What did Konstantin Tsiolkovsky propose for rockets in 1903?

Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, often regarded as a founding figure in astronautics, made significant contributions to the understanding of rocket propulsion. In 1903, he proposed the use of liquid propellants, which is groundbreaking because it introduced the concept of using a combination of a fuel and an oxidizer stored separately and mixed during combustion. This method allows for higher efficiency and better control of the thrust compared to solid propellants, as the thrust can be adjusted by changing the rate of fuel flow.

Tsiolkovsky’s ideas laid the groundwork for modern rocketry, emphasizing the need for a more advanced and powerful means of propulsion, which ultimately became crucial for space exploration. His vision of using liquid rockets was pivotal because it paved the way for subsequent developments that would enable humans to eventually reach beyond the Earth’s atmosphere.