Early Rockets

Modern rockets were first Modern rockets were first designed and built by designed and built by independent scientists and independent scientists and rocket clubs on three different rocket clubs on three different continents, almost continents, almost simultaneouslysimultaneously

The first modern rocket was The first modern rocket was developed by the same developed by the same scientist that launched the scientist that launched the first liquid fuel rocket – Robert first liquid fuel rocket – Robert GoddardGoddard

March 16, 1926March 16, 1926Robert Goddard launched the Robert Goddard launched the world's first liquid fueled world's first liquid fueled rocket, a gasoline and liquid rocket, a gasoline and liquid oxygen engine oxygen engine Shown on the right held Shown on the right held

upright by an external upright by an external tube-frame structuretube-frame structure

Early Rockets

Many of Goddard’s Many of Goddard’s rocket designs and rocket designs and patents were adopted patents were adopted by:by: Nazis for their V-2 Nazis for their V-2 NASANASA Guided missile Guided missile

and large rocket and large rocket manufacturersmanufacturers

Goddard made many Goddard made many of the greatest of the greatest advances in modern advances in modern rocketryrocketry

Early Rockets

Goddard’s modern rocket Goddard’s modern rocket advances included:advances included: High-pressure turbopump High-pressure turbopump

propellant injectionpropellant injection Regenerative cooling Regenerative cooling

(fuel/oxidizer used for cooling (fuel/oxidizer used for cooling engine heats propellants for engine heats propellants for greater energy release when greater energy release when combusted)combusted)

Inertial (gyroscopic) guidance Inertial (gyroscopic) guidance during launch and flightduring launch and flight

Early Rockets

Goddard’s advances in Goddard’s advances in rocketry garnered little rocketry garnered little interest in the U.S. interest in the U.S. military, but did attract military, but did attract German weapons German weapons planners who copied planners who copied many of his advancesmany of his advances

Goddard completed his Goddard completed his career designing rocket-career designing rocket-assisted takeoff boosters assisted takeoff boosters for the U.S. Navyfor the U.S. Navy

Early Rockets

A decade after Goddard’s first liquid fuel rocket A decade after Goddard’s first liquid fuel rocket launch, the Guggenheim-funded aeronautical launch, the Guggenheim-funded aeronautical laboratory (GALCIT) at Caltech (California Institute laboratory (GALCIT) at Caltech (California Institute of Technology) began a propulsion and rocket of Technology) began a propulsion and rocket research group inspired by Theodore von Kaman research group inspired by Theodore von Kaman and Caltech graduate studentsand Caltech graduate students

Early Rockets

JPL was founded by Von Karman and a number graduate JPL was founded by Von Karman and a number graduate students at Caltech/GALCIT including:students at Caltech/GALCIT including: Frank MalinaFrank Malina Weld ArnoldWeld Arnold Apollo M. O. SmithApollo M. O. Smith Tsien Hsue-shenTsien Hsue-shen Jack ParsonsJack Parsons Edward FormanEdward Forman

Tsien Hsue-shen who helped design the early JPL-Tsien Hsue-shen who helped design the early JPL-Army missiles, was given the technical rank of colonel Army missiles, was given the technical rank of colonel and sent to Germany with von Karman at the end of and sent to Germany with von Karman at the end of WW-II to evaluate the prized Nazi’s V-2 missile and WW-II to evaluate the prized Nazi’s V-2 missile and programprogram

Early Rockets

The GALCIT rocket experiments The GALCIT rocket experiments included liquid fuel motors first included liquid fuel motors first launched in 1938launched in 1938

Von Kaman arranged for funding by Von Kaman arranged for funding by the U.S. Army in 1939 for the GALCIT the U.S. Army in 1939 for the GALCIT rocket team to develop jet-assisted rocket team to develop jet-assisted takeoff (JATO) rocket motorstakeoff (JATO) rocket motors

The new JATO rocket effort was The new JATO rocket effort was converted into the Aerojet Corporation converted into the Aerojet Corporation that is still in existencethat is still in existence

Early Rockets

A separate Army contract for small missiles was A separate Army contract for small missiles was arranged by von Karman through the Caltech arranged by von Karman through the Caltech university in 1943university in 1943

This was the birth of the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) This was the birth of the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL)

Today, JPL designs and operates a number of Today, JPL designs and operates a number of exploration spacecraft and programs for NASAexploration spacecraft and programs for NASA

