History of Rockets

Tracking the spread of rocket technology from China to America over six centuries; and drawing the biographical sketches of rocket pioneers form the subject matter of this chapter. \(\bullet \) The demonstrations of action–reaction principle in the first century B.C. by the Greek philosopher Archytas through his toy pigeon and by the Greek mathematician Hero of Alexandria through his aeolipile are presented. The rocket-technology route evolved through battles: from Chinese to Mongols (battle of Kai-fung-fu in 1232), from Mongols to Arabs, from Arabs to European Countries, and as a closure from Europe to America at the battle of Bladensburg in 1814. \(\bullet \) With undaunted determination and dedicated perseverance, three eminent rocket pioneers Tsiolkovsky, Goddard, and Oberth independently worked tirelessly against many odds such as delayed recognition, acute shortage of funding, rebuke, criticism, and ill health. Biographical sketches of these great men are drawn. \(\bullet \) The use of Tsiolkovsky equation for velocity increments of space vehicles is described along with problems with answers at the chapter end.