Figure 103: Disassembled liquid oxygen tank, Winter 1926

Authors

Esther C. Goddard

Document Type

Photograph

Date

Winter 1926

Keywords

Robert Goddard, rocketry, liquid-propellant rocket, liquid oxygen tank

Description

Photograph of a disassembled liquid oxygen tank developed by Robert Goddard in December 1925.

Following December 6, 1925 (the day Goddard achieved the first liquid-fuel rocket to lift its own weight), he realized a successful launch required making the rocket as streamlined and light as possible. Despite working for years to develop pumps and engines for rockets, he would now be relying on the pressure of oxygen evaporated within a liquid oxygen tank. It is important to note that many sources incorrectly claim that forgoing the pumps and engines is the breakthrough that made the December 6 lift possible, but this is untrue. Goddard writes in both his diary and subsequent reports about using pumps and engines in the December 6 test, as well as the realization that he would need to eliminate them in order to produce a light enough rocket to achieve that first launch.

The liquid oxygen tank in this photograph was the first iteration used in preliminary tests to determine alterations and adjustments necessary for a successful rocket launch (which would take place March 16, 1926). A photograph of this tank fully assembled can be seen in Figure 102. These tanks would be modified in several ways leading up to the March 16, 1926 launch. Figures 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115. show later finalized versions of the tanks used on March 16, 1926.

The tall carton on the left holds the liquid oxygen and is made of paper and lined with thick sheet brass. This rested on a large and thin circular disk of cork, seen on the bottom right. This disk rested at the bottom of a bottom half of the tank. The two cylindrical halves of the tank, seen in the middle were fastened together by two threaded steel rings, a rubber packing ring between them on the outside, and a collar of sheet rubber on the inside. These pieces can be seen in the photograph as well. The lower left of the photograph shows two wire rings supporting pieces of cork. This was used to keep the aforementioned paper container for the liquid oxygen in the center of the outer jacket.

This photograph was used in Goddard's "Report on the Development of a Liquid Propelled Rocket". This is the first time that photographs of these rocket parts have been made available for online viewing, and together they represent the most granular visual documentation of the March 16, 1926 rocket and its leadup in existence. An excerpt of that report covering everything between December 6, 1926 and March 16, 1926 can be found here.

Photographs were scanned at 400dpi.

Comments

Recommended Citation

Goddard, Esther C., "Figure 103: Disassembled liquid oxygen tank, Winter 1926" (1926). March 16, 1926: The First Liquid-Propellant Rocket Launch. 2.
https://commons.clarku.edu/goddardlaunch/2