[159] Closeup of four-chamber rocket in tower, giving a short flight, November 7 1936

Photographer

Esther C. Goddard

Preview

Description

A closeup photograph of the four-chamber rocket in the launching tower on November 7, 1936. This test resulted in a short flight. Between May 11, 1936 and August 9, 1838, Robert Goddard conducted the L-Series of tests in Roswell, New Mexico. Goddard and his wife Esther lived in Roswell from 1930 to 1932 and 1934 to 1942 as a result of Guggenheim-funded grants, allowing Goddard to conduct his research and experiments with rocketry. The L-Series consisted of thirty flight tests divided into three sections (A; L1-L7; B; L8-L15; C; L16-L30) testing ten-inch diameter motors in nitrogen-pressured rockets. Seventeen of these tests were flights tests, while the other thirteen were static tests. The L-Series tackled a range of variables and challenges that came with building larger rockets. Reel 8 of The Goddard Rocket Film Reels contains 22 minutes of footage from the 'L' tests.

These new missiles may have been shorter, but they were heftier at about 18 inches in diameter. Until L13, all of the flight tests from the L-Series (including this L6 October 3, 1936 test) only reached around 200 feet in altitude. The consistent problem was the burning of combustion chambers. Goddard steered away from methods of regenerative cooling that had been developed and stuck to curtain cooling. Goddard and his team, not to mention the Guggenheim Foundation funding him, would have to wait until L13 to achieve another high-flying rocket.

'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

11-7-1936

Type

image

Genre

photograph

Format

jpg

Keywords

Robert Goddard, rocketry, Roswell, New Mexico, liquid-fuel rockets, rocket motors, nitrogen, pressure-fed rockets, combustion chambers

Recommended Citation

Goddard, Esther C., "[159] Closeup of four-chamber rocket in tower, giving a short flight, November 7 1936" (1936). The Goddard Rocket Researches: A Photographic Record [Individual Photographs]. 162.
https://commons.clarku.edu/goddardphotographs/162

Rights

This image is the property of Clark University and is intended for non-commercial use. Images may be copied for research, teaching, personal, or any fair use as defined by U.S. copyright law. Images may not be altered in any way. Users of these images are asked to acknowledge Clark University. For questions or further information about usage rights, please contact archives@clarku.edu.