FIRST STEPS TOWARD SPACE - Smithsonian Institution Libraries

NUMBER 10 61
flash powder which might be observed if set off
on the dark part of a new moon. 38
The newspapers leaped on this small element of
the report, ignoring the carefully delineated elements
of the rocket theory and its promise for
upper atmospheric research. Goddard wrote to Walcott
on 19 January 1920:
Although there may very likely be ultimate possibilities of
even greater interest than the proposed flash powder experiment—for
it is difficult to see the limits of application of a
perfectly new method—people must realize, nevertheless, that
real progress is a succession of logical steps, and not a leap
in the dark, and hence it is very important that, for whatever
reason interest is taken in the work, adequate support
and interest should be given the preliminary investigations. 39
Shifting from repeating-charge solid propellants
to liquid propellants in September 1921, Goddard
experimented with liquid oxygen. 40 Striving to
handle this cryogenic substance with lightweight
apparatus (Figure 4) was an enormous challenge
which occupied much of his attention over the
next few years. On 16 March 1926, after successful
static tests, he achieved his (and the world's) first
flight with a liquid propellant rocket. 41 In a report
to Abbot on 5 May 1926, he wrote:
In a test made March 16, out of doors, with a model of this
lighter type, weighing 5% lb empty and IO14 lb loaded with
liquids, the lower part of the nozzle burned through and
dropped off, leaving, however, the upper part intact. After
about 20 sec the rocket rose without perceptible jar, with
no smoke and with no apparent increase in the rather small
flame, increased rapidly in speed, and after describing a
semicircle, landed 184 feet from the starting point—the
curved path being due to the fact that the nozzle had burned
through unevenly, and one side was longer than the other.
The average speed, from the time of the flight measured by
a stopwatch was 60 miles per hour. This test was very significant,
as it was the first time that a rocket operated by
liquid propellants traveled under its own power.* 2
The necessary lightness of design of Goddard's
liquid oxygen and gasoline rocket (Figure 5) was
achieved with remarkable skill. The thrust of the
motor was about 9 pounds, 43 apparently, because
on firing, the rocket remained in the launch stand
for some seconds. When the weight became less
the rocket lifted slowly on its short historic journey.
Although the rocket flew to an altitude of only
41 feet and landed at a distance of 184 feet, it may
be considered a bench mark in flight history as
FIGURE 3.—Multiple-firing, solid propellant rocket. Cartridges
contained in magazine at center are propelled forward by gas
pressure into firing chamber resulting in repeating, intermittent
thrust.