Dynamics of Atmospheric Re-Entry (AIAA Education)

This is such a pleasure to read. I recently started to educate myself on the topic of re-entry dynamics of ballistic missile RVs. This was the first text I chose to begin my journey in this specialized subject. And I wasn't disappointed. I couldn't have chosen a better text for my 1st one on the subject matter. I won't go into details on the contents as, thanks to Amazon.com's wonderful "Click to Look Inside" feature, you can see the table of contents and get a good preview of the text within.I found the sections on the application of dynamics to identifying decoys and true re-entry vehicles, as well as the discussions on the dynamics of maneuvering re-entry vehicles and the designs used to achieve maneuvering re-entry , to be particularly educational. While briefly touching on the re-entry dynamics of winged vehicles such as the space shuttle, this text is primarily devoted to ballistic missile warheads, the topic in which I was most interested. The second chapter of the text, which discusses the U.S. Standard Atmosphere 1976 model (a model still widely used in ballistic missile applications and modeling), was a particularly well done distillation of the model to read before diving into the actual standard document itself.The book makes excellent use of well-done illustrations throughout the text, and standard vector and matrix notations, to reinforce the subjects being discussed.The technical content is so discussed so well that any competent engineer with an above average mathematical background (i.e. just basic college-level calculus and physics - you don't have to be an aerospace engineer or a mathematics major) will be able to follow this discussion. A truly well done text.The only complaints that I have are minor but should be corrected with (my theory) more modern publishing software. For example, often, when comparing two reference frames in a discussion, the all axes of one frame will be labeled with a lower-case "x" with subscripts of 1, 2, and 3. All the axes of the second frame will be labeled with upper-case "X" with subscripts of 1, 2, and 3. In the paragraph, subscripts are used for the 1, 2, and 3. But in the accompanying illustration, subscripts aren't used. All axes will be "x1", "x2", "x3" in one frame and "X1", "X2" and "X3" in the other frame. Another issue I have is the fact that when referencing a vector within a sentence, it will be generally represented in a bold font, but in the accompanying illustration, the vector label is shown in bold plus with the vector arrow on over the symbol. Today's software can put the arrow symbol in line over the symbol in the text, as well as in a graphic. These issues should be updated in a future edition.The index is satisfactory but there is no symbol reference section. However, the text is so thorough in explaining each symbol and being consistent in notation, that this particular text suffers little from the absence of a symbol reference section.The appendices in the back of the text are very helpful review and reference sections.If you need to become familiar with the dynamics of ballistic missile re-entry vehicles, this text must be on your bookshelf by your desk. There aren't many works out there devoted to this subject. So far, I have found none that can compare to this one. I highly recommend this text to you.

Recommend the previous version "Reentry vehicle dynamics" if you can find it. This version is much more difficult to follow the ideas and concepts logically. Also, the chapters are presented in a different order and some have been removed. Perfect example of the original text being better than the revision.

I have consulted this book many times over the past several years. Here are some of my observations:Pros:1) The book is mathematically simple. Basic calculus and perhaps basic differential equations are enough.2) It is reasonably self-contained and complete as far as ordinary engineering applications are concerned.Cons:1) This book is riddled with typos. Once you start going through the equations and try to re-derive them, you notice that there are numerous (intermediate) errors and typos.2) The derivations are confusing and unclear in the following sense: if one is trying to derive an equation, they usually start with clearly stating the assumptions and follow a MINIMUM number of mathematical manipulations to arrive at the conclusion. The derivations in this book however, include unnecessary manipulations that have nothing to do with the actual derivations but they happen to be true or sometimes useful way of looking at these intermediate results. This makes the derivations long and confusing and sometimes impossible to follow.3) The notation for physical quantities such as lift, drag etc. is standard, however the labeling of axis is very confusing. This problem is further exacerbated by poor type setting of the book.4) The discussions are usually incoherent and jump from one topic to another. It seems to me that each section was written independently and compiled later as opposed to one continuous thread.If you are thinking of buying this book, my advice would be to access parts of this book on line and devote reasonable time to see if you like what you see.