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American rocket experimenter Dr. Robert H. Goddard used Dewar flasks like this one for carrying liquid oxygen for some of his earliest liquid-propellant rocket experiments. It dates to about 1923-1924. Each flask appears to hold about a liter of liquid oxygen. The flasks were needed to contain the extremely low temperature of the liquid oxygen which quickly evaporated when exposed to air. Goddard at first worked with solid propellants from 1915-1920, then switched to liquids in 1921 and continued to experiment with liquid propellant rockets until his death in 1945.

Mrs. Robert H. Goddard donated this object to the Smithsonian Institution in 1959 as part of a large collection of artifacts from her husband.

 Display Status

This object is on display in Rockets & Missiles at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA.

Rockets & Missiles
Object Details
Country of Origin United States of America Type EQUIPMENT-Test Manufacturer Dr. Robert H. Goddard
 Dimensions 3-D: 34.9 x 12.7cm (13 3/4 x 5 in.)
 Materials Hand blown glass; apparently with original padding blanket-like fabric; includes padding circles for bottom ends of each flask, also fitted with cork disk.
 Inventory Number A19590083001 Credit Line Gift of Mrs. Robert H. Goddard Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.