Аннотация: Robert Goddard and the flight to the Moon. A historical and culturological essay.
Robert Goddard and the flight to the Moon. A historical and culturological essay.
One of the founders of cosmonautics is Robert H. Goddard (1882 - 1945), a US citizen.
On the one hand, it seems that not so few biographical works have been published about him. On the other hand, I was unable to find biographical books about Robert Goddard in either Russian or in English.
Robert Goddard gives the impression of a prosperous citizen of a prosperous country. Biographical material mentions his historical roots in Britain. And one of the works mentions the statement of Robert Goddard, who allegedly connected his scientific aspirations with several generations of his ancestors, whose work was associated with mechanical devices.
If the conditional year of the widespread use of steam engines in England is considered 1782 (when James Watt received a patent for an improved steam engine), then Goddard's ancestors associated with technical devices must apparently be sought in the interval between 1782 and 1882.
The problem faced by biographers is how to explain Robert Goddard's penchant for research in themes of rocketry and of space flights.
Such a way out is found: Robert Goddard (he was a child) climbed a tree. From the tree, he saw a lawn and thought: what would this lawn look like if he looked at it from Mars? From that moment on, his life took on meaning. He became a researcher of space flight problems.
One of the very useful qualities of Robert Goddard was keeping a regular diary. His experiments, his patents, his diary - this is the potential on the base on which people in the 21st century give high marks to the work of Robert Goddard.
Goddard did not suffer from a lack of public attention, but positive assessments of his activities were made to a large extent retrospectively - after his death.
And what happened during the life of Robert Goddard?
First, there was a friendly and relatively prosperous family. Of the several children in this family, only Robert Goddard eventually survived. He suffered from health problems all his life.
In biographical materials, one can find an opinion about the moderately skeptical attitude of all circles of American society (at that time) to the problems of rocket technology and to the problems of space flights. Perhaps Jules Verne and his books seemed too frivolous to business Americans.
Sometimes Goddard and his work came into the focus of public attention. Once, for some reason, Goddard proposed to launch a rocket to the Moon, and as proof of its approach to the Moon, ignite a certain volume of flammable substances on the surface of the Moon. This "fire" will be seen by astronomers through telescopes, and this will be proof that the rocket has reached the Moon. In response to this idea, there was a flood of letters to different addresses from the general public.
Biographical writings mention an attempt to name, to label Goddard as a "moon man".
The letters were mainly of a critical, malevolent nature.
In scientific circles (at that time), as can be concluded from biographical materials, there was a skeptical attitude towards rockets. It has even been expressed an opinion that in the name of a scientific institution (in the USA) widely known today, the words 'Jet (Propulsion)' were used precisely in order not to use the word 'rocket' and words derived from it.
Goddard did not receive special support from government agencies and from the Ministry of Defense in his space research. He was recognized as a major scientist and was involved in various work on the development of weapons. Goddard designed a bazooka - a means of fighting tanks.
From biographical works, one can form an opinion about the reasons that prompted Goddard to be secretive.
First, health problems,
Secondly, skepticism towards his work on rocket and space topics from the part of the general public, wide scientific circles and the state,
Thirdly, possible fears of the "theft" of scientific results by business, as well as the risks of their abduction and the usage by other states (including countries hostile to the United States). (Perhaps Robert Goddard was exercising reasonable caution? He was understanding the significance of his work?)
As a result, Goddard's works were notable for a closeness, even a "secrecy."
However, one should not assume that Robert Goddard had no support whatsoever. For a long time he worked as a teacher at the university, where the stuff understood his high scientific level and treated him with respect.
The famous American pilot Charles Lindbergh, who was the first to fly across the Atlantic Ocean from the United States to Europe, became interested in the works of Robert Goddard and helped to reach agreement of support these works from the Guggenheim family.
There is an interesting detail in this story - Lindbergh initially asked one of the organizations, he received confirmation that Goddard was a normal person (not suffering from deviations), and then he organized direct contact with Goddard. (Thus, Lindbergh has insured himself against possible criticism that a respectable person with a generally recognized reputation did acquaintance with a dubious person. Lindbergh has an "expert opinion" about the normality of Goddard!).
For a long time, the work of Robert Goddard was carried out with the charitable financial support of the Guggenheim family.
A disease became fatal for Goddard in 1945. By 1945, Goddard saw neither widespread recognition of the significance of his work, nor significant practical results of his experiments - except for the V-2 rocket (he managed to see a trophy copy).
The administration of President John F. Kennedy launched an extensive space research program. Thus, the interest to the history of astronautics, to the personality and to the works of Robert Goddard intensified.
Perhaps, in parallel with John F. Kennedy, a certain dreaminess was added to practicality, - attention to fashion issues, to the style of the White House premises ...
Perhaps under the influence of Jacqueline Kennedy, the attitude towards Jules Verne and to the idea of flying to the Moon became more favorable ...
July 1, 2021 08:33
Translation from Russian into English: July 1, 2021 09:52.
Владимир Владимирович Залесский 'Роберт Годдард и полёт на Луну. Исторический и культурологический очерк'.