Hunley, former Chief Historian of NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, has written an engaging and thorough history of the science of rockets, tracing their history from Robert Goddard's use of liquid propellant in the 1920s to their invaluable role as launch vehicles for spacecraft and satellites. Published in two volumes, this volume describes the technological developments that lead up to the Viking rocket in 1945. Drawing on exhaustive research of archives, unpublished technical and personal accounts, oral interviews, and both historic and current primary and secondary sources, Hunley recreates the story of the scientists, science, and tests involved as missile technology developed. The human side of the tale is included as well, with stories about key scientists--including Goddard and Wernher von Braun--and inter-departmental cooperation, searches for funding, the impact of WWII and the Cold War, and the various roles played by government, military, and industrial entities such as Martin, General Electric, and Rocketdyne. The result is a substantial history that will appeal to a wide readership. A glossary of terms and acronyms is provided. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
