Creating near-term lunar settlements: lessons from space history 

On March 16, 2026, the 100th anniversary of Robert Goddard’s first flight of a liquid fueled rocket was observed. This rocket reached an altitude of 41 feet. In 1957, Sputnik became the first satellite in orbit, marking a significant milestone in space history. Twelve years later, in 1969, Neil Armstrong made his historic moon landing, occurring 43 years after Goddard's initial flight.