On a cold day in March 1926, a thin metal tube rose from a farm field in Massachusetts. It flew for 2.5 seconds and reached 41 feet. That does not sound impressive. But that short flight was one of the most important moments in science. The rocket was built by Robert Goddard, born October 5, 1882. Goddard had spent years figuring out how to make a rocket fly using liquid fuel instead of solid gunpowder. Liquid fuel burns more efficiently and can be controlled. Before Goddard, most scientists believed rockets could not work in the vacuum of space because there was nothing to push against. Goddard proved them wrong. A rocket works by pushing gas out the back. The thrust from the gas pushes the rocket forward. It does not need air to push against. Goddard also invented many parts still used in rockets today, including fuel pumps and steering systems. Newspapers mocked him. The New York Times once wrote that he seemed to lack "the knowledge ladled out daily in high schools." After Apollo 11 landed on the Moon in 1969, the same newspaper printed a correction. Goddard's 41-foot flight was the first step toward the Moon and beyond.