This nitrogen pressure device was designed and used by the American rocket pioneer Robert H. Goddard (1882-1945) in a static or non-flying test of a cylindrical rocket combustion chamber at Roswell, New Mexico, on 15 January 1931. It was the first in a series of tests on combustion chambers in which the liquid oxygen was fed tangentially and the gasoline was introduced as a spray at the of the upper cone of the chamber. The propellants were not pumped into the combustion chamber but fed in by inert nitrogen pressure of between 75 and 150 pounds per square inch.

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 not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.

Object Details

Date

1931

Country of Origin

United States of America

Type

PROPULSION-Components (Engine Parts)

Manufacturer

Dr. Robert H. Goddard

Dimensions

3-D: 9.5 × 3.2 × 24.1cm (3 3/4 × 1 1/4 × 9 1/2 in.)

Materials

Steel
Copper Alloy
Aluminum
Main cylinder, or tank, zinc-plated steel; pipes, adjoining, copper, the longer with brass fittings

Inventory Number

A19590072000

Credit Line

Gift of Mrs. Robert Goddard

Data Source

National Air and Space Museum

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply
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