Celebrating 100 years since the first liquid-fuel rocket launch
Celebrating 100 years since the first liquid-fuel rocket launch
On March 16, 1926, a quiet farm in Massachusetts became the birthplace of the Space Age.
Robert H.
Goddard, a physics professor, launched the world’s first liquid-fueled rocket, nicknamed "Nell."
Standing about 10 feet tall, the rocket used a mix of gasoline and liquid oxygen.
While early skeptics, including national newspapers, mocked Goddard’s ideas, this 41-foot hop proved that liquid propulsion was possible.
From "Aunt Effie’s farm" to the massive Saturn V rockets, Goddard’s vision laid the foundation for modern GPS, global communication, and the ongoing Artemis program.
The story of "Nell" is a powerful reminder that even the most ambitious eras of human history often begin with a small, seemingly simple step into the unknown.
