Timeline of Robert Goddard's Life ^1,5

 

1882, October 5th           Born at Maple Hill, Worcester, MA

1889                               At age 7, began thinking about flight into outer space

1904-1908                     Student, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (B.S. 1908)

1908-1909                     Instructor of Physics, W.P.I., & special student in Physics, Clark University

1909-1911                     Fellow in Physics, Clark University (A.M. 1910, Ph.D. 1911)

1911-1912,                     
1914-1915,                    Honorary Fellow in Physics, Clark University
1918-1920

1912                              First explored mathematically the practicality of
                                      using rocket power to reach high altitudes &
                                      escape velocity

1912-1913                    Research Instructor in Physics, Princeton University

1913-1914                    Illness--tuberculosis

1914, July                      Awarded first two patents for his liquid-fuel gun
                                      rocket and a multistage step rocket rocket

1914-1915                    Instructor, Clark College

1915                              Proved experimentally that a rocket will provide thrust in a vacuum

1915-1919                    Assistant Professor, Clark College

1917-1918                    Developed the basis for the rocket weapon, later
                                      known as the bazooka, for the U.S. Army 

1919                              First to publish in the U.S. a basic mathematical
                                      theory underlying rocket propulsion & rocket
                                      flight, together with results of experiments
                                      with solid-propellant rockets.  It was titled "A Method of
                                      Reaching Extreme Altitudes"

1919-1920                    Associate Professor, Clark College

1920-1923                    Part-time consultant on solid-propellant rocket
                                      weapons for U.S. Government at Indian Head,
                                      Maryland

1920-1925                    Developed the first rocket motor using liquid propellants (liquid oxygen & gasoline)

1920-1943                    Professor, Clark University

1923-1943                    Director of the Physical Laboratories, Clark University

1924, June 21                Married Esther Christine Kisk

1925                              Static test at Clark University: liquid-propellant rocket
                                      lifted its own weight for the first time

1926, March 16             First launch of a liquid-propellant rocket, at Auburn, MA

1929, July 17                 Tested first rocket containing instruments

1929, November 23       First met with Charles A. Lindbergh, who was later influential in helping
                                      Goddard receive funding for his work

1930-1932                     Began conducting full time rocket research at Roswell, NM on leave
                                      of absence from Clark University

1932                              Developed first gyro stabilization apparatus for rockets

1932                              First used deflector vanes in the blast of the rocket motor as
                                      a method of stabilizing & guiding rockets

1932-1934                    Continued teaching at Clark University while also carrying on his research

1935                              Conducted a series of 14 tests with rockets that were about 15 feet long

1935, March 8               Launched the first liquid-propellant rocket which attained a speed greater
                                      than that of sound (700 mph)

1935                              Rocket reached altitude of 7500 feet

1936, March 16             Published "Liquid Propellant Rocket Development"

1936-1938                     Conducted a series of 30 tests with rockets that were about 18 feet long

1937, March 26             Rocket reached height of 9000 feet; his highest flight

1938-1941                    Conducted a series of 36 tests with rockets that were about 22 feet long;
                                      these were his last flight tests


1942-1945                    Worked as Director of Research for the Navy Department, Bureau
                                      of Aeronautics developing jet-assisted takeoff and variable-thrust
                                      liquid-propellant rockets

1943-1945                    Worked as a Consulting Engineer for Curtiss-Wright Corporation

1944-1945                    Was the director of the American Rocket Society

1945, June 2                  Received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Clark University

1945, August 10            Died at Baltimore, MD.  Buried in Hope Cemetery, Worcester, MA