Understanding Space: An Introduction to Astronautics

this a great book....written in a very easy to understand for the non specialist..it's worth the money you'll pay.

The Air Force Academy has hit a grand slam with this book, and Embry-Riddle was wise to include it in its curriculum. This book is the equivalent of my coursework in 3rd Class Physics at West Point, but it has a decidedly aerospace slant to it that makes it an important piece for any person with a need to understand space. The illustrations are of superb quality and add to the learning experience of more visual learners unlike the Introduction to Astrodynamics book done by the Air Force Academy years earlier.

Excellent introduction book with some of the best illustrations to help you visualize the concepts. It is written at the high-school senior/college freshman level, so don't expect it to teach you anything as a grad student in Astro. But, for the price, it's a pretty good desk reference even for the grad student. It gets my highest recommendation for a basic introduction to the topic (expecially for the high-school senior).

I was unaware of this book until I needed it for a college course in Orbital Dynamics. This book is the most accessible that I've seen on the subject. It supplies an in-depth, yet understandable explanation, of spaceflight principles covering orbital mechanics, rocket propulsion, guidance, and reentry. The math is at a high-school senior or college freshman level but a motivated individual should be able to master most of the material. Make sure to work the chapter problems if you want a thorough understanding of the subject. If you want to REALLY understand the basic principles of spaceflight, this is THE book!

I am Aerospace Engineering student and found the book to be a very good introduction to many questions regarding space and space travel. While this book does not go into specifics, it is easy to read and understand (high school level).