100 Years Since 1st Modern Rocket Launch, Humans Head Back to Moon

The 1926 launch by Robert Goddard paved the way for modern space exploration

Mar. 16, 2026 at 9:15pm

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On March 16, 1926, physicist Robert H. Goddard launched the world's first liquid-fueled rocket, a 10-foot-tall device that flew for just 2.5 seconds but ignited a century of space exploration. Goddard's pioneering work eventually led to sending astronauts to the moon, and now the U.S. is preparing to return humans to the lunar surface as part of the Artemis II mission, 100 years after his historic launch.

Why it matters

Goddard's 1926 rocket launch is considered a pivotal moment in the history of modern rocketry and space exploration. His breakthrough in using liquid fuel rather than gunpowder or other solid fuels paved the way for the development of rockets capable of reaching space and eventually sending humans to the moon. As the world marks the 100th anniversary of this milestone, it serves as a reminder of how far space technology has advanced and the new frontiers that may be reached in the coming century.

The details

Goddard's 10-foot rocket flew for less than three seconds and reached an altitude of about 41 feet. While others had experimented with rocketry, Goddard's 1919 paper "A Method of Reaching Extreme Altitudes" brought his work to global attention. His pioneering use of liquid propellant, rather than gunpowder or other solid fuels, was a key breakthrough that eventually led to the development of rockets capable of space travel. Goddard went on to launch more than 35 rockets in his lifetime, and in 1959 NASA named its first spaceflight complex the "Goddard Space Flight Center" in his honor.

  • On March 16, 1926, Robert H. Goddard launched the world's first liquid-fueled rocket.
  • In May 1959, NASA renamed its first spaceflight complex to the "Goddard Space Flight Center".
  • The Artemis II mission, which will send four astronauts around the far side of the moon, is scheduled to launch in 2026, 100 years after Goddard's historic launch.

The players

Robert H. Goddard

A physicist who is considered the father of modern rocketry. He launched the world's first liquid-fueled rocket in 1926, a breakthrough that paved the way for space exploration.

Esther Christine Kisk Goddard

Robert Goddard's wife, a photographer who documented many of his early rocket experiments, providing valuable historical footage.

NASA

The U.S. space agency that in 1959 named its first spaceflight complex the "Goddard Space Flight Center" in honor of Robert Goddard's pioneering work.

Artemis II

A planned NASA mission that will send four astronauts around the far side of the moon, the first crewed lunar mission since 1972.

Charles "Chuck" Agosta

A physics professor at Clark University, Goddard's alma mater, who continues to use Goddard's bicycle wheel demonstration to teach students about angular momentum.

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What they’re saying

“It all comes back down to March 16 in 1926 because he was the one that proved that it could be done and then actually did it.”

— Ed Stewart, Curator, U.S. Space & Rocket Center

“I think the breakthrough was, first of all, that Goddard had this dream of getting a rocket ship off the surface of the Earth. And then, of course, the dream was to go to Mars.”

— Charles 'Chuck' Agosta, Physics Professor, Clark University

“I'm pretty confident that in a hundred years, we're going to be all over space. It's inevitable and we'll at least be in the planets close to us.”

— Charles 'Chuck' Agosta, Physics Professor, Clark University

What’s next

The Artemis II mission, which will send four astronauts around the far side of the moon, is scheduled to launch in 2026, 100 years after Goddard's historic launch.

The takeaway

Robert Goddard's pioneering work in 1926 laid the foundation for modern rocketry and space exploration, ultimately leading to the development of rockets capable of sending humans to the moon. As the world marks the 100th anniversary of this milestone, it serves as a testament to the power of human ingenuity and the remarkable progress that can be achieved through perseverance and scientific advancement.