(May 25, 2019 at 5:36 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: In 1916, Robert Goddard submitted a request for funding to the Smithsonian entitled, 'A Method For Reaching Extreme Altitudes', which - among much else - outlined the mathematics for a liquid-fueled rocket. Goddard was dissuaded by his colleagues from including mention of and plans for sending a rocket to Mars. They urged him to propose something less 'fantastical', so he suggested a rocket with a payload of magnesium which would crash into the moon, with the resulting flare visible from Earth.
The press managed to get its mitts on Goddard's request and roundly ridiculed him. The New York Times went to far as to pity 'poor Doctor Goddard' for forgetting that a rocket will not work in the vacuum of space, having nothing to push against. To the Times' credit, though, once someone had explained Newton's Third Law to them, they did print a retraction and an apology...
Boru
When Werner von Braun was questions about his developments of rocket engines one of them was "where did you get your inspirations"?
He replied, "From your Robert Goddard."
