American Inventors: Rocket Scientist Robert Goddard
2025-02-25
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1Today rocket launches and space missions are common.
2But in the early 1900s, space travel seemed like a dream.
3One of the most influential people in the field of rocket science was American Robert Goddard.
4The American space agency NASA describes Goddard as "the father of modern rocket propulsion."
5Robert Goddard once said that "the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow."
6His scientific work gave hope to many dreams about space travel.
7He turned some of those dreams into reality.
8More than one hundred years ago, Goddard carried out studies and tests of rocket engines.
9He developed and flew many rockets that got their power from solid fuels: chemicals that formed a hard substance.
10In 1925, he made and tested the first rocket engine using a soft chemical fuel.
11The next year, he successfully launched the world's first liquid-fuel rocket.
12Many historians consider liquid-fuel rocket flight to be as important as the first airplane flight by the American brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright.
13Goddard's work proved that machines could travel outside of Earth's atmosphere and into space.
14During his early research, he received money and support from the U.S. Smithsonian Institution.
15The Smithsonian published several reports about his efforts.
16One publication, called "A Method of Reaching Extreme Altitudes," wrote about his search for ways to send weather recording instruments higher than balloons could fly.
17It described how he developed the mathematical theories for rocket flight.
18In that report, Goddard also suggested the possibility of a rocket someday reaching the moon.
19At the time, there was a big dispute in the press about this claim.
20Many people thought he was foolish for suggesting something that seemed so impossible.
21Many of Goddard's ideas are still used in rocket development.
22So, in a way, every rocket that flies today could be considered a Goddard rocket.
23I'm Bryan Lynn.
1Today rocket launches and space missions are common. But in the early 1900s, space travel seemed like a dream. 2One of the most influential people in the field of rocket science was American Robert Goddard. 3The American space agency NASA describes Goddard as "the father of modern rocket propulsion." 4Robert Goddard once said that "the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow." His scientific work gave hope to many dreams about space travel. He turned some of those dreams into reality. 5More than one hundred years ago, Goddard carried out studies and tests of rocket engines. 6He developed and flew many rockets that got their power from solid fuels: chemicals that formed a hard substance. In 1925, he made and tested the first rocket engine using a soft chemical fuel. The next year, he successfully launched the world's first liquid-fuel rocket. 7Many historians consider liquid-fuel rocket flight to be as important as the first airplane flight by the American brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright. 8Goddard's work proved that machines could travel outside of Earth's atmosphere and into space. 9During his early research, he received money and support from the U.S. Smithsonian Institution. The Smithsonian published several reports about his efforts. 10One publication, called "A Method of Reaching Extreme Altitudes," wrote about his search for ways to send weather recording instruments higher than balloons could fly. It described how he developed the mathematical theories for rocket flight. 11In that report, Goddard also suggested the possibility of a rocket someday reaching the moon. At the time, there was a big dispute in the press about this claim. Many people thought he was foolish for suggesting something that seemed so impossible. 12Many of Goddard's ideas are still used in rocket development. So, in a way, every rocket that flies today could be considered a Goddard rocket. 13I'm Bryan Lynn. 14Shirley Griffith reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Bryan Lynn adapted it. 15_______________________________________________________ 16Words in This Story 17mission -n. a flight into space aimed at reaching a goal 18propulsion - n. a force that pushes something forward