[220] Tower after storm with rocket in it -- a disastrous day, June 15 1938

Photographer

Esther C. Goddard

Preview

Description

Photograph of the launching tower, with the rocket inside, destroyed after a tornado hit the morning of June 15, 1938. Test L30 was supposed to take place the day before but high winds prevented that. The tower was rebuilt 20 feet taller.

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. The NAA sent their official barograph, pictured here, while New Mexico Military Institute superintendent Colonel D.C Pearson chaired a committee of observers. L28 and L29 did not yield successes because the barographs did not survive the tests. L30 would eventually prove a resounding success, but it would be another two months until the test could finally occur as planned.

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

6-1938

Type

image

Genre

photograph

Format

jpg

Keywords

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

Recommended Citation

Goddard, Esther C., "[220] Tower after storm with rocket in it -- a disastrous day, June 15 1938" (1938). The Goddard Rocket Researches: A Photographic Record [Individual Photographs]. 220.
https://commons.clarku.edu/goddardphotographs/220

Rights

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