverse topics such as spacecraft, space missions, movement in three dimensions, propulsion systems, communications satellites, humans in space, and future prospects. Some potential developments in the last area are space elevators, nuclear propulsion systems, and space tethers. Rogers does a good job in explaining these topics in accessible language. The chapters include line drawings and half-tone and color photographs; technical appendixes and a glossary augment the text. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers. J. Z. Kiss Miami University

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Dr Lucy Rogers is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and a member of the British Association of Science Writers. She is an engineer, and is currently working on the Launch Escape System propulsion unit for StarChaser, the UK's commercial space access company. She has published articles in The Guardian national newspaper, and on BBC Online.