Numerical Methods for Learning Orbital Mechanics

[CC4]

I'm interested in learning orbital mechanics but I haven't taken a class in numerical methods yet. Do I really need to take a whole class in numerical methods before learning orbital mechanics, or can I get by if I self-learn a smaller portion of the syllabus of a numerical methods class? If so, what topics should I concentrate on?

 

[BvU]

Hello @CC4 ,

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Did it occur to you to do some googling ? Your thread title already brings up some goodies, e.g. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Patrick-Chai/publication/281108779_Numerical_Integration_Techniques_in_Orbital_Mechanics_Applications/links/55d5e3c008ae9d659489d4fc/Numerical-Integration-Techniques-in-Orbital-Mechanics-Applications.pdf

[edit] Or even whole books!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/008102133X/?tag=pfamazon01-20

Apart from that it's hard to advise without knowing where you start from.

$\$

 

[Filip Larsen]

Do I really need to take a whole class in numerical methods before learning orbital mechanics

Most principles relevant to orbital mechanics can be and are traditionally taught without the need for numerical methods in general since they are considered a special class of perturbation methods, but I guess that does not exclude a modern course to lean heavily into numerical methods since computers are so darn handy for doing all the calculations needed for high precision work that cannot be done analytically anyway. If the specific class you are interested in lists numerical methods as a hard requirement then it may well be one such modern course.

That said, it would seem strange to try learn (advanced) orbital mechanics without establishing a basic understanding first which, as mentioned, do not require special knowledge of numerical methods. Wikipedia's entry on orbit modeling gives a short overview of the different approaches.

 

[pbuk]

[edit] Or even whole books!

Howard Curtis' Orbital Mechanics for Engineering Students is an excellent book.