Early Rockets

JPL’s Army missiles were JPL’s Army missiles were solid and liquid rockets solid and liquid rockets that began with the that began with the “Private” solid fuel 2-stage “Private” solid fuel 2-stage rocket first launched in rocket first launched in 19441944 16 km (10 mi) range16 km (10 mi) range Tiny Tim solid fuel 1Tiny Tim solid fuel 1stst

stage (air-to-ground stage (air-to-ground missile shown on the missile shown on the right)right)

JATO solid fuel booster JATO solid fuel booster 22ndnd stage stage

Early Rockets

JPL’s “Corporal” was the first American JPL’s “Corporal” was the first American guided missile started in 1945 but did guided missile started in 1945 but did not complete testing for deployment as a not complete testing for deployment as a surface-surface missile until 1955surface-surface missile until 1955 Weight 1,342 kg (2,960 lb)Weight 1,342 kg (2,960 lb) Range 139 km (8 4mi)Range 139 km (8 4mi)

WAC Corporal was a 2-stage sounding WAC Corporal was a 2-stage sounding rocket that was the first American rocket rocket that was the first American rocket to reach space altitudesto reach space altitudes Tiny Tim 1Tiny Tim 1stst stage stage Later launched on a V-2 booster to Later launched on a V-2 booster to

reach 250 mi altitude at speeds > reach 250 mi altitude at speeds > Mach 5 (Bumper rocket)Mach 5 (Bumper rocket)

Early Rockets

JPL’s “Sargent” solid fuel surface-to-JPL’s “Sargent” solid fuel surface-to-surface missile was a longer-range missile surface missile was a longer-range missile designed to replace the Corporaldesigned to replace the Corporal Weight 4,530 kg (10,000 lb)Weight 4,530 kg (10,000 lb) Range 135 km (84 mi)Range 135 km (84 mi)

Deployed in Europe in 1963 as a tactical Deployed in Europe in 1963 as a tactical weaponweapon

Scaled-down Sargent solid fuel motors Scaled-down Sargent solid fuel motors were used for the 2were used for the 2ndnd, 3, 3rdrd, and 4, and 4thth stages of stages of the Jupiter-C rocket that launched the Jupiter-C rocket that launched Americas first satellite – Explorer 1Americas first satellite – Explorer 1

Early Rockets

By 1944, the Germans had developed and By 1944, the Germans had developed and launched the first long-range guided missile launched the first long-range guided missile the V-2 under the direction of Wernher von the V-2 under the direction of Wernher von BraunBraun

Von Braun and the German rocket teams Von Braun and the German rocket teams had used many of the advances of Robert had used many of the advances of Robert Goddard a decade earlier to help with the Goddard a decade earlier to help with the 320 km (200 mi) range V-2320 km (200 mi) range V-2

As the Nazis faced defeat in 1945, von Braun As the Nazis faced defeat in 1945, von Braun and many of his team members surrendered and many of his team members surrendered to the Americans in Bavaria, and were to the Americans in Bavaria, and were shipped to the U.S., along with many of the shipped to the U.S., along with many of the remaining V-2sremaining V-2s

Early Rockets

Von Braun and the German missile Von Braun and the German missile engineers were attached to the U.S. engineers were attached to the U.S. Army Ballistic Missile Agency (ABMA) Army Ballistic Missile Agency (ABMA) and soon converted their V-2 design and soon converted their V-2 design into the ABMA’s Redstone missile, first into the ABMA’s Redstone missile, first launched in 1954launched in 1954

Similar ballistic missile programs were Similar ballistic missile programs were developed in the USSR in the 1950s developed in the USSR in the 1950s using captured V-2s and German using captured V-2s and German engineersengineers

Both the JPL and the ABMA were Both the JPL and the ABMA were transferred to NASA in 1958transferred to NASA in 1958

Redstone

Early GermanRockets

Early Rockets

German liquid fuel rocket experiments began in an German liquid fuel rocket experiments began in an amateur club called the Verein für Raumschiffahrt, or amateur club called the Verein für Raumschiffahrt, or VfR (Society for Space Travel) organized in 1927VfR (Society for Space Travel) organized in 1927

Founded by Johannes Winkler, Max Valier, and Willy Founded by Johannes Winkler, Max Valier, and Willy Ley, the VfR conducted the first successful German Ley, the VfR conducted the first successful German liquid fuel rocket test in 1930 liquid fuel rocket test in 1930

