Dec 7 1865

From The Space Library

French playwright Achille Eyraud presents his book Voyage à Venus to the Society of Arts and Science in Paris. The book includes a description of a reaction powered spacecraft. The device is powered by powerful electro-magnets which in turn run pumps to force compressed water into a series of gimballed nozzles. Unfortunately Eyraud then describes how the vehicle catches its own exhaust which is then deflected back into the pump.