Goddard

When he launched the world's first liquid-fueled rocket in Auburn, Massachusetts, the American scientist Dr. Robert H. Goddard (1882–1945) ignited the dawn of the Space Age. This milestone was not merely a technological breakthrough; it was the moment Earth gained the means to leave itself. Often alone, he was developing the essential principles of modern rocketry decades before the world recognized their value. Despite skepticism, multiple failures, and countless obstacles, he never gave up. His imagination, courage, and perseverance laid the foundation for every space endeavor that followed. This biography tells the powerful story of a man whose determination unlocked the heavens – but it is much more. It's a testament to the power of big dreams and the people who pursue them. Goddard showed the world that one courageously followed idea can open entire worlds. Includes excerpts from Carl Sagan's celebrated essay "A Cherry Tree to Mars" — a tribute from one visionary to another.