In commemoration of the centennial anniversary of the 16 March 1926 launch of the world’s first liquid-fueled rocket by Dr. Robert H. Goddard, AIAA presents a free* curated collection of papers on rocket propulsion drawn from the archival journal literature of AIAA and its predecessor societies. Journal publications serve the dual purpose of preserving foundational advances while stimulating new innovation. The articles selected here reflect enduring contributions to rocket science and engineering.

Our review spans the period from 1930 through 2026 and includes articles published in the Bulletin of the American Interplanetary Society, Astronautics, Journal of the Aeronautical Sciences, Journal of the American Rocket Society, Jet Propulsion, Journal of the Aerospace Sciences, AIAA Journal, Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, and Journal of Propulsion and Power. Publications from each decade were examined, and selections were made based on relevance to rocketry, disciplinary impact, and historical significance.

The selection process was necessarily subjective, and many notable contributions could not be included because of space limitations. The topics represented span major areas central to rocket science, including liquid and solid propulsion, rocket-related fluid mechanics, heat transfer, combustion, structural mechanics, guidance and control, trajectory design, rocket manufacturing, hybrid propulsion, and electric propulsion.

Many of these papers have inspired generations of researchers and engineers, including the editors themselves. We hope this collection will encourage future innovators to follow in the pioneering footsteps of Goddard.