1578651 Professor Goddard, who had been experimenting for a number of years with rockets, launched the world\'s first liquid-propelled rocket, which is shown here.; (add.info.: Robert Hutchings Goddard (October 5, 1882 ? August 10, 1945) American Engineer, professor, physicist, and inventor who is credited with creating and building the world\'s first liquid-fueled rocket, who had been experimenting for a number of years with rockets, launched the world\'s first liquid-propelled rocket, which is shown here. It covered a distance of 184 ft. at an average speed of 64 m.p.h.); Universal History Archive/UIG; out of copyright.