This vehicle is the oldest surviving liquid-propellant rocket in the
world. Built of parts employed in the first liquid-propellant rocket
launched on March 16, 1926, the engine was moved from the nose of the
vehicle to the rear for the May 4 trial. Other changes were introduced
to reduce the weight of the rocket to 2.5 kilograms (5.5 pounds). The
motor burned gasoline and liquid oxygen.
The alcohol burner under the liquid oxygen tank was inadvertently not
ignited, causing the May 4 attempted launch to fail. A second test on
May 5 also proved unsuccessful. However, the rocket engine was fired on
both occasions.
The May 4 rocket is from Mrs. Robert H. Goddard and the Daniel and
Florence Guggenheim Foundation.