The Inside Story of the Crazy Rocket Research at Jet Propulsion Labs

Everybody knows the cowboy reputation associated with early astronauts, the test-pilot swagger immortalized by Apollo 13 and The Right Stuff. But the rockets that took those astronauts to space were built by a group with an equally cinematic image: the nearly-unhinged, completely unfettered mad scientists at Jet Propulsion Laboratories. Mika McKinnon brings us a fascinating look at the madcap, explosion-obsessed minds that helped get man into space—and presided over some monumental explosions in the process.

Everyone loves a gorgeous rocket launch, but the story of getting from the first sputtering attempts to the modern day marvels is completely unreal. The Jet Propulsion Laboratories took it up a notch, giving mad scientists their epic reputation.

In the late 1930s, a group of Caltech graduate students were booted off campus after blowing up part of! their building during a rocket test gone awry. Unwilling to give up on the joy of semi-controlled explosions, the students and a few of their friends headed into the San Gabriel Mountains. They picked a deserted gully — Arroyo Seco — and got testing. This was about when their classmates starting calling the gathering the Suicide Club.

Frank Malina studied aerodynamics at Caltech. Jack Parons was a high school drop-out and a self-taught chemist. Ed Forman was an excellent mechanic. Their first round of testing in October 1936 was less-than-successful: the last test of the day, they accidentally lit their oxygen line on fire. The line whipped around, a snaking hose of fire that somehow didn't kill anyone. Undeterred, they kept trying. By November, their tests worked.

When the Suicide Club failed to live up to their name and blew neither themselves nor anyone else to pieces, Caltech professor Theodore von Karman had a little faith and found them a spot back on campus. But the keys had a price: for access to their sweet new space, the Rocket Boys had to learn the math to back up their fancy rockets.

How to transform your Subaru WRX into a sports car for under $15K

“Our method means the shut in line can be left in-situ and we can enter using existing facilities, reducing risk for operators. We can also attach monitoring devices and retrieve and analyse debris to provide assurance on operational success. Mature offshore basins such as the North Sea and West Africa are key markets for this and we are calling on UK operators to partner on the bespoke development of the technology to really push its boundaries and address the main issues they are facing.”

The technology can be adapted for several applications. In the UK, integrity of flexible risers is becoming a more prominent issue and inspection tools can be added to the system to address that challenge. Flexi-Coil Extended Reach can also be used for decommissioning to clean flowlines in-situ for safe abandonment as fuel hose a cost effective and environmentally positive solution.

The Flexi-Coil Extended Reach system comprises a blow-out preventer stack, thruster system and lightweight composite hose reel. With capacity to clear sand and wax plugs, there is a unique mechanism to deploy the water through the outer annulus of the hose and return through the inner hose. The operation is managed by skilled Paradigm engineers.Imagine turning your 2002-2007 Subaru WRX that’s sitting in your garage into a screaming two-seat sports car for under $15K. That’s what Factory Five Racing has done for Subaru WRX performance enthusiasts. You can take your Subaru WRX and transform it into a mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive, chemical hose suppliers 1,800 pound, Subaru WRX powered two-seat sports car. And you can build it in your own garage.

Factory Five Racing provides the chassis, frame, suspension, and body, and you provide the 2002-2007 Subaru WRX or normally aspirated Impreza donor car. If you have a Subaru WRX, you have whatever you need to build the 818 in your garage. The 818 uses composite body panels that are gel coated and don’t have any body seams so there is absolutely no panting required.

Paradigm launches new miniature coiled tubing system

Paradigm Flow Services, the blockage removal experts for the oil and gas sector, has launched Flexi-Coil Extended Reach to take riser and flowline blockage remediation and internal inspection to new lengths. The company is now calling on North Sea oil and gas operators to collaborate on trailblazing applications for the technology.

Conventional methods for remediating riser and flowline blockages are limited due to deployment difficulties and inability to overcome bends and safely navigate beyond 200 m. Flexi-Coil Extended Reach has been proven in tests up to 2000 m. As the technology continues to be enhanced, Paradigm is positive of its potential to tackle more than double that distance to 4000 m. The firm is currently undertaking major projects with an international operator in West Africa.

