[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4093]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



            TRIBUTE TO THE LATE DR. ROBERT HUTCHINGS GODDARD

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                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 20, 2001

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I represent the 5th Congressional District of 
Maryland which is home to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. I would 
like to take this opportunity to celebrate the achievements of Dr. 
Robert Hutchings Goddard who, 75 years ago this month, launched the 
world's first liquid propellant rocket. Indeed, the flight of Goddard's 
rocket on March 16, 1926, at Auburn, MA, was a feat as epochal in 
history as that of the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk. During his 
lifetime Dr. Goddard designed, built, and launched 35 rockets of 
increasing sophistication. Dr. Goddard was the first scientist who not 
only realized the potential of missiles and space flight but also 
contributed directly in bringing them to practical realization.
  Mr. Speaker, on September 16, 1959, the 86th Congress of the United 
States authorized the issuance of a gold medal in honor of Dr. Goddard. 
When measuring the importance of Dr. Goddard's innovative 
contributions, there is no greater proof of his originality than his 
United States patents. In addition to the two patents issued in July 
1914, 56 more would be issued to him in his lifetime. Thirty-five 
patents pending were issued after his death in 1945. An additional 131 
patents, based upon his notes, sketches, and photographs, were applied 
for by his widow, Esther C. Goddard. In 1960, the U.S. Government 
acquired the rights to use these 214 patents.
  Mr. Speaker, Dr. Goddard created the building blocks which others 
would later invent independently. Dr. Goddard considered both manned 
and unmanned vehicles to explore the moon and planets, solar power, 
electric propulsion, and even flight to the stars. Today, the Armed 
Forces, NASA, and many others in the science community are able to 
construct rockets, missiles, weather instruments due to Dr. Goddard's 
vision. On this day, I would like to honor and recognize one of the 
greatest scientists and the father of modern rocket propulsion, Dr. 
Robert H. Goddard.

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