rocketry – n . the science of building and launching rockets (Webster’s Dictionary)

rocketry – n. the science of building and launching rockets (Webster’s Dictionary)

First inspiration Working out the theory Building the first rockets Convincing the world Taking man into space

First inspiration Jules Verne's 1865 science fiction novel 'From the Earth to the Moon' inspired many early theorists of rocket science. Other famous novels of Jules Vernes.

Working out the theory Almost all theory of space flight was done by three men from 1600 to 1900. Johannes Kepler – planets moved around in elliptical orbits Isaac Newton – laws of motion; explained planetary motion Konstantin Tsiolkovsky – worked out all the basic equations of rocketry

Working out the theory Johannes Kepler • German mathematician • figured out the equations for orbiting planets and sattelites in 1609 • showed that planets moved in ellipses rather than circles

Working out the theory Isaac Newton • published a book explaining the basic laws of force, motion and gravitation in 1687 • invented calculus • showed how the force of gravity causes planetary orbits

Working out the theory Early rocket designs by Tsiolkovsky • Russian school teacher • figured out all the basic equations for rocketry in 1903 • concluded that oxygen and hydrogen would be the most powerful fuels to use • said that rockets should be built in stages called rocket trains • his rocket designs were used for the moon landing Konstantin Tsiolkovsky

Robert Goddard Building the first rockets • an American who is now called “the father of modern rocketry” • developed the equations and designs independent of the Russian scientists • 1926 – he launched the world’s 1st liquid fueled rocket • invented everything required for modern rocketry

Hermann Oberth Convincing the World • 1929 – published “The Rocket Into Interplanetary space” • the book convinced the world that the rocket is indeed a feasible space vehicle • this is important because governments and other agencies started putting more time and money into rocketry

Wernher Von Braun Taking man into space • German physicist • developed and launched the German V2 rocket, the 1st rocket capable of reaching space • surrendered to the Americans after WWII • led the American space exploration program • was responsible for developing the Saturn rockets which eventually led to the moon landing

References http://my.execpc.com/~culp/space/history.html http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/history/timeline.cfm?Section=1 http://www.spacefame.org/newton.jpg http://teacherweb.com/in/phms/scholz/rockets.jpe http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/TRC/Rockets/IMAGES/History4.gif http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/spec/exhibits/treasures/images/newton.gif http://www.postcommunist.de/home/pix/bilder/publikationen/klein/band1.jpg http://www.racine.ra.it/planet/testi/Dis/brahe.jpg http://www.solarviews.com//eng/history.htm http://www.sputnikbook.com/images/gallery/Godlk.jpg http://www.turbophoto.com/space/webart/shuttle-launch-med.jpg http://www.ufo.se/ufofiles/issue_4/images/vernebok.gif http://www.warmus.com/images/Misc.%20images/Jules%20Verne%20Captain%20Nemo.jpg

rocketry – n . the science of building and launching rockets (Webster’s Dictionary)