Lecture 17 Flashcards
(50 cards)
Where did the earliest concept of rocketry using compressed air originate?
Ancient Alexandria.
Which country developed the first solid-fuel rockets in the 13th century?
China. (fireworks)
What makes solid-fuel rockets ideal for fireworks and missiles?
They are cheap, powerful, and provide an instant boost.
Why aren’t solid-fuel rockets used for manned space travel?
They cannot be controlled once ignited.
What part of modern rockets still uses solid fuel?
Boosters.
Who is credited with writing the first book on modern space travel?
Konstantin Ciolkowski.
What major rocket concepts did Ciolkowski propose in 1903?
Multistage rockets, liquid oxygen and hydrogen fuel, and space stations.
Why didn’t Ciolkowski build any rockets?
He lacked funding and support.
Who wrote ‘Method for Reaching Extreme Altitudes’ in 1919?
Robert Goddard.
What did Robert Goddard contribute to rocketry?
The mathematical theory behind space travel and moon flight.
Why was Robert Goddard mocked during his lifetime?
The American scientific community dismissed his ideas as unrealistic.
When did Robert Goddard receive recognition for his work?
Not until the late 1970s, after his death.
Who wrote a PhD thesis titled ‘By Rocket into Planetary Space’?
Herman Oberth.
Why was Oberth’s thesis initially rejected?
It was seen as too speculative and impractical.
Which famous rocket scientist was a student of Herman Oberth?
Wernher von Braun.
Who was Wernher von Braun?
A German SS officer and rocket scientist involved in Nazi rocket development and concentration camps.
How many major rocket designs did von Braun develop for Hitler?
Twelve (A1–A12 series).
What was the A10 rocket designed for?
It was an intercontinental ballistic missile intended to hit the U.S.
Where were Germany’s A-series rockets developed and tested?
At Peenemünde.
Why wasn’t the A10 mass-produced?
The facilities were destroyed by Allied bombing.
What was the A12 rocket intended to be?
A spacefaring craft; it later influenced the Saturn V moon rocket.
Why did Hitler dislike the A12 rocket?
He saw no practical military value in space travel.
What was the first man-made object to enter space?
The A4 (also known as the V-2 rocket).
How did the A4/V2 rocket change warfare?
It introduced remote, push-button warfare with stealth and supersonic speed.
