FIRST STEPS TOWARD SPACE - Smithsonian Institution Libraries

NUMBER 10
to help Mr. Goddard in developing his invention
. . . ." 10
On the basis of the two favorable opinions,
Secretary Walcott wrote Goddard on 5 January
1917 to announce that the Smithsonian Institution
had "verified the soundness of your theoretical work
and accuracy of the numerical data," that they were
"favorably impressed with the ingenuity of your
mechanical and experimental dispositions, the clearness
of your exposition, and . . . the value of that
which is proposed . . . ." Accordingly, a grant of
"$5,000 from the Hodgkins Fund" was approved.
Reports were to be made "yearly or oftener if
notable progress" was made. A part-payment check
for 1,000 dollars was enclosed. 11
Thus began the long relationship between C. G.
Abbot of the Smithsonian Institution and the
physics professor, Robert H. Goddard. Secretary
Walcott asked Dr. Abbot and Dr. Buckingham to
serve as a two-man advisory committee regarding
Goddard's activity. 12 Thus all correspondence to
the Smithsonian was routinely brought to Abbot's
attention.
Two months later, on 6 April 1917, the United
States entered World War I. On 11 April, Goddard
wrote to the Smithsonian and pointed out the
possible value of his rocket concept to long-range
bombardment because of its lightness of weight,
compared with artillery, and its ease of mobility. 13
Abbot wrote to the Secretary that he believed that
the proposition had merit and "quite warrants the
War Department in spending a sum not exceeding
$50,000 under his direction for experiments." 14
On 20 August, Goddard wrote, "if the apparatus
has any possibilities as regards warfare ... it
should be ready for the drive by the Allies which
will probably take place next spring." 15
Thus was displayed the strong faith of Abbot
and Goddard in the long-range rocket concept. On
22 January 1918 Walcott and S. W. Stratton, Director
of the U. S. Bureau of Standards, jointly signed
a letter to the Chief Signal Officer, U. S. Army,
enclosing a report on Goddard's research activities
signed jointly by Abbot and Buckingham 10 and
requesting a sum of $10,000 for purposes of development.
Based upon Goddard's successive-firing
rocket, expectations might be:
Range
(miles)
7
120
Rocket
3
4
Weight (pounds)
Propellant
3
25
Warhead
3
59
Total
9
32
Since Walcott was Chairman of the Military Committee
of the National Research Council in addition
to his Smithsonian position, this request carried
some weight and Signal Corps support was forthcoming.
17
The next ten months saw a great increase in
tempo. Goddard employed seven men, equipped
a shop and laboratory at Clark University, struggled
to obtain special powder formulations from the
Hercules Powder Company, procured special gun
steels, supervised modifications to rocket apparatus
design, performed tests, reduced data, and wrote
reports. 18
The Worcester draft board was on the point of
drafting a key workman into the Army. Goddard
appealed to the Smithsonian for assistance. 19 Abbot,
after much effort managed to obtain a draft classification
change. 20 Goddard required special powdertesting
gauges (crusher blocks). 21 Abbot obtained
them. 22 An industrialist attempted to force revelation
of Goddard's work in order to produce the
military rockets himself. The Smithsonian came to
the rescue. 23
There were other incidents. On relocating test
work to Pasadena, California in June 1918 the
staff increased, as did Army funds. 24 But now, a new
shop had to be equipped and staffed, special steels
and tubing obtained, more special formulations
of powder, and so on. The Smithsonian Institution
monitored all expenditures and Abbot sought to
obtain by request or demand each of Goddard's
requirements. By 10 July "excellent" results were
obtained on a tube-launched rocket. 25 When the
Smithsonian received the telegram requesting ordnance
and ballistics experts to come and observe
progress, Abbot made the arrangements. 20
One of Goddard's young assistants, Clarence N.
Hickman, lost parts of fingers of both hands in an
accident while handling explosive detonators. 27
Hospitalization and medical payments required
much correspondence but this too, was settled
satisfactorily. 28
By late September 1918, firing tests were requested
by the Army Ordnance Corps at Aberdeen
Proving Ground, Maryland. 29 On 6 and 7 Novem-