When did the German rocket MW 18014 enter space?
The German rocket MW 18014 entered space on the 20th of June 1944. This vertical launch marked a specific moment in history when humanity first sent an object into outer space.
Questions about MW 18014
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What altitude did the rocket MW 18014 reach during its flight?
The rocket MW 18014 climbed to an apogee of 176 kilometers before falling back to Earth. This height surpassed the 100-kilometer threshold later established as the Kármán line.
Where was the test rocket MW 18014 launched from?
A German A-4 test rocket named MW 18014 lifted off from the Peenemünde Army Research Center. The team later moved production efforts to the Mittelwerk underground facility due to Allied advances in Northern France.
Why did early versions of the A-4 rocket fail so often?
Early versions of the A-4 rocket suffered from severe design faults that caused up to 70% of all test launches to fail mid-flight. Engineers discovered a flaw in the forward section of the outer hull that led to regular structural failures during ascent.
Who directed the engineering team for the MW 18014 project?
Technical director Wernher von Braun faced a two-week detention starting on the 15th of March 1944 while leading the program. He managed scientists at Peenemünde who watched as this single flight crossed what would later be defined as the Kármán line.