{"product_id":"spacecraft-systems-engineering-handbook-thalen-r-ashford-9798187821204","title":"Spacecraft Systems Engineering Handbook: Design, Integration, and Modern Practice","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe engineering knowledge required to design a spacecraft is spread across dozens of specialist textbooks, standards documents, and conference proceedings - each excellent within its discipline, none connecting the whole.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis handbook closes that gap.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwenty chapters develop every major spacecraft subsystem at working-engineer depth - governing equations derived, not just stated; numerical examples carried to computed results; and cross-references that trace every output to the inputs it feeds in every adjacent chapter. A single spacecraft - a 1,500 kg Earth observation satellite in Sun-synchronous orbit at 500 km - runs as the worked example throughout, so every formula lands on real numbers and every result is traceable across the full design.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCoverage includes: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpace environment: radiation dose, plasma charging, atomic oxygen flux, thermal cycling, and debris risk - and how each constrains every subsystem that follows\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrbital mechanics and mission analysis: vis-viva equation, eclipse fraction, nodal regression, constellation design\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChemical and electric propulsion sizing: specific impulse trades, propellant mass computation, and the power-transfer time tradeoff for all-electric platforms\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eElectrical power systems: solar array sizing and degradation, battery management, power conditioning architecture, eclipse and sunlit mode budgets\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAttitude determination and control: disturbance torque analysis, sensor and actuator selection, linearised control laws\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStructures: launch load cases, natural frequency requirements, material selection, ECSS-compliant design margins\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThermal control: coating selection, MLI sizing, radiator area, heater allocation, eclipse-sunlit cycling\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTelecommunications: link budget development, Friis transmission equation, noise temperature, uplink and downlink margin\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTelemetry, command, and on-board data handling; EMC and ECSS-compliant verification; AIV test sequencing and model philosophy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSmall satellite and CubeSat systems engineering at genuine design depth - subsystem selection under real mass, power, and volume constraints\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eModel-based systems engineering: SysML architecture modelling, interface control, requirement traceability, digital twin integration\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eBoth heritage-qualified and commercial new space practice - reusable launch vehicles, rideshare, mega-constellation operations, software-defined ground infrastructure - are addressed throughout. ECSS and CCSDS standards provide the governing framework where they apply.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor engineers entering spacecraft programmes or transitioning into systems roles; graduate students seeking a comprehensive systems-level reference; and practitioners who need one structured resource that connects every discipline and every decision.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Thalen R. Ashford\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798187821204\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Independently Published\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 07\/18\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 486\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 2.46lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 11.00h x 8.50w x 0.98d","brand":"Thalen R. Ashford","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":49084342698239,"sku":"9798187821204","price":67.78,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/spacecraft-systems-engineering-handbook-thalen-r-ashford-9798187821204","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}