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430 BCE
Archytas's Wooden Bird
Archytas's wooden bird was the first recorded invention that uses the principles of rocket propulsion. The bird flew by a jet of steam, or compressed air. -
Jun 24, 1232
Chinese Fire Arrows
While trying to find the elixir of life, the Chinese instead discovered gunpowder, and they put it in rockets and exploded them for celebrations. But during the war with the mongols, they attached the rockets to arrows and launched them at the enemy. This is the first time recorded that rockets were used in warfare. -
Kazimierz Siemienowicz
Kazimierz Siemienowicz was a commander in the Polish artillery, he created and designed a multi-staged rocket to go to outer space, that design was the basis of all rockets still being used today. -
Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton has combined all of rocket science into 3 main laws, the 3 laws of motion, making rocket science easier to understand, and makes building rockets much easier. -
Robert H. Goddard
Known as the "Father of Modern Rocketry", Goddard built the first liquid-propellant rocket, which later was the forerunner of the Saturn V Moon Rocket. He also created a way to control the rockets in flight, payload compartments, and a parachute recovery system. -
Dr. Wernher von Braun
An German, and later American Aerospace Engineer, helped Nazi Germany make many of its rockets. When World War II ended, he came to the US, and became a citizen, and helped build many rockets such as the Saturn V. -
Moon Rocket
President John F. Kennedy issued a challenge for America to go to the moon, and come back safely. The Saturn V was the rocket that accomplished that, created by many scientists like Dr. Wernher von Braun.
