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A History of the Description of the Three-Dimensional Finite Rotation

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Abstract

A history of the description of a three-dimensional finite rotation is given starting with Cardano in the middle of the sixteenth century and ending with Bryan in the beginning of the past century. Description means both a textual description and/or a mathematical representation. To appreciate the historical context of the milestones reached over the centuries, the background and personality of the main players in this history are given. At the end, a short critical discussion is added, reviewing the present names of rotation parameters in use related to the scientists which have been considered here.

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  1. Lucasweg 6, D-64287, Darmstadt, FRG

    Luc Fraiture (Private contribution)

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  1. Luc Fraiture
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Presented at the F. Landis Markley Astronautics Symposium, Cambridge, Maryland, June 29–July 2, 2008.

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Fraiture, L. A History of the Description of the Three-Dimensional Finite Rotation. J of Astronaut Sci 57, 207–232 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03321502

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