Robert Goddard's first liquid-fueled rocket, which flew for just 2.5 seconds in 1926, remains fragmented across museums a century later. The historic "Nell" reached 41 feet and traveled 184 feet, marking humanity's entry into the space age despite its brief flight. Goddard documented the launch in his notebook, describing how it "rose slowly until it cleared the frame, and then at express train speed."

Goddard didn't preserve the rocket as a sacred object, reusing parts due to limited funding. The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum holds what may be the nozzle from Nell, while the Roswell Museum claims to have additional fragments including a combustion chamber and nose cone. A child witnessed the launch, describing the scene as "completely baffling."

The Roswell Museum, which has housed Goddart artifacts since 1994, remains closed since October 2024 following a devastating flood. Despite uncertainty about complete provenance, these fragments represent humanity's first step toward space exploration, with Goddard's notes suggesting the nozzle burned off during launch.