Kings of the High Frontier
<"Kings of the High Frontier" is also a favorite of mine...I'm in it! Highly recommended.
Gary Hudson, his wife Anne, and I have been recooked into Gerald Cooper, Sherry Cooper and Thom Brodsky. AMROC CEO George Koopman contributed to the Cooper character as well, including the fatal car accident that took Koopman's life.
Also helped with vehicle design. Check out acknowledgements at back of book.
The book never got the mainstream exposure it deserved, and apparently sold very few copies. The limited special edition at Bereshith still seems to be available. It was one of the first books to be originally published online at Pulpless Books, although I don't know if they still sell it.