History of Rocket Propulsion

Chinese Begin Exploring Rockets

Mar 21, 1232

In this year, the Chinese begin to experiment with rockets by igniting gunpowder in bamboo tubes. The gunpowder would be ignited and the gases released would propel the rocket.

Roger Bacon works with improved versions of gunpowder

Mar 21, 1300

Roger Bacon worked with improved versions of gunpowder to give rockets longer distances. This occurred between the 13th and 15th century. This rocket still uses escaping gases to propel the rocket.

Jean Froissart Rocket Innovation

Mar 21, 1400

Jean Froissart found out that rockets fired through tubes would be more accurate. This laid the foundation for the bazooka and rocket tubes today.

Johann Schmidlap's Staged Rockets

Mar 21, 1500

Johann Schmidlap's innovation of creating rockets with stages paved the way for space travel. His designs were used for high altitude fireworks. They still used solid gunpowder fuels.

William Congreve's Rockets of War

Mar 21, 1812

After seeing Indians using rockets against the British, Congreve created his own array of rockets for the British. These rockets were inaccurate but could be mass produced and inspired the Star Spangled Banner (Rocket's Red Glare). These rockets still used modified gunpowder as fuel.

William Hale Spin Stabilization

Mar 21, 1844

William Hale patented his designs of spin stabilization for rockets. The rockets spin as they fly which helps them to fly in a straight line. These rockets still employed gunpowder but were very accurate.

Konstantin Tsiolkovsky's Proposition of Liquid Propellants

Mar 21, 1903

Konstantin Tsiolkovsky proposed that rockets use liquid propellants because they get greater range and that they may be viable for space travel. He did not make this rocket but he was the first to suggest it.

Robert Goddard's First Liquid Rocket

Mar 16, 1926

On this day, Robert Goddard created the first liquid rocket using liquid oxygen and gasoline. It was a successful rocket the paved the way for the future of rocket design.

V-2 Rockets

Mar 21, 1937

The V-2 rockets were rockets created and used by the Germans in World War 2. They used a alcohol water and liquid oxygen fuel. They were used as ballistic missiles but had incredible range.

Saturn V Rocket Takes Apollo 11 to the Moon

Jul 16, 1969

The Saturn V rocket was a 3 stage liquid propelled rocket. It used RP-1 and liquid oxygen. RP-1 is highly refined kerosene. This rocket is the most powerful ever created or used.