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  • Book
  • © 2017

ACS Without an Attitude

  • Easy to read and understand text on spacecraft attitude control
  • Detailed description of all mathematics used
  • Many figures to help with conceptual understanding
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: NASA Monographs in Systems and Software Engineering (NASA)

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Table of contents (12 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvii
  2. Attitude Conventions and Definitions

    • Harold L. Hallock, Gary Welter, David G. Simpson, Christopher Rouff
    Pages 1-20
  3. General Orbit Background

    • Harold L. Hallock, Gary Welter, David G. Simpson, Christopher Rouff
    Pages 21-37
  4. Angular Momentum and Torque

    • Harold L. Hallock, Gary Welter, David G. Simpson, Christopher Rouff
    Pages 39-66
  5. Attitude Measurement Sensors

    • Harold L. Hallock, Gary Welter, David G. Simpson, Christopher Rouff
    Pages 67-93
  6. Attitude Actuators

    • Harold L. Hallock, Gary Welter, David G. Simpson, Christopher Rouff
    Pages 95-108
  7. Reference Models

    • Harold L. Hallock, Gary Welter, David G. Simpson, Christopher Rouff
    Pages 109-124
  8. Onboard Attitude Determination

    • Harold L. Hallock, Gary Welter, David G. Simpson, Christopher Rouff
    Pages 125-158
  9. Spacecraft State Estimation More Broadly

    • Harold L. Hallock, Gary Welter, David G. Simpson, Christopher Rouff
    Pages 159-168
  10. Onboard Orbit Computations

    • Harold L. Hallock, Gary Welter, David G. Simpson, Christopher Rouff
    Pages 169-176
  11. Control Laws: General Qualities

    • Harold L. Hallock, Gary Welter, David G. Simpson, Christopher Rouff
    Pages 177-196
  12. Control Laws: Attitude Applications

    • Harold L. Hallock, Gary Welter, David G. Simpson, Christopher Rouff
    Pages 197-212
  13. Mission Characteristics

    • Harold L. Hallock, Gary Welter, David G. Simpson, Christopher Rouff
    Pages 213-226
  14. Back Matter

    Pages 227-279

About this book

This book de-emphasizes the formal mathematical description of spacecraft on-board attitude and orbit applications in favor of a more qualitative, concept-oriented presentation of these topics. The information presented in this book was originally given as a set of lectures in 1999 and 2000 instigated by a NASA Flight Software Branch Chief at Goddard Space Flight Center.  The Branch Chief later suggested this book.  It provides  an approachable insight into the area and is not intended as an essential reference work.

ACS Without an Attitude is intended for programmers and testers new to the field who are seeking a commonsense understanding of the subject matter they are coding and testing in the hope that they will reduce their risk of introducing or missing the key software bug that causes an abrupt termination in their spacecraft’s mission.  In addition, the book will provide managers and others working with spacecraft with a basic understanding of this subject.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Bowie, USA

    Harold L. Hallock

  • Software Engineering Division, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA, Greenbelt, USA

    Gary Welter, David G. Simpson

  • Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University, Laurel, USA

    Christopher Rouff

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access