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Jan 1, 1500
Pre 17th Century
-In 1650, a Polish artillery expert, Kazimierz Siemienowicz, published a series of drawings for a staged rocket. -Kazimierz Siemienowicz, born near Raseiniai in Samogitia, was a Polish-Lithuanian commander in the Polish Royal Artillery. He was fascinated by artillery from childhood and studied to increase his knowledge in this area. He became an expert in the fields of artillery and rocketry. His Artis Magnae Artilleriae pars prima which was first printed in Amsterdam in 1650 became the standar -
17th Century
During the latter part of the 17th century, the scientific foundations for modern rocketry were laid by the great English scientist Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727). Newton organized his understanding of physical motion into three scientific laws. The laws explain how rockets work and why they are able to work in the vacuum of outer space. Newton's laws soon began to have a practical impact on the design of rockets. About 1720, a Dutch professor, Willem Gravesande, built model cars propelled by jets -
18th Century
A painting of 1780 Anglo Mysore War fought between British and Hyder Ali. This painting is displayed at NASA which in turn has recognized Tipu Sultan & his father Hyder Ali as pioneers of modern rocket technology. Also referred to as Mysorean rockets, these military weapons were much more advanced than any other rockets of those times. They had taken the British by surprise and was the reason for their humiliating defeat.These rockets were iron cased, would travel several meters high in the air -
19th Century
The French Excel At Fireworks And The Limited Use Of War Rockets
Indian Troops Use War Rockets Against The British
British Congreve Rockets Are Introduced
Congreve Rockets Are Adapted As Rescue Rockets
Congreve Rockets Create The "Rockets' Red Glare"
Several Nations Create Rocket Brigades
Design Of A Rocket Aircraft Is Ridiculed
The British Introduce Hale Rockets
British Hale Rockets Become First U.S. War Rockets
The Swiss Introduce War Rockets
Use Of War Rockets Diminishes
The First Multi-Stage -
20th Century
Rockets See Limited Use During World War I
The First Guided Missiles Are Introduced
Russia Creates Official Rocketry Organizations
Wernher von Braun Joins The VfR
The British Introduce Another Guided Missile
Rocket Automobiles Are Tested
Rocket Railway Cars Are Tested
Rocket Aircraft Are Tested
Austrian Scientist Proposes Rocket Engines
Rocket Sleds Are Tested
Italy Conducts Rocketry Tests
Russian Rocketry Research Continues
The VfR Begins Rocket Tests
The British Introduce More Guided Missiles -
21st Century
A special avionics system mounted on the 20-story launcher transmitted its location to controllers on the ground using Global Positioning System navigation data. This year also will see the 100th Space Shuttle launch in history, a milestone for a workhorse that has taken over 600 passengers and 3 million pounds of cargo to orbit. The Shuttle fleet has spent almost two and a half years in space. But even the most-traveled Shuttles remain young in the lifetimes for which they were built. NASA is
