Who was influential in the development of the first successful rocket designs?

The development of the first successful rocket designs is primarily attributed to Dr. Robert Goddard, who is often referred to as the "father of modern rocketry." Goddard’s pioneering work in the early 20th century laid the foundation for future advancements in rocket technology. He was the first to demonstrate the principles of rocket propulsion through the use of liquid fuel, which he successfully tested in 1926 with his first liquid-fueled rocket. His theoretical and practical contributions, including the establishment of key concepts such as the multi-stage rocket and the use of gyroscopic guidance, revolutionized the field and made space travel a practical possibility.

In contrast, while the other figures mentioned contributed to various aspects of artillery, rocketry, or related technologies, they did not have the direct influence or impact on the successful designs and scientific understanding that Goddard did. Colonel William Congreve, for example, is known for his work on military rockets in the early 19th century, but his contributions do not align with the foundational concepts of modern rocketry pioneered by Goddard. Dr. Hermann Oberth significantly influenced rocketry theory later in the 20th century, and Konrad Kyeser von Eichstadt, a medieval military engineer,