On this date back in the year 1926 an American man named Robert H. Goddard added fuel to the dreams of space travel geeks everywhere when he successfully launched the world’s first liquid-fueled rocket at Auburn, Massachusetts. The rocket traveled for 2.5 seconds at a speed of about 60 mph, reaching an altitude of 41 feet and landing 184 feet away. The rocket was 10 feet tall, constructed out of thin pipes, and was fueled by liquid oxygen and gasoline.
Earlier, in 1919, Goddard had written a treatise entitled A Method of Reaching Extreme Altitudes in which he outlined his mathematical theories of rocket propulsion and proposed the future launching of an unmanned rocket to the moon.
Like any visionary the press made him an object of ridicule. In January 1920, The New York Times printed an editorial declaring that Dr. Goddard “seems to lack the knowledge ladled out daily in high schools” because he thought that rocket thrust would be effective beyond the earth’s atmosphere. Interestingly enough three days before the first Apollo lunar landing mission in 1969, The New York Times printed a correction to this article.
Unfortunately Goddard did not live to see this retraction or to realize his dream of space travel as he died in 1945. What interests me even more about this man whose lifelong work on rockets paved the way for modern space travel is that he was inspired by reading. At the ripe old age of 16 Goddard read none other than H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds and became fascinated by the idea of space travel. So there you go kids, reading science fiction is good for you!!! Keep reading and one day someone may finally make it possible for us to all travel around like this:
Although I think someone would have to invent some industrial strength undies first as that looks like it would be a butt-roasting way to defy gravity.
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And March Madness starts today, woo-hoo! Fill out your brackets basketball fans and get ready for some rollicking basketball action as one team rockets to the top. Hey, I know that was bad but I had to tie it in to the top part somehow!
ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK! GO KU!
My boss and I decided to do a bracket just between the two of us…winner buys lunch…a nice lunch, not something cheap. Interestingly enough we both have completely different picks for the final four. I have KU going to the Elite 8. Let’s hope I’m wrong and that they go farther.
reading scifi is good for you.
i caught a bit of something on the history channel earlier in the week called “how william shatner changed the world”, all about the technological advances by scientists who were fascinated by Star Trek. oh, yes.
wormholes are next, i’m telling you.
I’m telling you right now do NOT get that hot of flame next to my butt.
I heard about that Jenn See but missed seeing it. I really hope they replay that because I would like to see it. Three cheers for science fiction!!!
That hot flame could come out of your butt without the jet-pack Tom!!!
This is the first year that you can watch the games over the internet.
I’m not getting anything done today. 🙁
I tried to sign up and was something like 124,000th in line….but I just tried now and got right in. Cool!
Reality is for people who cannot face science fiction.
Great covers. Oh, and nice to make your acquaintance Rocket Man, this is Rocket Dog. 😉
Thanks for the visit Alexandra!
Goddard: my hero. He dared to defy conventional wisdom. In doing so, he gave us the tools to leave the planet.
Inspiring.
Indeed…now where is my rocket car???