1940s
Although modern
rocketry technically began in the 1920s with the experiments of American
Robert Goddard, it was the German skunkworks at Pennemünde during World War II
that truly set the stage for both the American and Soviet space programs to
follow. Under the direction of Dr. Werner von Braun, Germany developed the
mother of all modern rockets, the A-4 (also known as the V-2), a single-stage
medium-range guided missile that for several months rained terror on the
citizens of London and its environs. Surrendering to the Allies during the
final weeks of the War, Von Braun and several of his associates moved to the
United States where they continued their work, this time under the auspices of
the United States Army. Other Germans, captured by the Soviets, were
pressed into service designing ballistic missiles for Russia's own defense
and space programs. Models of both German and American missiles from this decade are featured in this section. |
Click Photos to Enlarge
|
|
|
|
Home X-Planes Concept Aircraft Spacecraft & Missiles Concept Spacecraft Science Fiction Grab Bag