ROCKETDYNE: POWERING HUMANS INTO SPACE.

From the first American orbiting satellite, to Neil Armstrong, and Buzz Aldrin's historical walk on the Moon, virtually every major achievement in American Space history was made possible by a Rocketdyne engine. And, that record has stood true for over forty years, as today the Space Shuttle program continues to rely on engines designed and built by Rocketdyne. This book is the story behind that unprecedented accomplishment. It is the chronicle of success of one team of rocket pioneers who propelled the American space program from trailing the Soviet Union in the 1950s and early 1960s into today's position of leadership in space. It is a story of heroes and even a few villains, but mostly it is a story of triumphant success in the human venture into space. For the early history of rocketry up through the work of Dr Robert Goddard in the early 1940s, Kraemer referenced the history books of T A Heppenheimer and Frank Winter. experiences as a member of the Rocketdyne team, as well as those of other key members of this elite group, including: Bill Brennan, George Sutton, Bill Cecka, Doug Hege, Bill Ezell, Tom Myers, John Tormey, Paul Castenholz, Sam Iacobellis, Ed Monteath, Steve Domokos, Stan Gunn, Willy Wilhelm, Bob Biggs, Ted Benham, and Vince Wheelcok. This book is a true testament to the human spirit - and to a dedicated and determined team of aerospace engineers who launched a nation into Space.

Robert Kraemer received a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and an M.S. in Aeronautics (Rocket Propulsion Option) from Caltech. He served as head of Advanced Design at Rocketdyne in the 1950s and early 1960s, then Chief Engineer for Space Systems at Ford Aeronutronic before moving to NASA where he served at Headquarters as Director of Planetary Exploration and then Assistant Director of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. He has received NASA awards including the Distinguished Service Medal and the Medal for Outstanding Leadership. He is a Fellow of the American Astronautical Society and Associate Fellow of the AIAA. Kraemer is also the author of ""Beyond the Moon; A Golden Age of Planetary Exploration 1971-1978"" published in the Smithsonian History of Aviation and Spaceflight Series.

Vince Wheelock, originally an Iowa farm boy, spent four years in the Air force with service in Korea, and subsequently graduated in 1958 from Iowa State University with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He joined Rocketdyne and during his 40+-year career participated in major engine programs including those for early Thor and Atlas Ballistic Missiles, Project Mercury, Saturn IB, Saturn V, and Space Shuttle. He retired as Rocketdynes Director of Field Engineering & Logistics and continues to be active in propulsion support at Rocketdyne, and as a Rocketdyne Liquid Propellant Rocket Engine Historian. He has received many NASA group achievement awards, is the recipient of the Rocketdyne Presidents Award for Leadership, the Distinguished Engineering Achievement Award from the San Fernando Valley Engineers Council, and The Professional Achievement Citation in Engineering Award from Iowa State University.