The Robert Goddard Wing of the Roswell Museum
On my way to the 1995 IPMS National Convention, I stopped at the
Roswell Museum in Roswell, New Mexico. One wing of the museum is set
up to appear as Robert Goddard's workshop. While I didn't expect to
be allowed to use flash photography, I was stunned to be told by the
guard that I wasn't allowed to use my tripod. Therefore, I had to try
hand-holding very long exposures. These few pictures are the best of
the lot (and they aren't great).
Liquid fuel replica
This is the prototype for the first successful liquid fueled rocket
that Goddard flew in Massachusetts on March 16, 1926. Shortly
thereafter (after setting at least one field on fire), he relocated to
Roswell to continue his rocketry experiments.
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Rocket innards
You know, I really should write down what I'm photographing... But I
believe that these parts actually flew in one of Goddard's
rockets.
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Work stand
Here's a rocket on a typical workstand. As I recall (using faulty,
carbon-based memory), the rocket is about fifteen to twenty feet
long...
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Innards on a workbench
Here're some more rocket innards. It looks as though the tank has
suffered some sort of rupture...
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Launch tower
Just outside the museum, is one of the launch towers with a rocket
mounted inside.
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Sun over the tower
OK, so I'm not Ansel Adams... or even Don Adams.
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Tower and flame trench
As you can see, Goddard used a simple concrete pipe as a flame trench
on his launch pad.
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[Scale models page]
[Model rockets page]
Sven Knudson, sven@ninfinger.org
IPMS#32490
NAR#63297
Sven Knudson, sven@ninfinger.org
