By Jerry Filmore
WORCESTER — The City of Worcester will host a press conference on Tuesday, February 17, to announce a month-long series of events commemorating the 100th anniversary of Robert Goddard’s first successful liquid-fueled rocket launch.
The historic launch took place in neighboring Auburn on March 16, 1926. Widely recognized as the pioneer of modern rocketry, Goddard’s early research and testing in Worcester County laid the groundwork for future space exploration.
The Tuesday morning press conference will begin at 9 a.m. at the Robert and Esther Goddard House, located at 1 Tallawanda Drive in Worcester.
At the event, local officials and institutional leaders will release the full schedule of centennial programming planned for the month of March. According to the city, the upcoming announcements will include details regarding the unveiling of the National Space Trail and a primary commemorative event to be held at The Hanover Theatre.
The press conference will feature representatives from several local educational and cultural institutions that are partnering on the centennial celebration. Participating organizations include the Museum of Worcester, the EcoTarium, The Wonder Mission, Clark University, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
The planned events aim to honor Goddard’s legacy while highlighting ongoing and future advancements in aerospace technology.
🔍 The W.U.W. Verification Box
- Project / Topic: Robert Goddard First Launch Centennial Programming
- Current Status: Press conference scheduled to announce events
- Key Dates or Decisions: Press conference on February 17, 2026 9:00 AM; Centennial anniversary on March 16, 2026
- Estimated Cost (if applicable): Not applicable
- Timeline (if known): Events will take place throughout March 2026
- Immediate Next Steps: Officials to release the full event schedule on Tuesday
- Primary Sources: Official press release from the City of Worcester
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