Book excerpt: "Preludes to U.S. Space-Launch Vehicle Technology is devoted primarily to military hardware and traces the evolution of missile technology from the 1920s through the 1970s, when the Minuteman III became operational. Hunley discusses individual innovations, technology transfer, management systems, and the organizations that were involved in the research and development of a wide range of rockets and missiles, including the German V-2, Redstone, Atlas, Thor, Jupiter, Titan I and II, and Polaris. He also humanizes the subject through numerous anecdotes and sketches of such fascinating individuals as Robert H. Goddard, Werner von Braun, Bernard Schriever, and "Red" Raborn, among others."--BOOK JACKET.