Spacecraft Trajectory Optimization (Cambridge Aerospace Series, Series Number 29)

This is an excellent collection of papers on the state of the art of spacecraft trajectory optimization, ranging from classical techniques such as primer vector theory to modern techniques in evolutionary methods. While the book contains some survey material, the get the most out of this book the reader needs some background in numerical optimization and in optimal control theory.

In the first two chapters every odd page has a line where the lettering was not properly printed onto the page. The first two chapters had 20 lines from the book missing, I am uncertain to the total number of lines missing.

Perfect for the class!

Consider this is an indispensable resource if you are working (as a professional or researcher) in the area of dynamical systems trajectory optimization or computational optimal control. The editor (Prof. Conway) made pioneering contributions to numerical solution methods of optimal control problems (collocation methods in particular), and as another reviewer has pointed out, the set of articles contained in this book indeed reflects the state of the art in this field at this time.

The chapters of Spacecraft Trajectory Optimization are an exhibit of the current state of the art for a variety of approaches to trajectory optimization. While this is not an end-all, be-all book on the topic, it does an excellent job at explaining the different techniques. The book contains both classical (indirect) as well as direct approaches to optimal control. I would recommend a basic understanding of classical optimal control theory before reading this work.