Skip to content
79,433 pages · 13,741 images · since 1994 Browse A–Z Today in space history
Encyclopedia Astronautica The full story of spaceflight
Encyclopedia entry

Goddard L-A

Launch vehicle · USA

Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.

Goddard series L sec
Goddard series L sec
Rocket equipped with a cluster of four combustion chambers, each 5.75 in. in diameter.

American test vehicle. Tests of the Goddard L Section A covered development of a nitrogen-pressured flight rocket using 10 in, motors based on the K series and ran from May 11 to November 7, 1936 (L1-L7). Length of the L Series Section A rockets varied from 10 ft 11 in, to 13 ft 6 1/2 in.; diameter 18 in.; empty weight 120 to 202 lb; loaded weight 295 to 360 lb; weight oxygen about 78 lb; weight gasoline 84 lb; weight nitrogen, 4 lb.

People
Goddard
Country
USA

Chronology

4 events

1936 May 11

LV Family: Goddard. Launch Vehicle: Goddard L-A.
  • Goddard begins tests of his L Series of liquid fuel rockets. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Goddard.

    These would run through August 9, 1938 and included 30 flight tests of 10-in.-diameter motors, in nitrogen-pressured rockets. The series was divided into three sections: A, B, and C. Section A covered development of a nitrogen-pressured flight rocket using 10 in, motors based on the K series and ran from May 11 to November 7, 1936 (L1-L7). Length of the L Series Section A rockets varied from 10 ft 11 in, to 13 ft 6 1/2 in.; diameter 18 in.; empty weight 120 to 202 lb; loaded weight 295 to 360 lb; weight oxygen about 78 lb; weight gasoline 84 lb; weight nitrogen, 4 lb.

1936 July 31

Launch Site: Roswell. LV Family: Goddard. Launch Vehicle: Goddard L-A.
  • Flight of Goddard series L section A rocket - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Goddard. Apogee: 0.0600 km (0.0373 mi). Range: 0.0900 km (0.0559 mi). Rocket achieved altitude 200 ft above 80-ft tower; duration 5 sec; landed 300 ft from tower..

1936 October 3

Launch Site: Roswell. LV Family: Goddard. Launch Vehicle: Goddard L-A.
  • Flight of Goddard series L section A rocket - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Goddard. Apogee: 0.0600 km (0.0373 mi). Rocket achieved 200 ft vertically in 5 sec, then combustion chamber burned through; weight oxygen 40 lb; weight gasoline 46 lb; weight nitrogen 4 lb; fell 20 ft from tower..

1936 November 7

Launch Site: Roswell. LV Family: Goddard. Launch Vehicle: Goddard L-A.
  • Final flight of Goddard series L section A rocket - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Goddard. Apogee: 0.0600 km (0.0373 mi).

    Rocket equipped with a cluster of four combustion chambers, each 5.75 in. in diameter; length 13 ft 6.5 in.; altitude about 200 ft; fell near tower. The L series included four proving-stand tests and three flight test attempts, of which all were successful. Average interval between tests 25 days