Goddard’s rocket science concept had a hard time to get finally accepted. As early as 1926-3-16 he achieved a 2 seconds lasting propulsion of a rocket with an innovative liquid fuel concept. The combination of liquid fuels like gasoline (later hydrogen) with liquid oxygen allowed rockets to achieve longer distances with equal weight. Eventually, such rocket fuel would allow more control than relying on any other form of a combustion chamber. Rocket science celebrates 100 years of existence with spectacular successes as well as failures. The collection of scientific papers on the subject by the AIAA is a passionate reminder of how tough and lengthy scientific progress in fact is. Beyond rocket science we might ask the question what are we actually looking for up there or wherever the rocket might end up eventually. It is probably fair enough to say that we don’t always know in advance. This is keeping an open mind to technological innovation, but only if such technology is developed for the benefit of humanity rather than with an obsession to dominate others. The end phase of the 2nd world war told us such a lesson. It should be remembered at the same time as remembering 100 years of rocket science.
