This is an updated version of a text presenting a unified treatment of the interdisciplinary areas involved in space vehicle and mission design from the viewpoint of the systems engineer. Intending the work as an advanced textbook for a typical aerospace engineering curriculum, the authors discuss how to synthesize the knowledge and limits of various fields at the overall systems level. Chapters cover mission design, spacecraft environment, astrodynamics, propulsion, atmospheric entry, attitude determination and control, configuration and structural design, thermal control, power systems, telecommunications. They have also added a new chapter on reliability analysis. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)