Race to the Moon Time Line

On March 16, 1926, Dr. Robert H. Goddard launched the first liquid-fueled rocket. That was an important step for future space exploration. Powerful rockets are needed to carry spacecraft from Earth’s surface into suborbital and orbital space. Of course, several decades passed before a spacecraft made that trip. And other scientists played a part,  including German rocket scientist Dr. Wernher von Braun. In the decade or so before the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was created, he helped the U.S. Army develop improved rockets. He eventually joined NASA and became a strong