About the Author

Roger D. Launius, chief historian of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, D.C., has written or edited more than twenty books, most recently Imagining Space: Achievements, Predictions, Possibilities, 1950-2050. Dennis R. Jenkins, a consulting engineer in Cape Canaveral, Florida, has written over thirty works on aerospace history, including Space Shuttle: The History of the National Space Transportation System - The First 100 Flights.

Reviews

"A must-read for anyone interested in space history." -- Liftoff

"A valuable contribution to the field of aerospace literature. A comprehensive discussion of the political and social influences on the development of launch vehicles." -- Michael L. Ciancone

"An excellent book for those wanting to understand the development and importance of U.S. launch vehicles." -- Air Power History

"Brings together analysis of numerous important issues in the history of space access." -- Journal of Military History

"Brings together the leading names in space and aeronautics to study major launch vehicles of the twentieth century." -- Science Book Board

"Details the history of U.S. rockets and propellants from World War II to modern space flight when there were amazing advances in fuels, engines, targeting, materials, and rocket bodies." -- Military Review

"If this book can contribute to make access the top priority again then its specialist case studies will have formed a bridge from the past to a new future in space." -- Spaceflight

"The breadth and depth of the essays provide a very detailed view of U.S. launch vehicle programs and how they got to where they are today.... A must-have addition to any space flight professional's or enthusiast's library." -- Astropolitics

"The people, contractors, and government organizations that improved launch systems, and the means they developed to put payloads into orbit.... Highly recommended." -- Choice

"This valuable contribution to the field of aero-space literature is a comprehensive discussion of the political and social influences on the development of launch vehicles." -- McCormick (SC) Messenger

"Until now, no single book has addresses the parallel and intersecting histories of American launch vehicles.... Includes a chapter on every American launch vehicle used to access space since 1957: Atlas, Delta, Titan, Minuteman, Saturn V, Centaur, and the shuttle." -- Technology and Culture