[171] Lift indicator clamped to launching tower, April 22 1937

Photographer

Esther C. Goddard

Preview

Description

Photograph of a lift indicator clamped to the launching tower, associated with a test flight from April 22, 1937. This flight, known as L14, attempted to build off of the successful L13 test flight by incorporating larger movable air vanes and a reinforced parachute. The L14 test did not have the success of L13.

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.

The missiles constructed for the L-series started out shorter and heftier (at about eighteen inches in diameter), and grew longer and leaner over the course of the tests. By L7, Goddard switched from one larger motor to four smaller combustion chambers. 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

4-1937

Type

image

Genre

photograph

Format

jpg

Keywords

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

Recommended Citation

Goddard, Esther C., "[171] Lift indicator clamped to launching tower, April 22 1937" (1937). The Goddard Rocket Researches: A Photographic Record [Individual Photographs]. 174.
https://commons.clarku.edu/goddardphotographs/174

Rights

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