Ancient Chinese Fire Arrows
The history of rocketry began with the invention of gunpowder by the Chinese around the 9th century. They developed 'fire arrows', the earliest form of rocket technology, used mainly for military purposes during the Song dynasty.
17th Century European Advances
In the 17th century, European scientists like Sir Isaac Newton established the scientific principles of rocketry. Newton's third law of motion laid the foundational concept for the technology: for every action, there's an equal and opposite reaction.
Goddard's Pioneering Liquid Fuel
American Robert H. Goddard launched the first liquid-fueled rocket in 1926. His work went largely unrecognized at the time, but he is now considered one of the fathers of modern rocketry for his visionary contributions.
WWII and the V-2 Rocket
The V-2 rocket developed by Germany during WWII was the first long-range guided ballistic missile. Its creation marked the beginning of rockets as weapons of war, and it laid the groundwork for post-war space exploration technologies.
Cold War: Space Race Catalyst
The Cold War superpowers—U.S. and USSR—competed in the Space Race, advancing rocketry significantly. The Soviet Union's Sputnik, the first artificial Earth satellite, and America's Apollo Moon landings were pivotal results of this era.
Reusable Rockets Revolution
SpaceX's development of reusable rockets, such as the Falcon 9, changed space economics by drastically cutting costs. This innovation has made space more accessible, paving the way for a new era of space exploration and industry.
Private Sector Space Ambitions
The 21st century has seen a surge in private companies entering the space race. Pioneers like Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, and SpaceX are leading the way in space tourism and the potential colonization of other planets.
Who invented 'fire arrows'?
17th-century Europeans
9th-century Chinese
Goddard's team
Company