Members included Wernher von Braun, Walter Members included Wernher von Braun, Walter Hermann, Eugen Sanger, and Herman OberthHermann, Eugen Sanger, and Herman Oberth

Early Rockets

The VfR club was disbanded in 1932The VfR club was disbanded in 1932

In 1934 von Braun and several of the In 1934 von Braun and several of the members joined Colonel Walter members joined Colonel Walter Dornberger’s effort to develop a long-Dornberger’s effort to develop a long-range missile that would become the A-4range missile that would become the A-4 The A-4 was renamed the V-2 after The A-4 was renamed the V-2 after

missile production beganmissile production began

After WW-II, the successful and effective After WW-II, the successful and effective V-2 would become the prototype for the V-2 would become the prototype for the first long-range missiles for both the U.S. first long-range missiles for both the U.S. and the Soviet Unionand the Soviet Union

Early Rockets

October 3October 3rd,rd, 1943 - 1st successful 1943 - 1st successful launch of the German A-4 by Wernher launch of the German A-4 by Wernher von Braun's missile teamvon Braun's missile team Weight 12,500 kg (28,000 lb) Weight 12,500 kg (28,000 lb) Payload 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) of Payload 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) of

explosivesexplosives Range 320 km (200 mi)Range 320 km (200 mi)

Ultimately, the V-2 changed the entire Ultimately, the V-2 changed the entire character of military strategic character of military strategic weaponsweapons

V-2

Early RocketsV-2

Alcohol fuel (ethanol 75%, water 25% for cooling and stability)

Liquid oxygen oxidizer

Employed double-wall combustion chamber Inner cavity allowed

fuel to circulate to cool combustion chamber

55,000 lbf thrust (24,958 N)

Early Russian Rockets

Early Rockets

Russia’s rocket programs also began with private Russia’s rocket programs also began with private rocket clubs that launched the first liquid fuel rocket rocket clubs that launched the first liquid fuel rocket inside the Soviet Union in 1933inside the Soviet Union in 1933

Neither had government sponsorship, but were soon Neither had government sponsorship, but were soon recognized as important for future weapons and were recognized as important for future weapons and were taken over and combined into a military rocket design taken over and combined into a military rocket design bureau RNIIbureau RNII GDL was the engine design club GDL was the engine design club GIRD was the rocket design clubGIRD was the rocket design club

The two most important members that later directed The two most important members that later directed the Soviet Space Race efforts were Sergi Korolev the Soviet Space Race efforts were Sergi Korolev (GIRD) and Valentin Glushko (GDL)(GIRD) and Valentin Glushko (GDL)

Early Rockets

The combined design group known as RNII began The combined design group known as RNII began advanced rocket-powered weapons programs in 1936advanced rocket-powered weapons programs in 1936

Stalin’s cruel and senseless purge of anyone Stalin’s cruel and senseless purge of anyone perceived as a threat to his absolute authority set perceived as a threat to his absolute authority set back the USSR in the years before WW-II (1937-38)back the USSR in the years before WW-II (1937-38)

Stalin’s purges consisted of the murder, assassination Stalin’s purges consisted of the murder, assassination or incarceration of:or incarceration of: any political adversaryany political adversary 60% of the senior military officers60% of the senior military officers engineers and scientists, even those related to engineers and scientists, even those related to

developing military weapons, including aircraft and developing military weapons, including aircraft and missilesmissiles

Early Rockets

The near-defeat of the USSR by the Germans in WW-II The near-defeat of the USSR by the Germans in WW-II forced Stalin to end his murderous purges and rebuild forced Stalin to end his murderous purges and rebuild the military and weapons industrythe military and weapons industry

Rocket designers Korolev and Glushko were released Rocket designers Korolev and Glushko were released from prison, then sent to Germany following the end from prison, then sent to Germany following the end of WW-II to study the Nazi V-2 technology and of WW-II to study the Nazi V-2 technology and organize the return of the missiles, and the scientists organize the return of the missiles, and the scientists and engineersand engineers

Early Rockets

The first advanced Soviet The first advanced Soviet rocket was a copy of the rocket was a copy of the German V-2 rocket German V-2 rocket designated R-1 designated R-1 First launched in 1948First launched in 1948

