He built and launched the first successful liquid-fueled rocket on March 16, 1926, in Auburn, Massachusetts. This invention was a major breakthrough in rocketry and laid the foundation for modern space exploration.
While not always recognized for it, Goddard also contributed to the development of other key technologies, including:
* The gyroscopic guidance system: This allowed for the stabilization and control of rockets during flight.
* The combustion chamber: This is the heart of a rocket engine where fuel and oxidizer are burned to produce thrust.
* The nozzle: This directs the hot exhaust gases from the combustion chamber to generate thrust.
* The turbopump: This is a pump that is used to feed fuel and oxidizer into the combustion chamber at high pressure.
Goddard's work was often ridiculed during his lifetime, but his inventions ultimately paved the way for the development of powerful rockets used in space exploration today.