@S1-A.ARPA,@MIT-MC:lazear@mitre.ARPA (05/06/85)
From: Walt Lazear <lazear@mitre.ARPA> Regarding Bob Truax, I seem to remember interviews with him on TV. I may be entirely wrong, but didn't he build the rocket that Evil Kneival used to try to jump the Snake River? It was either that, or he was trying to drum up backing for his private efforts to provide civilian space launches. Can anyone confirm the Kneival connection? Walt (Lazear at MITRE)
rivero@kovacs.UUCP (Michael Foster Rivero) (05/09/85)
Summary:Truax and Kneival Expires: References: <> Sender: Reply-To: rivero@kovacs.UUCP (Michael Foster Rivero) Followup-To: Distribution: Organization: Robert Abel and Associates, Hollywood Keywords: Truax, Rocket, Kneival In article <> @S1-A.ARPA,@MIT-MC:lazear@mitre.ARPA writes: >From: Walt Lazear <lazear@mitre.ARPA> > >Regarding Bob Truax, I seem to remember interviews with him on TV. >I may be entirely wrong, but didn't he build the rocket that Evil >Kneival used to try to jump the Snake River? It was either that, >or he was trying to drum up backing for his private efforts to >provide civilian space launches. Can anyone confirm the Kneival >connection? > Walt (Lazear at MITRE) Truax did indeed build the steam rocket that Kneival used is his Snake River jump. The rocket was fueled (I recall ) with a Hydrogen Peroxide plus catalyst (Potassium Permangenate, maybe) steam jet, but failed in its jump when the bolt holding the parachute release mechanism failed during the launch. Apparently, this one critical component was never magnafluxed to check for cracks. The reason? Not enough money. (Congressional members please note.) Michael Rivero