Robert Hutchings Goddard (October 5, 1882 – August 10, 1945) was an American
engineer,
professor,
physicist, and
inventor who is credited with creating and building the world's first
liquid-fueled rocket, which he successfully launched on March 16, 1926. Goddard and his team launched 34 rockets between 1926 and 1941, achieving altitudes as high as and speeds as high as 885 km/h (550 mph).