Miniature Robert Goddard biography that went to the moon with Buzz Aldrin
On 16 March 1926, Dr. Robert Hutchings Goddard launched a rocket from his aunt’s farm (now a golf course) in a town a few miles from where I live.
The rocket did not go far in terms of physical distance. It shot up forty-one feet into the air and landed one hundred eighty-four feet away, having traveled for two and a half seconds.
That short flight changed everything.
In July 1969, the little book pictured above, a biography of Goddard, was the first book to travel to the moon. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin took it there.*
Artemis II, the first crewed flyby mission to the Moon in more than 50 years, is expected to launch in a few weeks, if all goes well.
In short, that brief flight started us on the path to the moon and beyond. It showed what was possible and led to more than space travel. But I’m not going to tell a story that others have covered. You’ll find abundant links, with wonderful images, online, that are part of the Goddard Centennial celebration. The images exist thanks to Goddard’s wife, Esther. She documented all he did and kept his memory alive. During Women’s History Month, of course it makes sense to recognize Esther Goddard. You can see many of Esther’s images online.
The Goddard Library is offering several exhibitions and two lectures. The latter will be available to view online, as well. On 17 March at 7PM, John Emond, former NASA program manager offers, “Robert Goddard: A Vision. A Reality. A Hope.” On 19 March at 4PM, Kevin Schindler, co-author of Robert Goddard's Massachusetts, offers “The Dreamer Who Launched the Space Age.”
You can learn more about Clark University’s Goddard Centennial events here.
Dr. Robert H. Goddard and a liquid oxygen-gasoline rocket at Auburn, Massachusetts.
If you’re in the Central Massachusetts area between now and 1 August, you can also visit the Museum of Worcester’s Goddard exhibition, “Worcester to the Stars: The Goddard Rocket Centennial.” If you’re around between now and early April, you might want to catch “The Rocket Man: The Robert Goddard Musical.”
More about Goddard celebrations here.
I’ll finish by pointing out that this celebration, which has gone nationwide, very likely would not have happened if not for my indefatigable friend, fellow alum, and former colleague at Clark, Charles Slatkin.
*A couple of years ago, I saw the little book up close and personal at the Robert Hutchings Goddard Library. This is a building with which I’m familiar, having studied there as an undergraduate and post-graduate student as well as having done research some years later for my historical romances.
Photo credit for miniature Goddard bio, Walter M. Henritze; Goddard and rocket image courtesy NASA via Wikipedia.