The Soviet R-2 soon followed The Soviet R-2 soon followed with greater range and an with greater range and an increase in the payload increase in the payload compared to the R-1compared to the R-1 R-2 prototype rockets R-2 prototype rockets

were first launched in were first launched in 19491949

Early Rockets

The Soviet R-5 was their first launcher not based on The Soviet R-5 was their first launcher not based on the V-2 basic designthe V-2 basic design R-5 was the first to be able to carry their early R-5 was the first to be able to carry their early

atomic bombatomic bomb

Soviet advances were rapid because of Stalin’s desire Soviet advances were rapid because of Stalin’s desire to quickly advance long-range surface-to-surface to quickly advance long-range surface-to-surface weaponsweapons

U.S. chose to advance military aircraft and flight U.S. chose to advance military aircraft and flight weapons insteadweapons instead

Early Rockets

Efforts to develop missiles for submarine launched Efforts to develop missiles for submarine launched warheads and intermediate-range boosters were warheads and intermediate-range boosters were redirected in the early 1950s to build an redirected in the early 1950s to build an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that could intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that could deliver atomic warheads to the United Statesdeliver atomic warheads to the United States

Korolev was assigned the task of building Russia’s Korolev was assigned the task of building Russia’s long-range nuclear-tipped ICBM in 1954long-range nuclear-tipped ICBM in 1954

Engines for the R-7 ICBM were designed and built by Engines for the R-7 ICBM were designed and built by Glushko’s design bureauGlushko’s design bureau

Early Rockets

The Soviet R-7 ICBM was designed specifically to deliver an atomic bomb as far away as North America

R-7 program officially approved in 1954

Launched successfully in 1957 Range 8,000 km Payload 5,300 kg 2-stage liquid fuel

booster

R-7

Early Rockets

The Soviet R-7 and its successors have been used to launch: Sputniks Yuri Gagrin and the first

cosmonauts Luna lunar missions Flights to Mars and

Venus Crews to their early

space stations Still used today to launch

satellites, the Soyuz crew vehicles to the International Space Station, and the Progress cargo vehicles

Early Rockets

By 1957, the U.S. had only the 300 km range Redstone

Following the launch of the second Soviet Sputnik in Following the launch of the second Soviet Sputnik in 1957, a concerted effort was made to build larger 1957, a concerted effort was made to build larger rockets and complete Atlas, the first American ICBMrockets and complete Atlas, the first American ICBM

Other boosters included:Other boosters included: Thor Thor JupiterJupiter Delta (augmented Thor)Delta (augmented Thor) Titan (ICBM)Titan (ICBM) Saturn (turned over to NASA’s civil projects)Saturn (turned over to NASA’s civil projects)

Most of these were later converted to civil launchersMost of these were later converted to civil launchers

Early Chinese Rockets

Early Rockets

The Chinese space program was started by one of the most gifted rocket designers in the early age of modern rockets - Tsien Hsue Shen (Qian Xuesen)

• Co-founder of the Jet Propulsion Lab in 1943

• Helped design the early U.S. Army rockets (Private, Corporal, Sargent)

Early Rockets

• Tsien Hsue Shen received a temporary rank of Colonel in the U.S. Air Force in 1945 to survey the German rocket engineers responsible for designing and building the V-2

• Returned to MIT in 1946

• Began teaching at Caltech and publishing space flight research articles in 1950

Early Rockets

• Caught in Senator Joseph McCarthy political purges in 1950

• Released from house arrest in 1955 and immediately returned to China

• Started China’s first missile development efforts as the Fifth Academy research facility in 1955

• Considered the father of Chinese rocketry

Early Rockets

In 1958, the USSR and China agreed In 1958, the USSR and China agreed to technology exchange that to technology exchange that included the R-2 short-range ballistic included the R-2 short-range ballistic missilemissile

China’s DF-1 (DF for Dong Feng China’s DF-1 (DF for Dong Feng “East Wind”) was a reverse-“East Wind”) was a reverse-engineered Soviet R-2 first launched engineered Soviet R-2 first launched in 1960in 1960

China’s first intermediate-range China’s first intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), the DF-2, ballistic missile (IRBM), the DF-2, was first launched in 1964was first launched in 1964

Early Rockets

Chinese long-range rocket development continued with the DF-3 and DF-4

New generation of launchers were designed for heavier payloads based on the DF-4 named Long March (Chang Zheng)

Long March booster was used to put China’s first satellite in orbit in 1970

Chinese Rockets

China’s manned space program began in 1992 using a Long March booster and a Shenzhou spacecraft that is based on the Russian Soyuz crew vehicle

First manned mission was Shenzhou V launched in October, 2003

Questions?Questions?