Robert Hutchings Goddard (October 5, 1882 -- August 10, 1945) was an American engineer, professor, physicist, and inventor who is credited with creating and building the world 's first liquid - fueled rocket. Goddard successfully launched his model on March 16, 1926, ushering in an era of space flight and innovation. He and his team launched 34 rockets between 1926 and 1941, achieving altitudes as high as 2.6 km (1.6 mi) and speeds as fast as 885 km / h (550 mph).
who built the world’s first liquid-fueled rocket
Robert Hutchings Goddard