Robert Goddard

Claimed by Kashyap Patel

Dr. Robert H. Goddard (1882-1945) is known as the father of modern rocket propulsion due to his success in discovering that rocket flight is possible with rocket fuel, a mixture of gasoline and liquid oxygen. He not only discovered the unlimited uses of rocket fuel, but also put them to the test in practical situations.

Life

Early Life

Robert H. Goddard was born on October 5, 1882 in Worcester, Massachusetts. Early in his childhood, he developed an interest in science. More specifically, the science fiction novel "The War of The Worlds" by H. G. Wells inspired Goddard to delve into the realm of rocket science. After post-secondary school, Goddard attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute and graduated in 1908. Wanting to continue his education, Goddard enrolled in Clark University in his hometown and received a doctorate from there in 1911. Goddard's career had just started as he immediately began teaching physics there.

Adulthood and Career

As he taught physics at his graduate alma mater, he undertook research about rocket flight at his own expense in order to gain grants from various institutions. His research focused on various types of gunpowder that would allow rocket propulsion. His research proved successful when the Smithsonian Institution in 1916 awarded him a $5,000 grant for rocket tests. Goddard started defining industry standards when, in his 1920 report, he claimed that it was possible for a rocket to reach the moon. Goddard added that inn order to makes its arrival, the rocket would would explode a pile of flash powder.

Achievements

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A Computational Model

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