Celebrating Goddard's First Launch Centennial in Worcester
April 2026 :
One of the most important, but often forgotten, persons in history is Robert Goddard, whose time and incredible patience led to his successful firing of the first liquid-fueled rocket in 1926. It is said that without his diligence – and that of his wife Esther, who documented all his work – the world, and ourselves, wouldn’t be where it is today.
Although his name isn’t as famous as Lindbergh, Edison, Tesla, in Worcester he is considered a major part of the community, as witnessed the week of March 16, the hundredth anniversary of his first experimental rockets. Several of us traveled to the city, to some of the incredible work being done to keep his name alive.
Thursday, March 19:
The Worcester Historical Museum had a beautiful display of, not only pictures and manuscripts belonging to Goddard, but also his first launch platform, the rod used to ignite the rocket, and, of course, both the New York Times article denigrating his work, and the retraction over 50 years later.
On to Clark University, where the Goddard Library had information on him and his wife, plus a copy of Goddard's autobiography that was carried to the Moon by Buzz Aldrin. At the Dana Commons building next door, a talk by Lowell Historian Kevin Schindler summed up Goddard’s life based on his recently published book Robert Goddard’s Massachusetts.
Back to Worcester Sunday, March 22, at the Hanover Theatre, where an incredible centennial celebration featured emcee Maynard Okereke, who introduced Alan Stern, Astronaut Al Sacco, Jr., Planetary Scientist Makenzie Lystrup, and others. In addition, because of her decades of behind-the-scenes work, two awards were given in honor of Esther Goddard, for Science Teacher Erin Morrissey, and Science Student Kristen Doan, both of South High Community School.
The Museum’s exhibit will be available until August 1. Please try to go. It will definitely open your eyes to the great work by inventor Robert Goddard.
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