Robert Goddard “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” —Newton’s third law of motion When Robert Goddard began working on the problem of sending a rocket into space, he soon realized that the weight of such a vehicle’s fuel would be tremendous. Further, the fuel would be expended quickly, leaving a heavy empty container attached to the spacecraft. Goddard’s solution was to create a multi-stage rocket. As soon as the fuel in the initial stage was consumed, the fuel tanks and motor for that stage would be jettisoned, and the rocket would continue its climb with less weight to bear. It was a brilliant idea that ultimately enabled NASA to send men to the moon. But Goddard would never see his idea put to use. He patented the multi-stage rocket in 1914, nearly four decades before such a vehicle was constructed. Robert Goddard’s pioneering vision for rocketry is an example of American ingenuity that has placed the U.S. at the forefront of the technological age. In a 1907 article in Scientific American, Goddard explained how gyroscopes could be used to stabilize airplanes in flight. In 1919 he wrote a book entitled A Method of Reaching Extreme Altitudes. The press ridiculed Goddard, who was head of the physics department at Clark University, saying he didn’t have even a high school understanding of physics. Goddard’s research depended on occasional small grants, but even with such meager resources, he was able to construct the first liquid-fueled rocket in 1926. While the U.S. government generally ignored his work, Germany used Goddard’s ideas to create the V2 rocket during World War II. Although Goddard died in 1945, his concepts for rockets and space travel are still used today. Consider This: If you are on the cutting edge of discovery, people may ridicule your ideas. Stick to what you know is right, and the truth will eventually be recognized.
Posted on: Sun, 06 Oct 2013 02:24:51 +0000
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