"The Founder of Rocket Experiment"-robert goddard
Robert Doddard, the earliest inventor of rocket engine in the United States, is recognized as the father of modern rocket technology.
Goddard was born in Massachusetts, USA. He started the theoretical study of rocket dynamics from 1909. Three years later, he ignited a solid fuel rocket in a vacuum glass container, which proved that the rocket could work in a vacuum. He began to study liquid rockets from 1920, and successfully launched the world's first liquid rocket at Ward Farm in Massachusetts in March 16.
Goddard launched another larger rocket in 1929. This rocket flies faster and higher than the first one. More importantly, it has a barometer, a thermometer and a camera to photograph the whole flight. This is the first rocket with instruments.
A liquid rocket launched by 1935 exceeded the speed of sound for the first time; In addition, we have also obtained the patent of the orbit changing device of rocket aircraft and the use of multi-stage rockets to improve the launch height, and developed rocket engine fuel pump, self-cooling rocket engine and other components. The small thrust rocket engine he designed is the prototype of a modern small rocket for landing on the moon, and it was successfully launched to a height of about 2 kilometers. He has obtained 2 14 patents.
Goddard's research is extremely short of funds, and the critical media has not spared this rigorous professor. Journalists in The New York Times laughed at him for not knowing the basic knowledge of physics in high school, but dreaming of traveling to the moon all day. They called Goddard "the Moon Man". The public around the press also expressed doubts and incomprehension about the scientist's work, but none of these could shake the tenacious Goddard. The best way is to go his own way, continue his own research, and remain silent about the public's reaction, because he knows very well that this sarcasm will not last long.
The attention of the press is focused on him again, at least this time with some praise. Unexpectedly, the newspaper report caught the attention of Lin Bai, one of the pioneers of American aviation. After personally checking Goddard's experiments and plans, he immediately managed to raise $50,000 for Goddard from the Gegenheim Foundation. For Goddard, who is extremely short of funds and in urgent need of experimental design, it is really a timely help. At this time, Massachusetts' plan for Goddard was too crowded, so in 1930, his family and four assistants moved to Roswell, New Mexico, and set up his launch site. By 194 1, except for a short interruption, he was engaged in the most outstanding personal research project in the history of science and technology.
Goddard's research finally caught the attention of the government. After his death, his honor peaked. He was posthumously awarded the first Lewis Hill Space Medal, and a major NASA base was named Goddard Space Center after him.
Although Goddard successfully launched the world's first liquid rocket, it did not attract the attention and support of the American government at first, so by the time of his death, American rocket technology was still far behind Germany. It was not until 196 1 Soviet astronaut Gagarin died that the United States released all the reports on Goddard's research on liquid rockets in the past 30 years. Later, he was called "the father of rockets" in the United States, and a space flight center of NASA was named "Goddard Space Research Center".
But his life is lonely and incomprehensible. Fearless, the brave Goddard has done a lot of work in theory and practice, showing those who doubt his vision that the whole space industry in the future will be based on rocket technology. Therefore, he deserves to be called "the father of modern rockets".
Goddard's life was bumpy and heroic. The reports, articles and a lot of notes he left behind are a great wealth. For his work, Wernher wernher von braun once commented: "In the history of rocket development, Dr. Goddard is unparalleled. In the design, construction and launch of the liquid rocket, he walked ahead of everyone, and it was the liquid rocket that paved the way for exploring space. When Goddard is completing his greatest work, we latecomers in the rocket and aerospace industries have just begun to learn to walk. "