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From: ths@lanl.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Robert Goddard
Message-ID: <36359@lanl.ARPA>
Date: Fri, 10-Jan-86 14:59:25 EST
Article-I.D.: lanl.36359
Posted: Fri Jan 10 14:59:25 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 11-Jan-86 08:15:49 EST
References: <354@decwrl.DEC.COM>
Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory
Lines: 27

> 
> 	W. Von Braum vs. Robert Goddard
> 
>   The recent postings mentioning Von Braum bring to mind an anecdote my
>   dad relates:  When Von Braum was debriefed by (U.S.?/Allied?) scientists,
>   he was asked how Germany was able to make such incredible progress in
>   rocketry in comparison to the allies.  Von Braum expressed amazement at
>   the question and said that they had done nothing new, that they had just
>   implemented the work of the American rocket pioneer, Robert Goddard. The
>   scientists asked, who is this Goddard?!

This story has been recounted in many publications and appears to be
essentially correct.  Although virtually all of the primary features of
the V-2 (official designation was A.4) were found in Goddard's last designs
of the late 1930's, von Braun was understating the progress made by the
German rocket team.  There was a considerable technological gap between the
two efforts as reflected in such areas as aerodynamics, metallurgy and
thermodynamics.

Perhaps what is so fantastic about Dr. Goddard's progress is that it was
financed on a relative shoestring and virtually all of the work was done
by Goddard himself.  An interesting note to the financial aspect is that
Charles Lindbergh was instrumental in arranging a grant from the Guggenheim
Foundation.  Goddards work in New Mexico took place just east of Roswell
about 60 miles from the present White Sands Missile Range.

Ted Spitzmiller