Which inventor was responsible for creating the first rocket engine powered by steam?

The inventor credited with creating the first rocket engine powered by steam is Hero, also known as Hero of Alexandria. He was a Greek engineer and inventor who lived in the first century AD. Hero invented a simple steam engine, known as the aeolipile, which used steam pressure to produce rotary motion. This device is considered one of the earliest demonstrations of rocket propulsion because it involved the expulsion of steam, creating thrust.

Hero's work laid foundational principles for the development of later rocket technologies, illustrating the basic concepts of propulsion via steam power. His innovations highlighted the potential of steam as a propelling force, predating modern rocket engines by many centuries and influencing future advancements in both steam and rocket propulsion systems.