The combination of memoirs and papers from the first and second symposia make it possible to present in one volume new information on the work of leading investigators of astronautics and their associates in the first third of the 20th century. . The first symposium was held at Belgrade in 1967. Subsequent symposia have been held at New York (1968), Mar del Plata (1969), Constance (1970),Brussels (1971), Vienna (1972), and Baku (1973). The proceedings of the first two symposia on the history of rocketry and astronautics form the contents of this volume of the series Smithsonian Annals of Flight.

Preface -- Some jet propulsion formulas of over thirty years ago, by Aldo Bartocci, Italy (1968) -- Robert Esnault-Pelterie: space pioneer, by Lise Blosset, France (1968) -- Early Italian rocket and propellant research, by Luigi Crocco, Italy (1967) -- My theoretical and experimental work from 1930 to 1939, which has accelerated the development of multistage rockets, by Louis Damblanc, France (1967) -- Robert H. Goddard and the Smithsonian Institution, by Frederick C. Durant III, United States (1968) -- Giulio Costanzi: Italian space pioneer, by Antonio Eula, Italy (1968) -- Recollections of early biomedical moon-mice investigations, by Constantine D.J. Generales, Jr., United States (1968) -- The foundations of astrodynamics, by Samuel Herrick, United States (1968) -- Vladimir Mandl: founding writer on space law, by Dr. Vladimir Kopal, Czechoslovakia (1968) -- Developments in rocket engineering achieved by the gas dynamics laboratory in Leningrad, by I.I. Kulagin, Soviet Union (1968). A historical review of developments in propellants and materials for rocket engines, by O. Lutz, German Federal Republic (1967) -- On the GALCIT Rocket Research Project, 1936-38, by Frank J. Malina, United States (1967) -- My contributions to astronautics, by Hermann Oberth, German Federal Republic (1967) -- Early rocket developments of the American Rocket Society, by G. Edward Pendray, United States (1967) -- Ludvik Ocenasek: Czech rocket experimenter, by Rudolph Pesek and Ivo Budil, Czechoslovakia (1968) -- Early experiments with Ramjet engines in flight, by Yu. A. Pobedonostsev, Soviet Union (1967) -- First rocket and aircraft flight tests of ramjets, by Yu. A. Pobedonostsev, Soviet Union (1968) -- On some work done in rocket techniques, 1931-38, by A.I. Polyarny, Soviet Union (1967) -- S.P. Korolyev and the development of Soviet rocket engineering to 1939, by B.V. Raushenbakh and Yu. V. Biryukov, Soviet Union (1968) -- The British Interplanetary Society's astronautical studies, 1937-39. by H.E. Ross, F.B.I.S., United Kingdom (1967) -- The development of regeneratively cooled liquid rocket engines in Austria and Germany, 1926-1942, by Irene Sanger-Bredt and Rolf Engel, German Federal Republic (1968) -- Development of winged rockets in the USSR, 1930-39, Ye. S. Shchetinkov, Soviet Union (1967) -- Wilhelm Theodor Unge: an evaluation of his contributions, by A. Ingemar Skoog, Sweden (1968) -- Some new data on early work of the Soviet scientist-pioneers in rocket engineering, by V.N. Sokolsky, Soviet Union (1968) -- Early developments in rocket and spacecraft performance, guidance, and instrumentation, by Ernst A. Steinhoff, United States (1967) -- From the history of early Soviet liquid-propellant rockets, by M.K. Tikhonravov, Soviet Union (1967) -- Annapolis rocket motor development, 1936-38, by R.C. Truax, United States (1967 -- Index.