99 years ago in a field in Auburn, Worcester native Robert Goddard fired off the first successful liquid-fueled rocket, launching the Space Age that led to Neil Armstrong and his Apollo 11 crew landing on the moon some 43 years later.
March 16, 2026, marks the 100th anniversary of that world changing event. While his name may not be as instantly recognizable as the Wright brothers or Charles Lindbergh, his legacy is no less significant. Known as the father of the Space Age, Goddard’s revolutionary invention laid the groundwork for humanity’s journey into space, igniting the imaginations of the pioneers who helped bring his discoveries and vision into reality.
Born in 1882 at the family home on Tallawanda Drive in Worcester’s Webster Square neighborhood, Goddard spent nearly 50 years living and working here with his eyes fixed on the stars. A graduate of South High, he earned degrees from both Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Clark University. He later taught at both schools and conducted many of his early experiments on the WPI campus.
By any measure one of Worcester’s greatest citizens, Robert Goddard was driven by a blend of quintessential American values: vision, devotion, persistence, and inspiration. With the 100th anniversary of his launch next year, efforts to celebrate his life and career are well underway, in large part due to the efforts of the nonprofit The Wonder Mission and its founder Charles Slatkin.
In 2021, the Wonder Mission bought and preserved Goddard’s third-generation home and has helped inspire a number of Goddard-focused events kicking off in March 2026. Locally, those events include a launch celebration at the field in Auburn, now the Packachoag Golf Course, a special Goddard Exhibit at the Museum of Worcester, a Centennial celebration at Hanover Theater, and affiliated events at both WPI and Clark University, just to name a few.
WBJ will be doing our part in helping to celebrate the Goddard legacy with a special publication coming out in February called INNOVATORS, which will not only share his inspirational story, but profile the many innovators of today. Bold creative thinkers are changing business and industry, creating breakthrough research in health care, and delivering transformative change to organizations throughout the region. In addition to the INNOVATORS magazine, we’ll be holding a Goddard 100 Innovation event in March, featuring leaders from some of the region’s most innovative companies, with plans to highlight innovators throughout the year.
Robert Goddard was inspired by some of his early teachers, and his interest in science and voracious appetite for learning supported by his family. Our goal, and the goal of the Wonder Mission, is to tell the story of our region’s innovators, who follow in Goddard’s footsteps and inspire the next generation of dreamers to change the world.
Goddard’s rocket launch 100 years ago is our seminal moment, just like Kitty Hawk was for the Wright brothers. Worcester and all of Central Massachusetts should make the most of it.
So we ask our readers: Do you know a Central Mass. company or individual who is helping to drive innovation in its sector? Let us know by emailing Editor Brad Kane at bkane@wbjournal.com. As our part of the Goddard 100 celebration, we’re hoping to share their inspiration and tell their story.
Peter Stanton is the publisher of the Worcester Business Journal.
