Roots Of Rocketry (Chinese would-be rocketeer in 1500 AD)

University of Oregon Department of Physics ^ | prior to Oct 2004 (the date on the file) | Dr. James Schombert

[SunkenCiv]

According to Chinese folk tale, a man named Wan-Hoo made the first attempt to carry a man in a rocket propelled vehicle in around 1500. He reportedly took two large horizontal stakes and tied a seat between them. Under the primitive device were placed 47 rockets set to be lit all at the same time. When the rockets were ignited, they burned erratically and could not provide effective thrust to move the contraption. Wan-Hoo is said to have burned to death in the resulting fire.

[SunkenCiv]

Another version of this story has the chair flying away with him in it, on an arc, where he wound up no one knows. :')

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[SunkenCiv]

Just adding this to the GGG catalog, not sending a general distribution. "Thoroughly Medieval Miscellany" ping, possible space ping.

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[r9etb]

Wan-Hoo is said to have burned to death in the resulting fire.

Hell -- the Russians did the same thing at Nedelin 460 years later....

[Yo-Yo]

As recreated by The Mythbusters.

[Sax]

Cue the Alan Parsons music:

What goes up, must come down
What must rise, must fall

[lesser_satan]

This man should be given a Darwin Award posthumously.

[SunkenCiv]

Hey, aren't they all? ;')

[SunkenCiv]

[virtual tickertape parade for r9etb and sax]

[SunkenCiv]