1974, The pre-teen years

Model Rocket Developer

Developed model rockets from scratch utilizing common objects available to a pre-teen at the time. Used lightweight cardboard rolls for the rocket's stages. Gun powder was collected by opening discarded, dropped rifle bullets from a nearby shooting range, or by collecting unexploded fireworks. The rocket's launch mechanism consisted of an on/off switch, a 9 volt battery, a few feet of electrical wiring, and a tiny lightbulb (As used in model train sets and accessories.). The lighbulb's head was sawed off, exposing the lightning filament. Next, the fuse from a firecracker was attached to the filament and the other end to the rocket. To launch a rocket simply required pressing the on/off switch from a safe distance. The electricity from the battery would lightup the bulb, the bulbs' filament would heat up immediately igniting the fuse, and I had lift off.

Final model test was a two stage, solid propellant rocket with a payload consisting of a light-weight plastic model of an X-15 rocket plane, which was attached to the TOP of the rocket. Take note NASA shuttle designers: no pre-teen in his right mind would attach a valuable payload to the side of a giant firecracker. Not even the Sowjets made such a fatal blunder when designing Buran.

Finally, the first rocket tested was a complete success.