Robert Goddard (1882-1945) was serious about how to get to the moon. He was ridiculed in his time, but his contributions to rocket science are still valid today. Using mathematics, he established the weight-to-energy ratios for various types of fuel. He concluded that gunpowder would never have enough energy to propel a rocket into space. Furthermore, to burn fuel in a vacuum, the rocket would have to carry a supply of oxygen. Goddard's solution was a mixture of gasoline and liquid oxygen. Gaseous oxygen takes up a lot of space, but liquid oxygen gives the rocket a lot of energy, with much less weight and volume. The first liquid-fueled rocket was patented by Goddard in 1914. After 12 years and several failed experiments, Goddard took the 10-foot-tall “Nell” rocket into the field. An assistant lit the fuse with a blowtorch attached to a bar. After 1 second, the rocket took off, rose about 40 feet, turned over, and hit the ground. The flight lasted 2.5 seconds, at an average speed of 60 miles per hour. In addition to proving his theory, Goddard laid the foundation for all subsequent developments in rocket technology.