Robert Hutchings Goddard (October 5, 1882 - August 10, 1945) was an American professor, engineer and inventor, and the inventor of liquid rockets. He launched the world's first liquid rocket on March 16, 1926. Goddard *** obtained 214 patents, 83 of which were obtained during his lifetime. NASA's Gotthard Space Flight Center, established in 1959, is named after him. Goddard Crater on the moon is also named after him. Undaunted, the brave Goddard did a lot of work in theory and practice to show people who doubted his vision that the entire future space industry would be based on rocket technology. He is therefore well-deservedly called the "Father of Modern Rockets." Goddard successfully launched the world's first liquid rocket.