History of Rocket Propulsion

Chinese Fire Arrows

Jan 1, 1230

-1232
-These used a simple explosive attached to an arrow to propel the arrow into the air

First Multi-staged Rocket

Mar 21, 1591

-1591
-This rocket has multiple stages that all have their own engines and propellor.

Liquid Propellant rocket

Mar 16, 1926

-16 March 1926
-The rocket is powered by liquid oxygen and gasoline.

V-2 Rockets

Mar 21, 1942

-1942
-They burn a mixture of oxygen and alcohol at a rate of 1 ton every 7 seconds. This is the first rocket capable of reaching space.

Intercontinental ballistic missiles

Mar 21, 1950

-1950s
-a missile with a high, arching trajectory, that is initially powered and guided but falls under gravity onto its target.

Sputnik 1

Oct 4, 1957

-4 October 1957
-The 184.3-pound (83.6 kg) craft's primary function was to place a radio transmitter into orbit around the Earth.

Russian Luna 1 Probe to the moon

Jan 21, 1959

-January 1959
-this is a more innovative satelite that could make it all the way to the moon.

Mariner probes to venus

Jul 22, 1962

-July 22, 1962
-launched from Earth with a set of scientific instruments and tools used to study the atmosphere and composition of space and other planets, moons, or celestial bodies.

Apollo 11

Jul 16, 1969

-Jul 16, 1969
-the spaceflight that landed the first two humans on the Moon