A century after the first rocket launch, Ars staffers pick their favorites

Here’s something that caught my attention — exactly 100 years ago, Robert Goddard launched the first liquid-fueled rocket. Honestly, it was pretty humble: just 41 feet up, lasting only 2.5 seconds, and hitting snow. But here’s the thing — Goddard’s tiny flight set the stage for everything that followed. According to Eric Berger at Ars, this small step marked the beginning of the space age, leading to humans riding rockets into space, and eventually landing on the Moon. Now, what’s wild is how far we’ve come in just a century. From that shaky start, scientists and engineers built rockets that could carry payloads, launch satellites, and explore distant planets. So, what does this all mean for you? It’s a reminder that even the tiniest sparks of innovation can ignite extraordinary progress. As Berger highlights, the future of space exploration is still unfolding, and it’s incredibly exciting to watch those first sparks turn into blazing trails.