Applied Orbit Perturbation and Maintenance

Over the last 60 years, system engineers and space mission designers/analysts have invented and refined various orbits to meet the challenges of space technology applications. The first edition of this book summarized the perturbation theories and control (station keeping) algorithms needed to understand the dynamics, stability, and maintenance of those orbits. The book has served as an important resource, due to its collection of methods of orbital control and its communication of perturbation theories. This second edition contains three new chapters that will enrich the reader's understanding of major perturbation theories through illuminating derivations. The content now includes space debris, the space catalog, and new advances in atmospheric density models. Readers will also find the new material in cluster formation design and constellation maintenance very useful. A software package accompanies the text.