Robert Goddard launched the first liquid-fueled rocket 100 years ago

On March 16, 1926, Robert H. Goddard launched the first liquid-fueled rocket in Auburn, Massachusetts; the flight lasted about 2.5 seconds and reached roughly 41 feet. His wife, Esther Goddard, preserved records, photographed experiments, and later filed many patents that helped maintain his legacy.

Robert H. Goddard launched the first liquid-fueled rocket on March 16, 1926, in Auburn, Massachusetts. The short flight demonstrated that a liquid-powered rocket could be controlled and pointed the way to later innovations. Goddard went on to test dozens of rockets, develop engine-cooling and staging concepts, and receive support from figures such as Charles Lindbergh and the Guggenheim family. His wife, Esther, documented experiments, managed records, and pursued patents that preserved and promoted his work after his death. Key facts: - The historic flight on March 16, 1926, lasted about 2.5 seconds and reached roughly 41 feet in altitude in Auburn, Massachusetts. - The rocket used liquid oxygen and gasoline; Goddard developed cooling approaches including early regenerative cooling concepts. - He experimented with engine placement, movable exhaust vanes, gyroscopes for stability, and multi-stage designs. - Earlier demonstrations included a 1916 test showing rockets can operate in a vacuum and a 1929 launch that carried a scientific payload. - Esther Goddard photographed experiments, kept accounts, extinguished brush fires from launches, donated objects to institutions, and secured many posthumous patent approvals. Summary: Goddard's March 1926 test validated controllable liquid propulsion and contributed practical ideas—such as cooling methods, staging, and guidance—that informed later rocket development. Undetermined at this time.