The Space Environment: IMplications for Spacecraft Design

All facets of the space environment are presented, as categorized in the five main chapters of the book: vacuum, neutral, plasma, radiation, and micrometeoroid/orbital debris. Intended as a handy reference for practicing aerospace engineers, The Space Environment also serves as a suitable text for courses. It refers to the various computer codes used throughout the industry and provides examples to illustrate the application of the concepts discussed.

Dr. Tribble's other books include A Tribble's Guide to Space and the Princeton Guide to Advanced Physics.

Book Outline

A general outline is provided below. A more detailed outline can be downloaded as a 16kB pdf.

  1. Vacuum Environmental Effects
    1. Environment: Earths' Fields, Solar-Planetary Connection
    2. Effects: Solar UV Degradation, Contamination
  2. Neutral Environmental Effects
    1. Environment: Atmospheric Physics
    2. Effects: Aerodynamic Drag, Sputtering, Atomic Oxygen Erosion, Spacecraft Glow
  3. Plasma Environmental Effects
    1. Environment: Ionosphere, Magnetospher, Geomagnetic Storms
    2. Effects: Spacecraft Charging, Arc Discharging
  4. Radiation Environmental Effects
    1. Environment: Trapped Radiation Belts, Solar Proton Events, Galactic Cosmic Rays
    2. Effects: Total Dose, Dose Rate, Single Event
  5. Micrometeoroid/Orbital Debris Effects
    1. Environment: Empirical Models
    2. Effects: Hypervelocity Impact Damage

Endorsements

 

"There is, to my knowledge, no other book that provides its intended readership with as comprehensive and authoritative, yet compact and accessible, coverage of the subject of spacecraft environmental engineering."

—James A. Van Allen, Regent Distinguished Professor,
The University of Iowa

"This book successfully bridges the divide between space physicists' and the spacecraft designers' view of the space environment. It is a much needed and timely book with quite simple theoretical discussions... It is a valuable introduction to the subject of both scientific and practical importance."

—M. J. Rycroft,
Journal of Atmospheric and Terrestrial Physics

Take the Course

See Dr. Tribble's Professional Development course schedule if you'd like to take the 2 or 3 day course. In addition, the text is used in regular courses taught at the following colleges and universities:

Ordering the Book

In addition to the sources below, the book may be ordered at most local book stores.

The Space Environment: Implications for Spacecraft Design, ISBN 0-691-10299-6

Princeton University Press
8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. Eastern Time
(800) 777–4726 toll-free within the United States and Canada
(609) 883–1759 outside the United States and Canada

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Powell's Books

Errata

As with any text, a few typographical errors have been noted over time. Download a 12 kB pdf of errata to the first edition.