Part I. Introduction

1. Introduction

A. Historical Notes
B. General Nature of Astronautics
C. Current State of Space Technology
D. Action Considerations

Part II. Technology

2. Space Environment

A. The Solar System
B. The Sun
C. The Planets

Mercury
Venus
Mars
The giant planets
Pluto

D. Moon
E. Asteroids
F. Comets
G. Meteorites
H. Micrometeorites and Dust
I. Radiation and Fields
J. Beyond the Solar System

3. Trajectories and Orbits

A. Fundamental Types of Trajectories and Orbits
B. Escape Velocity
C. Satellite Orbits
D. Lunar Flight
E. Interplanetary Flight
F. Escape From the Solar System
G. Powered Trajectories in Space
H. Velocities Near That of Light

4. Rocket Vehicles

A. General Description of Rocket Vehicles
B. Vehicle Parameters

5. Propulsion Systems

A. Principles of Operation of Rocket Engines
B. Types of Rocket Engines
C. Solid-Propellant Rocket
D. Liquid Bipropellant Chemical Rockets
E. Liquid Monopropellant Rocket
F. Nuclear Rockets
G. Thermonuclear Rockets
H. Solar Propulsion
I. Ion Propulsion
J. Plasma Rocket
K. Photon Rocket
L. Summary
M. Air-breathing and Recoverable Boosters

Part II. Technology-Continued

6. Propellants

A. General Features of Rocket Propellants
B. Solid Chemical Propellants
C. Liquid Chemical Bipropellants
D. Liquid Chemical Monopropellants
E. Combinations of Three or More Chemical Propellants
F. Free-Radical Propellants
G. Working Fluids for Nonchemical Rockets
H. Unconventional Propellant Packaging

7. Internal Power Sources

A. Power Needs
B. Batteries
C. Solar Power
D. Nuclear Sources

8. Structures and Materials

A. Possibilities for Materials Improvements

Structural strength
Extreme thermal environment

B. Thin Shell Structures
C. Large Structures
D. Structural Dynamic Problems
E. Temperature Control
F. Meteorite Hazard
G. Multipurpose Structures
H. Additional Areas of Investigation

9. Flight Path and Orientation Control

A. Control in Powered Flight
B. Orientation Control in Free Flight

Nature of the control problem
Control torques
Disturbing torques
Reference system instrumentation

C. Vehicle Packaging

10. Guidance

A. The Guidance of Space Vehicles

The guidance process
Guidance phases
Initial guidance
Midcourse guidance
Terminal guidance
Inertial guidance systems
Radar guidance systems for ballistic rockets
Combined radar-inertial systems
Illustrative accuracy data
Navigation in space

B. Physical Constants

11. Communication
12. Observation and Tracking

A. Visual Observation

The visibility of space objects
Specific cases
Detection of Earth satellites

B. Infrared Observation
C. Tracking

Purpose and problem of Tracking
Types of tracking systems
Radar and radio systems
Optical tracking systems
Infrared tracking

D. Orbit Determination
E The Location of Earth-Based Trackers

Part II. Technology - Continued

13. Atmospheric Flight

A. Continuous Atmospheric Flight

Occurrence of aerodynamic flight
Long-term flight

B. Atmospheric Penetration

Types of entries
Deceleration and heating
Influence of properties of the atmosphere
A simple analogy

C. Dynamics of Atmospheric Penetration

Direct descent
Lifting descent
Range and time of descent
Examples of deceleration loads
Heating during atmospheric penetration

D. Temperature, Heating Rates, and Payload Protection

Surface cooling systems
Visual phenomena

14. Landing and Recovery

A. Determining Factors
B. Velocity of Approach
C. Nature of Target
D. Nature of Payload
E. Weight Limitations
F. Controlled Landing in Soils
G. Water Landing

15. Environment of Manned Systems

A. Internal Environment of Manned Space Vehicles

Composition and pressure of the atmosphere
Gravitational Forces
Weightlessness
Temperature
Radiation
Air Supply

B. Food Preservation

Canning
Freezing
Freeze drying
Irradiation

C. Choice of Propellants for Launching
D. Artificial Gravity

16 Space Stations and Extraterrestrial Bases

A. Space Stations
B. Extraterrestrial Bases

17. Nuclear Weapon Effects in Space

A. Nuclear Weapon Effects on Personnel
B. Possible Communication Effects

18. Cost Factors and Ground Facilities

A. Nature of Space Activity
B. Inheritance from Weapon System Programs
C. Costs of High Priority and Uneven Workload
D. Cost Trends of the Missile Era
E. Sensitivity of Research and Development Costs
to Flight Test Program Size
F. Financial Burden-Short Term and Long Term
G. Flight Vehicles
H. Ground Equipment and Facilities

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Part II. Technology-continued

19. Current Programs

A. Vanguard
B. Redstone
C. Thor and Jupiter
D. Atlas and Titan
E. Large-Engine Developments
F. X-15 Manned Research Vehicle
G. Dyna-Soar

Part III. Applications

20. Specific Flight Possibilities

A. Ballistic Missiles
B. Sounding Rockets
C. Earth Satellites
D. Recoverable Satellites
E. Lunar Flights

Lunar impact
Circumlunar flight
Moon to escape
Lunar landing
Lunar satellites
Moon-to-Earth return
Space buoys

F. Interplanetary Flights

Artificial asteroid
Planetary satellites
Landings on Venus and Mars

G. Manned Flights
H. Effects of Time of Launching

Nature of the problem
Lunar flights
Interplanetary flights

21. Observation Satellites

A. General Application Possibilities
B. Some Historical Perspectives
C. Intelligence and Reconnaissance
D. Sensors for Use in Observation Satellites
E. Ability to See From an Observation Satellite
F. Cameras Suitable for Satellites
G. Returning Data From Observation Satellites
H. Mapping From Satellites: Some Preliminary Considerations
I. Photographic Aspects of Meteorological Observations From Satellites
J. Observation Satellites and Inspection
K. Some Possible Observation Satellite Combinations
L. Scientific and Civil Uses of Observation Satellites
M. The 24-Hour Satellite
N. Usefulness of Very Large Observation Satellites
O. Summary

22. Meteorological Satellites

A. Weather Information Obtainable From Early Satellites

The visibility of clouds from satellites
The use of cloud observations
Infrared observations
Improved forecasting through satellite observations
Coverage and continuity
Dissemination of satellite weather data

B. The Present Meteorological Satellite Program
C. Lines of Future Development
D. Weather Control

Part III. Applications-Continued

23. Navigation Satellites
A. Sphereographical Navigation
B. Doppler-Shift Navigation
C. Navigation Tables
D. Equipment Requirements

24. Satellites as Communication Relays
25. Balloon Satellites
26 Bombing from Satellites
27 Scientific Space Exploration

A. Fundamental Problems
B. Experimental Programs

Preliminary considerations
Experiments in space biology
Experiments with sounding rockets
Experiments with satellites
Lunar vehicles
Interplanetary vehicles

Part IV. Astronautics in Other Countries

28. Astronautics in the U. S. S. R

A. Soviet Interest in Space Flight
B. Soviet Literature on Space Flight
C. The Soviet Ballistic-Missile and Space-Flight Program

29. Astronautics in Other Countries

A. Astronautics in the United Kingdom
B. Astronautics in the People's Republic of China