[187] Bellows engine, high-pressure engine valve, and regulator, October 19 1937

Photographer

Esther C. Goddard

Preview

Description

Photograph of a "bellows engine, high-pressure engine valve, and regulator, October 19 1937" (annotation by Esther Goddard). This equipment was used in test L18 in Robert Goddard's L-Series. Following the relative successes of L16 and L17, Goddard changed his designs in an attempt to increase propellant pressure. To do this, he tried using a bellows pump to drive the liquid nitrogen. Failing that, he switched back to gaseous nitrogen. While all of the L-Series tests resulted in flights, following L17 they would not produce satisfactory results until L27.

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 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

10-1937

Type

image

Genre

photograph

Format

jpg

Keywords

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

Recommended Citation

Goddard, Esther C., "[187] Bellows engine, high-pressure engine valve, and regulator, October 19 1937" (1937). The Goddard Rocket Researches: A Photographic Record [Individual Photographs]. 188.
https://commons.clarku.edu/goddardphotographs/188

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.