Building on the methods of H. J. Kelley, a pioneering instructor from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, this textbook for graduate students in engineering deals with theory and applications of optimal control in aerospace. No prior knowledge of aerospace engineering is assumed. The book begins with a historical overview, and a historical perspective is maintained throughout, with each new development accompanied by information on when, why, how, and by whom it came into being. The theoretical section begins with a self-contained chapter on parameter optimization, presented via 14 theorems, then covers the calculus of variations, the minimum principle of Pontryagin and Hestenes, and the Jacobi test. The application section contains case studies in areas such as atmospheric flight, rocket performance, and missile guidance. Cases are chosen to demonstrate new computational aspects, historically important results, and cases connected to the legacy of H. J. Kelley. Chapter problems are included. Ben-Asher is professor of aerospace engineering at Israel Institute of Technology. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)