The road around the farm had been blocked two days ago, and all idlers had been cleared. The outermost circle was a police checkpoint, the middle was a military blockade, and the inner circle was Secret Service agents. There was no problem with safety.
The 12-meter-long rocket weighs only 50 kilograms including fuel. It is really pitiful and thin, just like a large flying monkey.
In fact, it's not bad. The first rocket launched by Robert Goddard in another time and space weighed only 4.6 kilograms after filling with fuel, and the empty weight was 2.6 kilograms, which was far from the current one.
This is understandable. The development of science and technology has never been achieved overnight. From the current perspective, the first airplane built by the Wright brothers is almost like a toy built with a wooden frame. The appearance of a dog house is even better than that of the Wright brothers.
The aircraft has a more industrial aesthetic, but this does not affect the Wright brothers' contribution to the aircraft.
At 10:19 a.m., the convoy arrived at the farm. Robert Goddard personally conducted a final inspection of the rocket with David Foster, and then entered the launch procedure.
This rocket launch attracted many relevant people to watch, including Nikola Tesla.
Rock, Nikola Tesla and others were all in the observation room 100 meters away from the rocket. Nikola Tesla probably had trouble with his eyesight and squinted for a long time without seeing the rocket clearly.
Seemingly, Rock simply asked someone to bring a telescope to Nikola Tesla, and Nikola Tesla was able to see the true appearance of the rocket.
Then Nikola Tesla's expression was a bit hard to describe. Although Nikola Tesla tried not to show it, Rock still felt keenly that Nikola Tesla's expression was one of disappointment and mixed with disappointment.
dislike.
"This is only the first launch of the rocket. We have to be a little patient-" Rock didn't know how much Nikola Tesla knew about rockets, but considering that Nikola Tesla knew a lot about mechanics and electronics,
With his accomplishments, he should be no stranger to the Rockets.
"I don't know much about Professor Goddard. I have only read some reports about Professor Goddard in newspapers. This experiment is just to verify Professor Goddard's theory. If the theory is correct, then the progress will be
It will be greatly accelerated." Nikola Tesla would never make wild claims in areas he did not understand, which was completely different from Rock.
Of course, this does not mean that Roque is arrogant, but that the reality in southern Africa requires Roque to play such a role.
Many times, the research spirit of scientists can be described as "cutting off the edge" in a sense. For example, the BIG 7 is known as the "ultimate battleship". Let's not talk about whether the term "ultimate battleship" is correct or not. Even if the battleship develops to
In the extreme, it will eventually be eliminated by aircraft carriers. This is determined by the law of development and has nothing to do with whether the battleship itself is strong or not.
"Yes, I have an idea. If you combine your remote control technology with Professor Goddard's rocket technology, is it possible for rockets to become a super weapon?" Rock started to play "Prophet" again. He couldn't do it without acting.
If Rock hadn't pointed it out, rocket technology would still have to take many detours before it could find the right path to development.
Objectively speaking, in 1925, the so-called "deep space exploration" was just a pipe dream, and landing on the moon was of no significance to southern Africa, at least for southern Africa at this stage.
Rock has been emphasizing that war is the driving force for the development of science and technology. If rocket technology cannot be linked to war, then rocket technology will not receive enough attention.
This is also the reason why in another time and space, although American rocket technology started early, it later lagged far behind Germany and the Soviet Union.
Although Robert Goddard in another time and space successfully launched the world's first liquid rocket, it did not attract the attention and support of the U.S. government. Therefore, until his death, Robert Goddard did not receive a reward commensurate with his contribution.
of honor.
It was not until astronaut Gagarin entered space in 1961 that the United States published the full report of Robert Goddard's research on liquid rockets. Robert Goddard had already died 16 years ago.
Now Robert Goddard is in Southern Africa, receiving full support from the Ministry of Defense of Southern Africa and the University of Nyasaland, so Robert Goddard will certainly not remain unknown forever.
Even so, Rock still needs to find a more suitable development path for the Rockets.
Apply rockets to war first, and then explore deep space. This is the correct way to use rockets.
"Super weapon? It's indeed possible, but Professor Goddard doesn't necessarily think so -" Nikola Tesla was not surprised by Roark's proposal. We are all adults and there will be no childishness.
idea.
To put it bluntly, Nikola Tesla has spent half his life looking at human relationships. Who cares who serves the food? Since Roark is an investor in Robert Goddard, then Robert Goddard
Germany must obey Rock's request.
