Chronology - Quarter 3 1934 home
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1934 July 16 - Launch Site: Kummersdorf. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: V-2.
  • Liquid rocket explosion kills three. Nation: Germany. Dr Kurt Wahmke and two technicians were testing a 90% H2O2/Alcohol combination at Kummersdorf when the chamber exploded, killing them. These were the first and only deaths of technicians in the history of German rocket development. References: 693.
1934 July 27 -
  • Von Braun receives doctorate. Nation: Germany. His public doctoral thesis, "About Combustion Tests," was completed in very little time (one source states that he joined the SS at this time). The actual thesis was later revealed to be a classified Army document. This dissertation, "Construction, Theoretical, and Experimental Solution to the Problem of the Liquid Propellant Rocket", was dated 16 April 1934 but did not surface until 70 years later. It detailed the construction and design of the A2 rocket that would fly later that year. References: 730.
1934 July 31 - Launch Vehicle: Zucker Rocket.
  • Zucker mail rocket explosion at Harris Nation: UK. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). Zucker announced a demonstration firing of his rocket over 1600 m of water between the town of Harris and the Isle of Scarp. Government officials watched as the rocket exploded, blowing the burning payload of postal covers all over the beach. The British found Zucker to be a 'threat to the income of the post office and the security of the country'. He was deported to Germany, where he was immediately arrested by the Germans on suspicion of espionage or collaboration with Britain.
August 1934 -
  • Saenger motor Nation: Austria. Saenger's rocket engine achieves a sustained thrust of 30 kgf. Saenger is the first to observe shock diamonds in the exhaust. References: 47.
1934 September 9 - Launch Vehicle: ARS.
  • ARS Rocket No. 4 reaches 130 m Nation: USA. Apogee: 0.13 km (0.08 mi). ARS Rocket No. 4 launched at Marine Island, Staten Island, New York. It reached 130 m altitude and crashed into New York Bay 407 meters downrange. It featured a single thrust chamber with four canted nozzles References: 17.
1934 September 14 - Launch Vehicle: Goddard. Model: Goddard A.
  • Goddard obtained funding allowing liquid rocket flight tests to be resumed in Roswell, New Mexico. Nation: USA. This funding would continue through 1941. The first test series was designated the A Series (A1-A14). The A series rockets used simple pressure feed, gyroscopic control by means of vanes, and parachute. The rockets in this series averaged in length from 13 ft 6 in. to 15 ft 3 1/4 in.; their weight empty varied from 58 lb to 85 lb. References: 482.

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