[017] Combustion chamber and nozzle of pressure-operated rocket, December 6 1925

Photographer

Esther C. Goddard

Preview

Description

Photograph of "combustion chamber and nozzle of pressure-operated rocket, December 6, 1925" (annotation by Esther Goddard). December 6, 1925 marked the first test in which a liquid propelled rocket operated satisfactorily and lifted its own weight. In Goddard's words, "This test was an important one, in that it demonstrated that the problems of pumping, governing, and control of heating were solved, but it also showed that a rocket on so small a scale as this model would not lift itself sufficiently to give a flight, including, as it did, devices which would not be necessary in a larger rocket".

This December 6 test used the pumps, engines, and other moving parts Goddard spent years working with and developing. Following this test, he discarded the pumps, favoring a pressure-fed system in order to reduce the rocket's weight to a minimum.

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 the world's first successful liquid-fueled rocket launch, which took place on March 16, 1926.

'The Goddard Rocket Researches: A Photographic Record' is an annotated photo album covering Robert H. Goddard's work and experimentation with rocketry. It was assembled and curated by Esther Goddard sometime after her husband's passing in 1945. Additionally, almost all of the photographs were taken by Esther herself.

Photographs were scanned at 400dpi.

Date Taken

1925

Type

image

Genre

photograph

Format

jpg

Keywords

Robert Goddard, rocketry, Clark University, liquid-propellant rockets, liquid fuel rockets

Recommended Citation

Goddard, Esther C., "[017] Combustion chamber and nozzle of pressure-operated rocket, December 6 1925" (1925). The Goddard Rocket Researches: A Photographic Record [Individual Photographs]. 14.
https://commons.clarku.edu/goddardphotographs/14

Rights

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