It is said that the reason why Maxim invented the machine gun was to reduce the casualties of soldiers. Maxim himself never imagined that the Maxim machine gun he invented would become the most effective weapon on the battlefield.
"He will think so -" Rock smiled, Robert Goddard is not stupid, he will make the right decision, unless he wants to go back to his previous life.
An unacceptable fact is that even if Robert Goddard returns to the United States now, it will not affect the subsequent research on rockets in southern Africa.
The truth is so cruel. There is a saying among craftsmen in the old generation that "the disciples of the church starve to death of the masters." It is the same here. Don't forget that most of the members of Robert Goddard's team are southern Africans.
While Rock was chatting with Nikola Tesla, Robert Goddard came to the observation room with excitement on his face and reported to Rock that all preparations had been completed.
"Then let's start -" Rock also picked up the telescope at this time, and everyone's eyes were focused on the rocket in the center of the launch site.
Following Robert Goddard's order, the rocket successfully ignited and took off. The process was similar to what Rock remembered, but of course the scene was much different from the grand perspective.
It certainly doesn't look that way to others.
When the rocket was successfully launched, warm applause immediately erupted in the observation room. Rock was in the calmest mood and immediately congratulated Robert Goddard.
"Thank you, thank you Lord, without your support, we could not have done this -" Robert Goddard burst into tears with excitement. From 1909 to now, for 16 years, Robert Goddard finally dreamed
come true.
This kind of mood is not common to outsiders. Think about the cynicism of Robert Goddard in the "New York Times", and then think about Robert Goddard's obstacles when looking for investors, and the fear and helplessness that Robert Goddard felt when he was about to run out of funds and had no other options.
—
All the unhappiness in the past turned into the joy and relief after the rocket launch.
But this does not mean that success and fame are as good as Nikola Tesla. After making so many great achievements, without a proper external environment, he still ended up bankrupt. For Robert Goddard,
The successful launch of the rocket is just the beginning, and he still has a long way to go.
"Professor Goddard, congratulations -" Nikola Tesla also expressed congratulations.
"Mr. Tesla, thank you -" Robert Goddard's face was full of excitement. Although Nikola Tesla has been abandoned by the United States, in Robert Goddard's heart, Nikola Tesla is still great.
of.
"I also have some ideas about rockets. We can find an opportunity to have a chat later." Nikola Tesla extended an invitation to Robert Goddard.
Nikola Tesla is not stupid. Since Rock has just said that he hopes that his remote control technology can be combined with Robert Goddard's rocket technology, Nikola Tesla also knows what to do.
.
The key is that Nikola Tesla does have experience in this area. Although Nikola Tesla does not know much about rocket technology, Nikola Tesla is still very good at remote control technology, and may be
The best in the world.
Remote control technology is actually missile navigation technology. Nikola Tesla demonstrated his remote-controlled submarine in 1898.
It has been 27 years since 1898. Now Nikola Tesla's mastery of remote control technology is definitely more sophisticated and more stable. Once a technology is invented, it must find a suitable application scenario.
This aspect is exactly what Rock is best at.
"That's great. I've only been in Nyasaland for just three months. The rocket launched this time is actually very imperfect. I still have many ideas to be verified. Give me some more time and I will definitely be able to
Make a more powerful rocket—" Robert Goddard said this to Nikola Tesla and also to Rock.
After arriving in Nyasaland, Robert Goddard realized how strong Nyasaland’s scientific research capabilities were.
When he was in the United States, Robert Goddard had never heard of anyone else studying rockets, and always thought he was a lone traveler in the dark night.
When he arrived in Nyasaland, Robert Goddard learned that rockets in southern Africa had reached the level of being used in actual combat, and there were 4 military-related research institutes alone.
Rocket technology has broad prospects. It is not only used in rocket launchers used in helicopters. When applied to army artillery or naval guns, extended-range artillery shells can be studied. When applied to torpedoes, more powerful torpedoes can be made.
, the rocket launchers used by the Army also come from rocket technology.
I almost forgot, but there is also the Katyusha that Rock never forgets. Compared with the army artillery that often costs thousands or tens of thousands, the Katyusha is truly high-quality, low-priced, and has fierce firepower.
Therefore, Robert Goddard really has no right to be proud. Compared with the mature scientific research system, personal power is indeed insignificant.
