It is a bitter irony of society that often, the solitary visionary, with groundbreaking ideas, is derided by those around him, especially when his concepts are unconventional and lack immediate profitability. Robert Hutchings Goddard, a man ahead of his time, was working on rocket technology while the dominant modes of transportation were still horse-drawn or steam-powered trains. His aspirations for space travel began long before Wernher von Braun was even born.

When H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds was published, Goddard, then a teenager, had a revelation while perched in a cherry tree. He envisioned a device capable of sending humans to Mars and descended from that tree with a newfound purpose.

From an early age, Goddard was fascinated by technology. Despite facing health challenges that kept him home from school, he devoured books, particularly on science, which likely included science fiction. Rather than discouragement, his father nurtured this passion, equipping him with a microscope, telescope, and a subscription to Scientific American.

His health improved, leading him to graduate as valedictorian from South High Community School. He enrolled at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1904, earning a B.S. in 1908, followed by an M.A. in physics from Clark University in 1910, and ultimately a Ph.D. in 1911.

Goddard began his work with gunpowder-based rockets but continually sought more effective alternatives. After reaching out to various government agencies for support without success, he wrote to the Smithsonian Institution. There, he found allies in Assistant Secretary Charles Greeley Abbot and Secretary Charles Doolittle Walcott, who recognized the importance of his research and granted him $5,000 from the Hodgkins Fund for atmospheric research, equivalent to about $120,000 today.

His groundbreaking idea of utilizing liquid fuels began to take shape when he discovered that a specific nozzle, known as the de Laval nozzle, could enhance efficiency. Understanding the risks of melting due to the intense heat from combusting liquid oxygen and gasoline, Goddard innovatively devised a system that wrapped the cold liquid oxygen tube around the hotter components of the rocket engine. He also pioneered the use of gyroscopes in a feedback loop for stabilizing rockets in flight and introduced powered fuel pumps to ensure proper fuel delivery.

In total, Goddard secured over 200 patents related to rocketry, successfully launching the first liquid-fueled rocket in 1926. Some argue that this event should hold the same historical significance as the Wright brothers' first flight in 1903. In 1929, he launched a rocket carrying scientific instruments, attracting the attention of aviator Charles Lindbergh, who later provided financial support and facilitated a $100,000 grant from the Guggenheim family for Goddard’s research.

Despite these achievements, Goddard faced ridicule and neglect. In 1920, he published a paper with the Smithsonian, suggesting that his methods could eventually enable lunar travel. The New York Times published a dismissive article claiming that rockets could not function in the vacuum of space, suggesting that high school students possessed greater knowledge than Goddard.

This negative press led to intermittent mockery of Goddard's work, prompting him to relocate to Roswell, New Mexico, where he could launch rockets in relative isolation. It wasn't until the Apollo 11 mission in 1969 that the Times issued a correction to their earlier article, long after Goddard had passed away.

The negative publicity likely hindered Goddard's ability to secure support from the government and other organizations. Before World War II, he offered his expertise to the military but was largely ignored, with only the Navy later hiring him for developing rocket-assisted takeoff systems.

Even today, society often ridicules unconventional research and spending on seemingly obscure studies, despite the potential for significant discoveries. The media's derision of foundational research is compounded by politicians who exploit such narratives to justify budget cuts, favoring tax reductions for affluent constituents instead.

There was, however, one group closely following Goddard's advancements: Nazi Germany. A year after Goddard's initial liquid-fueled rocket launch, Wernher von Braun established the German Rocket Society, indicating the global interest sparked by Goddard's achievements.

This fascination mirrored Germany's quest for military advancements. German rocket scientists sought Goddard's insights, and while initially flattered, he grew wary and alerted authorities to the intensity of their interest.

As Goddard immersed himself in his research, Germany was actively funding von Braun's rocket development efforts, which included liquid-fueled engines and missile technology, culminating in the infamous V-2 rocket.

Upon analyzing a downed V-2 rocket in Sweden, Goddard noted that many of its components mirrored his own designs. While von Braun later denied this, he acknowledged that Goddard's work had saved Germany considerable time in research.

During the post-war era, Wernher von Braun and many other German scientists were captured by American forces in a race to recruit top talent before the Soviets could. They were brought to the U.S. under Operation Paperclip and assigned to Fort Bliss, where they began contributing to military projects, eventually developing ICBMs and rockets that would enable American lunar missions.

Robert Goddard, who died in 1945 from throat cancer, never witnessed the fruits of his life's work in space exploration. Had he received the recognition and support he needed during his lifetime, it’s possible the trajectory of WWII could have shifted, and humanity might have already established a colony on Mars.

While no Nazi scientists were prosecuted for war crimes, von Braun eventually received accolades such as the NASA Distinguished Service Medal and the Goddard Astronautics Award. By this time, NASA had acknowledged Goddard's contributions, having to pay $1,000,000 to his estate in a patent infringement case—the largest such settlement at that time.

It is disheartening that America had to recruit a former Nazi scientist to advance Goddard's legacy. Had Goddard received early support, he could have achieved even more and fostered a new generation of rocket scientists. Instead of hiding away in the desert from critical reporters, he could have led a thriving space program, propelling the nation towards the future of space exploration.

While we owe much to von Braun for advancements in missile defense and the development of the Saturn V rocket, this narrative serves as a cautionary tale. It reminds us to reflect carefully before judging others, as the consequences of misjudgments can be profoundly detrimental.