On March 16, 1926, Robert Goddard launched the world's first liquid-fueled rocket, marking a pivotal moment in spaceflight history. The modest 'Nell' rocket, powered by gasoline and liquid oxygen, only reached 41 feet and lasted 2.5 seconds before crashing back to Earth. Yet this achievement laid the groundwork for the space age that followed.

A century later, Ars Technica staffers reflect on their most memorable launches. Lee Hutchinson recalls attending the penultimate night launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavour in February 2010, describing the overwhelming sensory experience of feeling the ground tremble beneath him as the rocket's crackling solid boosters lit up the predawn sky. The sound was so powerful it literally shook his clothes against his skin.

John Timmer shares a childhood memory from the 1970s of witnessing an unidentified rocket launch near Kennedy Space Center, while Eric Berger recounts the emotional experience of watching a Soyuz FG launch in Kazakhstan in 2014 while reporting on NASA's state of affairs. These personal accounts highlight how rocket launches continue to inspire awe and wonder, connecting us to humanity's ongoing quest to explore beyond our planet.