Dawn of Space Age - 90 years ago today

[Eric Mc]

On this day, 16 March 1926, Robert H Goddard launched the first ever liquid fueled rocket.

[Simpo Two]

The next 43 years were quite a ride. What a century the 20th was.

[Beati Dogu]

Remarkable progress really.

Like from the Wright Flyer to the Lockheed Blackbird in only 61 years.

[jmorgan]

50th yesterday of the first docking in space. Vital for the moon missions.

[Eric Mc]

Gemini 8 - which nearly ended in disaster.

[Guvernator]

Simpo Two said:

The next 43 years were quite a ride. What a century the 20th was.

Yep IMO it's the century that has had the most progress\wide reaching scientific developments for mankind by far. I'd also have to say that in comparison, the 21st has been fairly disappointing (so far).

[Eric Mc]

I wouldn't.

I think the advances in medical and biological sciences and computing continue at an almost terrifying pace.

[Gandahar]

Eric Mc said:

On this day, 16 March 1926, Robert H Goddard launched the first ever liquid fueled rocket.

It didn't get into space though. Might as well say

Montgolfier brothers 200 years ago ... dawn of the space age


Only kidding, lets not forget Bob.

[Eric Mc]

It was the first demonstration of the technology that we regularly use to put stuff into space.

Also, Goddard only got into liquid fueled rocket design because he knew that it was the best technology for space rockets. He had dreamed since he was a boy of using rockets to launch people to the moon and Mars. Liquid fuels offer controllability i.e. the ability to switch the rocket motor on and off and also offer throttleability. Solid rockets don't allow either.

I'm not sure of the Montgolfier brothers had any space faring ambitions.

[Guvernator]

Eric Mc said:

I wouldn't.

I think the advances in medical and biological sciences and computing continue at an almost terrifying pace.

Lots of incremental improvements but no major breakthroughs\steps IMO. Sticking within the topic, we've had no moon landing moment as far as I am concerned. I know it's early days yet but it's been pretty low key IMO.

[Eric Mc]

The advancement of science and technology is more often incremental than spectacular - and sometimes a combination of both. You could say that the moon landings, whilst spectacular in nature, were also incremental in nature - building on technologies starting with Goddard in 1926.

Also, when something is done for the first time, people notice. When it is done for the 1,000th time, nobody notices - even though the 1,000th time might be just as hard or as dangerous to do.

[jmorgan]

Not forgetting most people do not see the small advances. Stuff just appears as far as they are concerned.

[Simpo Two]

I'm thinking of a list of notables that made it possible. From memory:

Goddard
Tsiolkovsky
von Braun
Korolev

Any more? Or is it all corporations now?