Book excerpt: From Space News. January 27, 1997: "Many would do well reading this treasure of facts covering the development of U.S. launch vehicles. Starting from American Robert Goddard's pioneering work, Hujsak provides an overview of a half-century of booster business. The Atlas, Delta, Titan, space shuttle and its derivations are covered, as are the Delta Clipper and the single-stage-to-orbit National Aerospace Plane project. Also covered is past work on nuclear-powered rockets, as well as looks at unconventional propulsion using lasers and interstellar ramjets. This is a straightforward, no-nonsense easy-to-read book, particularly for those unfamiliar with the evolution of U.S. space launch capability."