Introduction.- Pertinent European Programmes and Activities already performed.- Technology Development Work.- Major Achievements and Results.- Lessons Learned and Recommendations.- Future Planning.- Conclusions.- References.- A Personal "Distant View".

In Reusable Space Transportation Systems the authors review the past 20 years in which concepts for reusable space transportation systems have been evaluated in Europe and elsewhere, including technological studies and assessments, and developments of the essential technologies needed for the design and construction of such transportation systems. For example, within the European Space Agency's FESTIP programme, of which one of the authors, Dr Kuczera, was the Programme Director, many different types of reusable launch vehicles (RLVs) were designed, investigated and technologically assessed. Although the authors focus on European efforts in the development of reusable space transportation systems, they describe briefly what has been done elsewhere and reference all major international programmes and projects in this field.