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Rocket Sled, Sonic Wind I, 1953-1954. Creator: Northrop Corporation
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Rocket Sled, Sonic Wind I, 1953-1954. Creator: Northrop Corporation
This is the Sonic Wind 1 rocket sled, which was powered by nine solid fuel rockets with 40, 000 pounds total thrust for five seconds. Air Force Lt. Col. John Stapp first rode the sled on March 19, 1954, at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, and reached a speed of 613 feet per second. During acceleration, he was subjected to a force of 22 times that of gravity (22 g s). He made his second run on the sled on August 20, 1954 attaining a speed of 735 feet per second. On December 10, 1954, he made his last and most notable ride on the sled reaching a speed of 632 miles per hour. Stapp underwent a force of 40 g s, the highest g force any human had endured to that time. The sled rides helped determine the effects of extreme acceleration on the human body, data that was very useful in aerospace medicine. The sled was transferred to the Smithsonian in 1966 by the U.S. Air Force
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Media ID 23877247
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1950s Air And Space Museum Armaments Fifties Force Gravity Missile Nasm National Air And Space Museum Rocket Space Spacecraft G Force
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This print showcases the remarkable Rocket Sled, Sonic Wind I, created by the Northrop Corporation in 1953-1954. This groundbreaking rocket sled was powered by nine solid fuel rockets, generating an astounding total thrust of 40,000 pounds for a mere five seconds. Air Force Lt. Col. John Stapp fearlessly embarked on this extraordinary contraption on March 19,1954, at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. During his daring ride, Lt. Col. Stapp achieved an astonishing speed of 613 feet per second while enduring a force equivalent to 22 times that of gravity (22 g s). Undeterred by the immense physical strain, he made subsequent runs on August 20th and December 10th of that same year. On his final ride aboard the Sonic Wind I sled, Lt. Col. Stapp reached an incredible speed of 632 miles per hour and experienced a mind-boggling force of up to 40 g s – setting a record for human endurance under such extreme conditions. These audacious sled rides played a pivotal role in advancing aerospace medicine as they provided invaluable data regarding the effects of extreme acceleration on the human body. In recognition of its historical significance and scientific contributions to space exploration and warfare technology during the mid-20th century, this iconic rocket sled was transferred to the Smithsonian Institution in 1966 where it remains preserved today at their National Air and Space Museum.
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