Space flight is a comprehensive and innovative part of technology. It encompasses many fields of technology. This monograph presents a cross section of the total field of expertise that is called ¿space flight¿.It provides insight into the design, construction and analysis aspects of spacecraft. Spacecraft includes satellites as well as launch vehicles, with a distinction between manned or unmanned. The International Space Station (ISS), RussianMIR, the American shuttle and the European Spacelab are examples of manned space flight, whereas communication satellites for radio and television and meteorological satellites are examples of unmanned space flight.The Emphasis of this book is put on unmanned space flight, particularly on the construction of spacecraft rather than the construction of launch vehicles. The nature of the satellite is dependent on the task that is set for that satellite.

General.- Design Process.- Launch Vehicle Systems.- Spacecraft Subsystems.- Design and Safety factors.- Spacecraft Design Loads.- Test Verification.- Design of Spacecraft structure.- Strength and Stiffness of Structural Elements.- Sandwich Construction.- Finite Element Analysis.- Stiffness/Flexibility Analysis.- Material Selection.- Spacecraft Mass.- Natural Frequencies, an Approximation.- Modal Effective Mass.- Dynamic Model Reduction Methods.- Dynamic Substructuring, Component Mode Synthesis.- Output Transformation Matrices.- Coupled Dynamic Loads Analysis.- Random Vibrations Simplified Response Analysis.- Fatigue Life Prediction.- Shock-Response Spectrum.- Damage to Spacecraft by Meteoroids and Orbital Debris.- Prescribed Averaged Temperatures.- Thermal-elastic Stresses.- Coefficients of thermal & moisture expansion.- Venting Holes.- Examples.