Was the rocket invented or accidentally discovered? Some new observations on its origins

The history of spaceflight would not have been possible without a single object, the rocket—one of the most complex engineering feats in human history. However, a closer examination of the earliest history of the basic rocket, a gunpowder-propelled device developed in China around 900 years ago, suggests that it originated as an accidental discovery rather than as a deliberately planned invention. This paper will examine the evidence in support of the idea of accidental discovery, including new observations on the earliest concepts of rocket motion, not only in China but also in the West.

► The first rocket in ancient China was probably an accidental discovery. ► Explosions occurred in experiments by Taoists alchemists. ► The Taoist yin and yang philosophy explained all phenomena including combustion. ► The rocket was probably a spin-off from Taoist alchemy experiments.