BobRingReflections

My last blog was about Robert Goddard, sometimes called the father of modern rocketry.  Researching that article made me realize that, even though I know a lot about the science of rockets (rocketry) from my aerospace background, there’s a lot about the history of rockets that I didn’t know.  Rocket technology has evolved over more than 2000 years.  Today’s rockets are a product of a long tradition of ingenuity and experimentation, and combine technical expertise from a wide array of engineering disciplines. This article will cover the history of rockets, beginning with early pre-scientific tinkering, then the transition to a scientific approach, the pioneers of modern rocketry, development of the V-2 rocket during World War II, the immediate post-war rocketry period, and the space age through today.  I will conclude with a quick look at where rocket technology might go from here.   My principal sources include: “History of Rockets,” “Hermann Oberth,” “V...

As an aerospace engineer, one of my heroes was Robert Goddard, generally acknowledged to be the father of modern rocketry, the science of rockets and rocket propulsion.  This blog will discuss the life of Robert Goddard and his contributions to the development of rockets.     After a short introduction, I will cover Goddard’s early life and education, his research in Massachusetts; his experiments in Roswell, New Mexico; his final years and death; his legacy; and finally, his impact on rocketry.  My principal sources include:  Robert H. Goddard,” wikipedia.com; “Robert Goddard - American Professor and Inventor,” britannica.com; “Robert Goddard,” famousscientists.org; “Dr. Robert H. Goddard, American Rocketry Pioneer,” nasa.gov; “Robert H. Goddard:  American Rocket Pioneer,” siarchives.si.edu; “Robert Goddard Was the Father of American Rocketry.  But Did He Have Much Impact?”, smithsonianmag.com; “Highlights from the Life of Robert H. Goddard,” ...