[207] Rocket in flight, March 17 1938

Photographer

Esther C. Goddard

Preview

Description

Photograph of the L27 test rocket in flight on March 17, 1938. This flight reached an altitude of 2170 feet.

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. L27 was the first test flight since L17 to produce satisfactory results. During this time, benefactors and sponsors Charles Lindbergh and Harry Guggenheim wanted to get a high-altitude flight on record by the National Aeronautics Association (NAA), official record keeper in the field. This attempt would take place for L28 with an official barograph sent by NAA and a committee of observers.

Between May 11, 1936 and August 9, 1938, 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

3-17-1938

Type

image

Genre

photograph

Format

jpg

Keywords

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

Recommended Citation

Goddard, Esther C., "[207] Rocket in flight, March 17 1938" (1938). The Goddard Rocket Researches: A Photographic Record [Individual Photographs]. 208.
https://commons.clarku.edu/goddardphotographs/208

Rights

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