MANNED ROCKET SLED RUN

From the Discovery Channel series "Rocket Science":
Dr. John Paul Stapp's extraordinary 1954 rocket sled run.
(Full series available at www.foolishearthling.com)

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Space
• rocket
• Holloman
• AFB
• space
• seat
• belts
• restraint
• Stapp
• Kittinger
• hero
• adventure
• rebel
• home
• made

[BrocKakaBrok]

His eyes looked fucked up. Did he actually go blind from doing that?

[sciencehighway]

@BrocKakaBrok Despite the radiation-shield shades he wore during our interviews (mostly to guard against the New Mexico sun) Dr. Stapp's vision was largely unaffected by these experiments. The severe bruising and black eyes he repeatedly suffered would heal, though the 1954 run shown here left a small but permanent blind spot in one eye.

[lvgordo]

dude needs to carry his balls around in a pickup truck

[sciencehighway]

@Maloy7800 Dr. Stapp ran numerous animal studies. When it came down to it though this research was about saving pilot's lives. The human factor had to be part of the equation. If you asked Dr. Stapp (and I did) he'd laugh and tell you he took those rides to avoid court-martial for killing some volunteer Corporal, but the truth is he simply wouldn't ask anyone else to to assume such risk. Before you decide that he was just being 'cool', I advise you to learn more about your subject.

[sciencehighway]

@blackcr125 Can do. You can email me directly through our website. (Google Foolish Earthling Productions.)

[blackcr125]

@sciencehighway Would you mind shooting me a message about it?

[BrocKakaBrok]

@sciencehighway man that is crazy. That's a real American right there.

[sciencehighway]

@blackcr125 We thought long and hard about including some of those details in the Rocket Science episode "The Highest Step In The World" (from which this clip hails) but ultimately decided against doing so for a wide variety of reasons, none of which have changed. Dr. Stapp certainly wasn't afraid to discuss it, and I've disclosed some details during lecture Q&As, but given the nature of the debates that rage on this forum I don't think this is the best place to get into it. Sorry.

[blackcr125]

@sciencehighway I really do want to know

[pulsejet1]

@Maloy7800 Yeah, sure...whatever. - eyeroll -

[sapher2020]

It'd be funny if a goose hit him in the face!!!

[sciencehighway]

@Maloy7800 Yes it does. My earlier comment was posted in anger (never a good idea.) On sober second thought I decided that I'd been unfair and that you were entitled to your opinion, though it still needed to be addressed. (That said though, I'm not entirely sorry that you saw it.) Smiley back.