December 2019 Auction Ends Thursday, December 12th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/12/2019
Robert H. Goddard typed letter signed, with content on the burgeoning field of rocketry, Goddard's passion for which he was largely ridiculed during his lifetime. In 1920, ''The New York Times'' even published an editorial mocking Goddard for thinking that a rocket could achieve thrust outside the Earth's atmosphere, writing tartly that Goddard ''seems to lack the knowledge ladled out daily in high schools.'' Though Goddard didn't live to see the fruition of his work, the Times issued a retraction on 17 July 1969 - the day Apollo 11's launch, entitled ''A Correction'', finally giving the Father of Space Flight his due. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center is also named in Goddard's honor.
Goddard here responds on 13 November 1938 to an inquiry on rocketry. Composed on stationery for ''Mescalero Ranch'', his home in Roswell, New Mexico, letter reads in part, ''It has been necessary, so far, to place most emphasis on flight performance, and such matters as the rocket motor have accordingly not received as much attention as it is desirable they should have. For this reason, I have not done much further work along this line since I I wrote you, but have concentrated on stabilization during and after propulsion, and parachute release. I hope, however, that it will be possible to carry rocket motor development further at a later time. / Appreciating your continued interest, I am / Very truly yours, [signed] R.H. Goddard''. Single page letter measures 8.5'' x 11''. Three hole punched to side, folds and light toning. Overall very good to near fine condition. With JSA COA.
Scarce 1938 Letter Signed by Robert H. Goddard, the Father of Space Flight -- ''...such matters as the rocket motor have accordingly not received as much attention...'' -- With JSA COA
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