System design

A GREAT DEAL OF ATTENTION is being paid to the celestial mechanics of space flight and the synthesis of systems to control space vehicles, satellites, and missiles. However, no less important is the problem of the practical design and construction of the vehicles and control hardware which will be required to realize our current potentialities in meeting the challenge of space travel. The scope of the discussion to follow will be restricted by omitting consideration of specific instruments, such as inertial components, platforms, etc., and concentrate on the over-all problem of electrical and mechanical design of parts, components, and systems. Consideration will be given to the physical design of control systems as well as power systems required to provide motivating energy. The attributes of reliability and accuracy will also be treated insofar as they affect the aforementioned topics.