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First Liquid-Fueled Rocket

March 16, 1926 · 20th Century
TechnologyEngineeringPhysics/Cosmology

On March 16, 1926, American physicist and inventor Robert H. Goddard successfully launched the world's first liquid-fueled rocket in Auburn, Massachusetts. The rocket, nicknamed "Nell," used gasoline and liquid oxygen as propellants. It reached a height of 41 feet, traveled 184 feet, and the flight lasted 2.5 seconds. This historic achievement is considered as significant to rocketry as the Wright Brothers' first flight was to aviation.

Key Figures

Robert H. GoddardEsther Goddard

Locations

Auburn, MassachusettsGoddard Rocket Launching SiteClark UniversitySmithsonian Institution

Topics

Robert H. Goddardspaceflightflightrocket

Connected Events — 1 Connection

Goddard's 1926 liquid-fueled rocket pioneered the propulsion technology that NASA would later develop for spaceflight Formation of NASA
July 29, 1958 · Engineering · 20th Century
The Time Detectives® · Cadet Mission
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