The Founding Research of Rocketry — Robert Goddard artifacts from 1926

I just obtained a collection of very rare items from the earliest days of rocketry in the U.S. Years after his death, at the dawn of the Space Age, Goddard came to be recognized as the founding father of modern rocketry.

1) Inner nozzle from the first flight
Starting on the far right, the alundum cement rocket nozzle liner from the liquid-fueled rocket launched by Robert H. Goddard, likely the world’s first on March 16, 1926. The piece measures approximately 1.25 x 2.25 x .5 inches and has scorch marks on the interior from use. This artifact was given to Frederick C. Durant III by Goddard’s widow, Esther Goddard, and has been kept in an envelope labeled in Durant’s hand, “Ceramic rocket nozzle liner used by R. H. Goddard in 1920s, possibly from the 1926 (March 16) flight.”

Frederick C. Durant III, the former head of astronautics at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, was one of the world’s foremost authorities of spaceflight and rocketry. This is one of several artifacts he received from Esther Goddard, a witness to the launch of March 16, 1926, and from her testimony, he determined the 1926 flight as the likely origin. The small size of the piece lends credence to this conclusion, as Goddard’s rocket experiments grew larger and larger over time. I am posting this here with the hope that the space community can help confirm or refute the identity with any available evidence.

2) Fuel valve remains from a failed experiment
Bottom right. Fuel feed rate needle valve from one of Goddard’s early rockets, circa late 1920s/early 1930s. The piece measures approximately 7 x 5 x 2 and consists of a valve passing through a longer pipe segment attached to a fragment of a larger base; a short bracket extends from the base, which was damaged in a blast during rocket experiments.

This piece is not attributed to a specific rocket, and it could have been used in one of Goddard’s static test rockets or in actual flight; its design suggests a relatively early date. The needle valves were located near the top of Goddard’s rockets and were a critical element in controlling his fuel feed line and tank systems. This artifact was given to Frederick C. Durant III by Goddard’s widow, Esther Goddard, likely during the 1960s.

3) Fuel Tank Baffle
Upper right. Two-level metal rocket fuel tank baffle attributed to one of Goddard’s early rockets, circa mid-to-late 1920s. The piece measures approximately 3.5″ in diameter and 2.25″ tall, and consists of two discs connected by four rods.

This artifact was given to Frederick C. Durant III by Goddard’s widow, Esther Goddard, during the 1960s. This piece is not attributed to any specific rocket, but its small size suggests an early date as Goddard’s rockets (and their fuel tanks) grew larger as his experiments progressed. The baffle was an important element of Goddard’s fuel tank design, used to combat the ‘slosh’ of liquid propellant during flight.