Mar 27

Space Rocket History #5 – Escaping the Reich

Posted on by

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Email | TuneIn | RSS

“In 1937, I was officially demanded to join the National Socialist Party. At this time I was already Technical Director at the Army Rocket Center at Peenemünde. The technical work carried out there had, in the meantime, attracted more and more attention in higher levels. Thus, my refusal to join the party would have meant that I would have to abandon the work of my life. Therefore, I decided to join. My membership in the party did not involve any political activity.”  Werner von Braun, 1947.

Peenemünde, Dornberger, Olbricht, Leeb, v. Braun

Werner von Braun at Peenedmunde

 

Mar 20

Space Rocket History #4 – Vengeance Weapons

Posted on by

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Email | TuneIn | RSS

“We are the first to have given a rocket a speed of 3,300 mph.  We have thus proved that it is quite possible to build piloted missiles or aircraft to fly at supersonic speeds.  We did it with automatic control. Our rocket today reached a height of nearly 60 miles.  We have invaded space; we have proved rocket propulsion practical for space travel.”  Walter Dornberger

V-2 Diagram

Mar 13

Space Rocket History #3 – Liquid-fueled Rockets

Posted on by

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Email | TuneIn | RSS

During the late 1920’s and throughout the 1930’s progress progress in rocket design was made in fits and starts with unclear goals.  However, many technological advances in liquid fueled rockets were made.   The United States Germany, Russia, France, Italy, and Great Britain all had rocket research programs.  The most significant advances occurred in Germany, the U.S. and Russia.  But, before we proceed with the history, I want to explain how a liquid fueled rocket works. liquid_fuel_rocket_diagram

Gird-07

Gird-07

Gird-09

Gird-09

Goddard 1935

Goddard 1935

Mirak

Mirak

Repulso and Von Braun

Repulsor and Von Braun

Mar 06

Space Rocket History #2 – Rocket Pioneers

Posted on by

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Email | TuneIn | RSS

Mankind has dreamed of traveling into space for centuries, but in the twentieth century, scientific and technical capabilities converged with this dream for the first time. The potential of the rocket was realized independently by three different men, born in different countries, who never met each other in person. These men Tsiolkovski of Russia, Goddard of the U.S. and Oberth of Germany, each derived the same conclusions about the future of space travel.  Their conclusions that become the basic working formulas of the space age.

Click the play button to listen to episode 2 of the Space Rocket History Podcast.

Goddard

Goddard

Tsiolkovsky

Tsiolkovsky

oberth

Oberth