Why were Dr. Goddards later rocket flights in Roswell, New Mexico?
Once the Guggenheims started to provide funding, it allowed Dr. Goddard to develop rockets in a more favorable location than New England. Goddard discussed his needs with Dr. Charles F. Brooks, who was a meteorologist at Clark University. In an unpublished article, Goddard described the decision making process: “We sat down together and methodically combed over the weather statistics of various sections of the country. We wanted a relatively high region with a minimum of rain- and snowfall, a minimum even of cloudiness, and freedom from fog. We looked too, for a place without extremes of heat and cold where we could count on considerable periods without wind. In other words, we wanted good outdoor working weather the year round, and good visibility on every score. With these conditions overhead and surrounding us, our final need was for good, level ground underfoot, and a great deal of it. Above all, we wanted ground with a minimum of people and houses on it, where rockets could rise,
