January 1938 - Launch Site: Peenemuende. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: V-2. -
 A4 engine tests begin Nation: Germany. The engine delivered 18 months after design started was so compact, that the length of the A4 could be cut in half. Walter Thiel, a gifted and systematic researcher, was responsible for the engine design. He had great difficulties in obtaining stable combustion, and preventing burn-through of the chamber walls. Various injector patterns were studied in a 1.5 tonne thrust chamber. His research finally reduced the combustion chamber length from 2 m to 30 cm, while the exhaust velocity was increased from 2000 m/s to 2100 m/s, and eventually reached 2280 m/s. However the reduction in the cooling area of the chamber also increased problems in preventing hot spots and burn through. This was finally solved by using a conical throat exit and a mixing chamber ahead of the burning chamber. The 1.5 tonne thrust engine was initially run at 15 bar pressure, versus the 50 bar desired. But whenever the combustion chamber pressure was increased, burn-throughs occurred, as well as forcing increases in the mass of the pumps and tanks. Therefore finally the decision was taken to leave the chamber pressure at 15 bar. The next step was to make a 4.5 tonne thrust by clustering three of the 1.5 tonne engines as preburners. However Thiel still had burn-throughs in test runs. Poehlmann suggested the use of film cooling, which finally solved the problem. For the 25 tonne thrust engine, Thiel simply used 18 x 1.5 tonne thrust chambers, feeding a common mixing chamber. This was on the test stand in early 1939.
References: 693.
1938 March 6 - Launch Vehicle: Goddard. Model: Goddard L-C. -
 Flight of Goddard series L section C rocket. Nation: USA. Apogee: 0.16 km (0.10 mi). Short flight, 500 ft plus coasting period, very fast in leaving tower; little smoke. References: 482.
1938 March 17 - Launch Vehicle: Goddard. Model: Goddard L-C. - Flight of Goddard series L section C rocket Nation: USA. Apogee: 0.66 km (0.41 mi). Rocket reached altitude 2170 ft; duration 15 sec; vertical to 800 ft, then leaned to right; landed 3000 ft from tower; little smoke. References: 482.
1938 March 23 - -
 Glushko arrested by Soviet secret police. Nation: USSR. The leading Soviet rocket engine designer is arrested in one of Stalin's purges. Under interrogation he denounces Korolev and two others.
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