航天动力学是研究航天器和运载器在飞行中所受的力及其在力作用下的运动的学科，又称星际航行动力学、天文动力学和太空动力学。航天动力学研究的运动包括航天器的质心运动，称轨道运动；航天器相对于自身质心的运动和各部分的相对运动，称姿态运动；以及与航天器发射、航天器轨道机动飞行有关的火箭运动。航天器的飞行过程一般分为三个阶段。

在以上各个阶段中，航天器的运动都包含了轨道运动和姿态运动两个部分。在运行轨道段，一般可以将两种运动分别求解。而在发射段和降落段，两种运动关系密切，需要联立求解。研究航天器的运动是以牛顿力学和火箭力学为基础的，一般不考虑相对论效应。航天动力学以数学、力学、控制理论为基础。它的研究内容分为轨道运动、姿态运动和火箭运动三个部分。

Orbital mechanics or astrodynamics is the application of ballistics and celestial mechanics to the practical problems concerning the motion of rockets and other spacecraft. The motion of these objects is usually calculated from Newton's laws of motion and Newton's law of universal gravitation. It is a core discipline within space mission design and control. Celestial mechanics treats more broadly the orbital dynamics of systems under the influence of gravity, including both spacecraft and natural astronomical bodies such as star systems, planets, moons, and comets. Orbital mechanics focuses on spacecraft trajectories, including orbital maneuvers, orbit plane changes, and interplanetary transfers, and is used by mission planners to predict the results of propulsive maneuvers. General relativity is a more exact theory than Newton's laws for calculating orbits, and is sometimes necessary for greater accuracy or in high-gravity situations (such as orbits close to the Sun).