Book excerpt: Overviews the design process, systems engineering, and trade-off analysis of space transportation systems, focusing on winged, reusable launch vehicles. Hammond, who works for a NASA contractor, deals separately with thermodynamic considerations, the thermal protection system, propulsion systems, trajectory and guidance, vehicle and flight control systems, life support, and payload. The book is appropriate for a senior-level undergraduate course. The CD-ROM contains oversize figures and tables, and software packages. c. Book News Inc.