Canadian University Principal Proposed Rocket Spaceflight In 1861, Historian Says

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 04 Oct, 2015 12:55 PM

BURLINGTON, Ont. — A space historian says a Canadian university principal proposed rocket-based spaceflight 30 years earlier than previously thought.

Historian Robert Godwin says William Leitch of Queen's University in Kingston, Ont., accurately described the concept of rocket-based spaceflight in 1861.

Previous histories of spaceflight have maintained that the first scientific proposal of rocket-powered space travel came at the end of the 19th century by Russian Konstantin Tsiolkovsky and by American Robert Goddard.

Both claimed Jules Verne as their inspiration, but Godwin says Leitch published his thoughts four years before Verne's famous "space gun."

Godwin's findings were published Sunday in "The First Scientific Concept of Rockets for Space Travel."

Godwin says Leitch was a scientist and understood Newton's law of action and reaction, and predicted that a rocket would work more efficiently in the vacuum of space.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Air Miles For Active B.C. Residents Before Program Goes National: B.C. Minister Terry Lake

Health Minister Terry Lake confirms B.C. and the Public Health Agency of Canada will roll out a rewards program this fall.

Air Miles For Active B.C. Residents Before Program Goes National: B.C. Minister Terry Lake

Canada's 'Technical Recession' Will Be Short-Lived, Economists Say

Economists say data out this week is likely to show that Canada slipped into a technical recession in the second quarter, but the contraction should be short-lived.

Canada's 'Technical Recession' Will Be Short-Lived, Economists Say

Death Of Red Panda Named Rakesh At B.C. Zoo Sparks Calls For Change From Animal Activists

A male red panda named Rakesh died of a fungal infection at the Greater Vancouver Zoo on Aug. 17, two months after being transferred from Winnipeg as part of a program to preserve endangered species.

Death Of Red Panda Named Rakesh At B.C. Zoo Sparks Calls For Change From Animal Activists

Victim Jumps From Window As Suspicious Fires Block Doors Of Coquitlam Home

A Coquitlam, B.C., resident had to leap from a window at his bungalow to escape what RCMP are calling a suspicious fire.

Victim Jumps From Window As Suspicious Fires Block Doors Of Coquitlam Home

Stranded SkyGreece Passengers To Hear From Canadian Transportation Agency

Passengers who were stranded by the demise of SkyGreece Airlines may get some idea today about how quickly a federal agency will deal with a complaint on their behalf.

Stranded SkyGreece Passengers To Hear From Canadian Transportation Agency

Argentinian Ballet Dancer, Lucila Munaretto, Wakes From Coma After Rollerblading Accident In B.C.

VANCOUVER — A promising young Argentinian ballerina is practicing dance moves in her bed just two weeks after suffering a severe head injury in British Columbia.