Spacecraft Structures and Mechanisms: From Concept to Launch

By: Larson, Wiley J.

Book Overview

Spacecraft Structures and Mechanisms describes the integral process of developing cost-effective, reliable structures and mechanical products for space programs. Processes are defined, methods are described and examples are given. It has been written by 24 engineers in the space industry, who cover the themes of (1) ensuring a successful mission, and (2) reducing total cost through good designs and intelligent risk management. Topics include: Introduction and requirements (development process, requirements documentation, requirements definition, space mission environments); Analysis (statics, dynamics and load analysis, fatigue and fracture mechanics, mechanics of materials, strength analysis, heat transfer and thermal effects); Verification and quality assurance (verification planning, structural, mechanical and environmental testing, quality assurance and configuration control, compliance documentation, structural reliability analysis, verification criteria - factors of safety, margins of safety, fracture control, test options); Design (spacecraft configuration development, finite element analysis, mechanism development, designing for producibility, structural design, materials, designing to control loads, load cycles, sensitivity analysis); Final verification (model correlation, risk management, launch readiness reviews). For system engineers, mechanical designers, stress analysts, dynamics and load analysts, technical leads, program managers.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0792334760
• ISBN13: 9780792334767
• Release Date: May 1995
• Publisher: Springer
• Length: 850 Pages
• Weight: 3.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.9" x 6.2" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Very Practical Book

I feel that it is a very practical book for young engineers who are already working for spacecrafts.

A great book on Spacecraft Structures

This book's greatest strength was its organization and presentation of information regarding spacecraft structures. As the subtitle says "from Concept to Launch". Information is presented first in the conceptual manner to gain the basic understanding of what goes into the design of a structure. He then follows this conceptual information with more detailed explanations of the behaviors and effects that specific components or types of structures exhibit which include the effects these provide to other spacecraft subsystems through the launch phase and while in space. His use of equations in describing the topics within the book is very to the point and he also includes plenty of figures and diagrams to help to concisely illustrate the topics at hand. In short he educates the reader to new topics very efficiently while not drowning in the details. For readers who want to delve into a subject more completely he presents references at the end of each chapter. The book's weak point is its treatment on mechanisms. Regarding mechanisms his treatment is more of a broad overview which is rather unfortunate. In the development of reliable spaceflight mechanisms the devil really is in the details. For anyone who wants a good reference for spaceflight mechanisms I recommend the book "Space Vehicle Mechanisms: Elements of Successful Design" or try to gather information from the proceedings of the Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium.

Comprehensive information on developing space structures

Sarafin has complied a wealth of useful information on the entire spacecraft structural design lifecycle. The information presented is both detailed, and well backed up by comprehensive references. The book also includes a very good overview of how structural design fits into the larger context of a spacecraft development program. A good book for both practicing structural engineers looking for an introduction to spacecraft structural issues, and systems engineers looking for a better understanding of the issues involved in designing and developing spacecraft structures.

Excellent text book!

This book is a must for anyone involved with spacecraftstructures and mechanisms engineering. Well written, with plenty of practical, real world spacecraft information, and a good amount of theoretical/analysis info. I think this is the only book of its kind. Written by real experts in the field, who obviously know what they are doing! Explains design, analysis, testing , and even nails down such things acceptance and qualification testing philosophies. The book is biased towards the structures side as this constitutes 3/4 of the text. Congratulations to all who contributed to this classical book!

Chapter 16: Modeling of Structures

Chapter 16 is amazing. James D. Christensen is amazing. He must be a genius. It is the best chapter of the book. Everything in this chapter is presented clearly and concisely. Overall the book is very useful, but Chapter 16 stands head and shoulders above the rest