|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Like many other visionaries, Robert Goddard was vilified, denounced and dismissed for his revolutionary theories.
Before Goddard, the prevailing wisdom was that it was impossible to establish propulsion outside of the Earth's atmosphere, thus precluding any kind of outer space travel. Goddard theorized that liquid fuels were the key to space flight and he spent a lifetime proving his theory.
He had his first successful launch of a rocket in 1926, sending the 11-foot missile 41 feet in the air at a speed of 60 miles per hour.
It wasn't until 1930, though, when Goddard received a $100,000 grant to continue his research that he was able to make substantial breakthroughs. Over the course of the decade, Goddard's rockets reached heights of 9,000 feet and speeds that exceeded the speed of sound. Ironically, it was Goddard's design that was first utilized by German scientists who turned Goddard's work into the V-2 rockets that were used to devastating effect in London.
Goddard would die from throat cancer in 1945, but it was his design that was used to create the Redstone missile, which was the rocket used to send the first American astronauts into space.
|
|
|
|
|
|
