Rockets. Part-Two.

From the ancient Chinese to Halloween.

Fire works were developed by the Chinese initially for the pleasure, very much as they are used today to mark a celebration or event globally. 

But for a time the humble firework became a weapon from ancient China-Mongolia to the 17th Century French. The British Royal navy, and the U.S developed it as a distress flare.

The rocket came to its fore as a serious artillery piece during World-War-II (1939-45) where all allied and Axis sides had their own versions. Soviet Russia really when for the rocket from its Katyshka platforms to the BM-21 which remains in service across the world.

The humble firework today still finds other uses such as in demonstrations with the police and in pipe-bombs by most terrorists and other criminal groupings.

Rockets. Part-One.

Rockets and Missiles.

Here in the British Isles 'Halloween and Guy Fawkes nights are almost upon us and it is a traditional time for the buying and firing of Fireworks. Millions of pounds will be spent for that moment of joy and fun. The origins of the rocket as a firework goes back thousands of years to ancient China, were they were used for entertainment, but we now know that they were also used as a weapon.

Modern rocketry is associated today with Space launches and military missiles, rockets have become an engine driving a payload up and over.

There is much more to the rocket and the concept of the projectile, which today combines the weapons of the past. Such as the Spear, Javelin and Arrow. Next year (2014), I will cover this in more detail, with the relationship to Artillery and the weapons such as the Bazooka and Rocket Propelled Grenade.