#675-679 Goddard's Rockets

 Fun Fact #675

“It is difficult to say…”

From an early age, Robert H. Goddard dreamed of exploring the Earth’s atmosphere and possibly even space, but his first 2 rocket patents (1914) were mocked by the larger scientific community. This led to Goddard having to self-fund most of his research, culminating in the book: A Method for Reaching Extreme Altitudes which simplified most of his research as well as the hopes that it could be used to reach space. Once again however he was mocked by the scientific community, this time so broadly that even the New York Times posted an article mocking Goddard’s ideas, citing the most common argument at the time in which Rockets needed oxygen to function and air to push against meaning they would never work in a vacuum like space. 42 years later – and after the success of Apollo 11– The New york times quietly published a correction (in smaller font than average) mentioning the previous 1920 article and stating "Further investigation and experimentation have confirmed the findings of Isaac Newton in the 17th Century, and it is now definitely established that a rocket can function in a vacuum as well as in an atmosphere. The Times regrets the error.”

Goddard did eventually get a state of the art lab in Roswell New Mexico where he continued his experiments until his death in August 1945. (The Roswell Incident occurred in 1947 and thus is not tied to Goddard, although it is theorized to be a coverup for an experiment into rocketry the US Government was trying to keep secret from The Soviets. NOT Aliens) 

“It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow.” Robert H. Goddard.

Fun Fact #676

“...what is impossible, …”

While Goddard was largely ignored by American Scientists, The 1920 NY Times article scathing Goddard’s Rockets was noticed by the German CEO of Opel Automobile : Fritz Von Opel. You see his grandfather’s car company was in stiff competition and seeking to gain an edge in public notoriety, Fritz instructed his engineers to read Goddard’s book and make a “rocket-car”. The following public demonstrations known as "Rocket Rumbles” did exceedingly well until it inspired a teenager named Werner Von Braun to build a rocket on a toy wagon before accidentally setting it off on a crowded sidewalk. Not long after GM acquired Opel Automotive, and Opel’s closest colleague (Max Valier) died in an attempt to create a plane powered by Liquid fueled rockets. His death was the first known in Rocketry, but the dreams of Rockets continued on –although they would soon become nightmares.

Fun Fact #677

“...For the dream of yesterday…”

In early 1930, The young Werner Von Braun attended a presentation by Auguste Piccard (pioneer in High-altitude Ballons) who after being initially off-put by Braun’s declaration that he’d one day visit the Moon, informed him that there was “a curious oversight, in the banned weapons at the treaty of Versailles" and encouraged him to seek government funding for his Rockets. He did so but after a time he was forced to join The Nazi party or face losing his funding and worse. Once part his Dream of Rocketry outpaced his morality leading to the creation of weapons like the Messerschmitt 262 (The world’s first Jet Fighter), and V-2 Rocket (From the "Vengeance Weapon” project to create the world’s first practical ballistic Missile). Yet his disagreements with the nazi regime did eventually catch up to him resulting in his arrest by Himmler –only to then be freed by Hitler himself who noted that his expertise was essential and he had to be protected from persecution until he proved no longer useful. 

Fun Fact #678

“...Is The Hope of Today…”

Hoping to defect to the American side, Von Braun and his team of 500 Rocket-Scientists moved 15 tons of their research into an abandoned Iron mine in the Harz Mountains (later recovered by The US Army Counter Intelligence Corps). They then  moved closer to the front for “research purposes” but they scattered and abandoned this plan after Hitler ordered the execution of anyone involved in the creation of The V-2 Rocket. Making his way to American lines in Austria, Braun’s brother Magnus informed The American 44th Infantry Division (A division of the Illinois National Guard) who they were and their intent to surrender and pass on any research they had. When asked by the press why they tried so hard to surrender specifically to Americans, Von Braun said the following: “We wanted to see the world spared another conflict such as Germany had just been through, and we felt that only by surrendering such a weapon to people who are guided by the Bible could such an assurance to the world be best secured.”

Braun’s defection began what we now refer to as “Operation Paperclip” as part of the “Hermes Project” to bring ballistic missiles to the US. Their work culminated in the creation of “The Redstone Rocket”. During this period of time the Braun’s Guards jokingly referred to Braun and his colleagues as “PoPs (Prisoners of Peace) –something later referenced –in of all things– a cartoon called regular show with the Character “Pops” who always seems to have dubious ethics and in-depth knowledge of Rockets and space (No, I've never watched the show. Nor do I plan to).

Meanwhile Goddard got ahold of a crashed V-2 in Switzerland and publicly condemned the use of his patents in weapons of war.