In my feeble attempt at keeping things fresh at a website called Snow Central in the middle of summer, our Time Machine takes us back to 1954.
At Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico on December 10, 1954, the Sonic Wind No. 1 rocket sled let loose 40,000 pounds of thrust and propelled United States Air Force flight surgeon Col. John Stapp more than 3,000 feet in a few seconds. He came to a stop just as fast and experienced a force equivalent to approximately four tons (46.2 g). Although bruised and badly shaken, Colonel Stapp survived without permanent injury and walked away with the world land speed record, 632 miles per hour. (That is faster than a 45 caliber bullet shot from a pistol!)
Shortly afterward, Stapp commented on the experience and what it felt like: “I felt a sensation in the eyes…somewhat like the extraction of a molar without anesthetic.” That did not deter Stapp from wanting to go even faster. He planned to add a few more solid fuel rocket motors to the back of the sled and break the 1,000 mph threshold, but his Air Force superiors said no; They didn’t believe he would survive.