The system, based on miniaturised coiled tubing principals, can be deployed in-situ into risers and flowlines and currently provides the only safe solution to unblock these lines when working from an FPSO. The innovative system can carry out high pressure jetting, chemical and nitrogen injection over long distances, to de-sand, de-wax and de-pressurise hydrate plugs.

The industry can save operators tens of millions of pounds and solve blockage and restriction issues within a few days. Lines that may have been shut in for months or years can be remediated, restoring flow and enhancing oil recovery.

Rob Bain, Managing Director of Paradigm Flow Services, said: “Flexi-Coil Extended Reach is game changing, taking proven coiled tubing technology and adapting it in a way that makes it applicable and viable for the remediation of production systems. The only other option at the moment is to disconnect risers and bring another rig on site to carry out conventional coiled tubing. The safety and logistical implications have rendered this option redundant.

"Tanks" For The Memories

In addition, the new tanker boasts updated equipment like a hydraulic drop tank holder and aluminum drop tank that allow water supply to be set up more efficiently and with fewer people. Capt. Zachary Tiezzi explained that the current tanker's drop tank has a manually-operated rack and constructed of heavy steel that weighs more than 250 pounds. The drop tank itself weighs upwards of 200 pounds. "The hydraulics on the new tanker will make bringing the rack down effortless and the new aluminum drop tank weighs only about 70 pounds," Tiezzi said. "It will pretty much allow one person to set it up versus three people." Quick water-dumping capability is critical in rural areas like Haddam that are not primarily served by a municipal, hydrant-based water supply. "As a rural department, we depend on tankers to supply water for most firefighting operations," said Haddam Fire Chief Sam Baber. "This new tanker will be an asset not only to our community but to surrounding towns we have mutual aid agreements with as well." The new 2-13 is a road warrior that boasts a high center of gravity and strong, stable frame. The narrow and dramatically sloped hood of the T800 presents a considerable sight advantage over the old tanker. The new rig has outstanding visibility in front of the truck and over the right hand side, views that challenge drivers of most conventional trucks. As with the old tanker, the new one willy carry hard suction hoses for drafting water and carry the same drafting equipment and tools, and two lengths of 1-3/4" hose and one 2-1/2" hose pre-connected for easy deployment. The new tanker also has safety features like an electric dump chute. A driver no longer has to exit the tanker to dump water on busy roadways. In addition, rear video camera and more scene lighting equipment help prevent backing up accidents. Environmentally friendly features on the Cummins ISX diesel engine include a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology to maximize efficiency and lower emissions. By the rear dump chute is a plaque dedicated to John Bertolini, who died in 1987. Bertolini, a 22-year veteran of the Fire Company, was president of the Fire Department's Board of Directors and organized the Haddam Junior Volunteer Fire Corps in 1973. This plaque also appeared on the old 2-13.

Here is how WV residents can flush their water lines

West Virginia American Water Co. today released detailed procedures for residents to use when flushing their household water system. The company stressed that the procedure is not to be followed until residents are certain the "Do Not Use" order has been lifted for their address. The procedure calls for first flushing all hot-water taps simultaneously for 15 minutes, then turning the hot-water taps off. According to West Virginia American Water, "After you have flushed each hot water faucet for 15 minutes, your hot water heater will be safe for use." However, Jerry Hilbert, owner of Jerry Hilbert Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning in fuel hose suppliers Charleston, said he would prefer to flush hot-water taps for 45 minutes, "at least on the hot-water tank side because you may have some sediment on the bottom. You want to stir that up and get it out." He went on to suggest turning the gas down to the pilot light on natural gas-fired water tanks or turning the electricity off on electric tanks "so you're not wasting gas or electricity when you're dumping that water out. You just have to turn the gas back up or turn the breaker back on" when finished. The second step in West Virginia American's procedure is to flush all cold-water taps High Temperature hoses suppliers simultaneously for 5 minutes, then turning them off. Hilbert said that in his opinion, instead of flushing cold-water taps for 5 minutes, "30 minutes might be fine." The third step in West Virginia American's procedure is to flush all remaining faucets, appliances and fixtures such as hose bibs, for at least 5 minutes. Some equipment requires additional attention. The water company said after the household water system is flushed, water filters need to be replaced. Filters may be found in several locations, such as on the water line that serves a refrigerator or an ice maker. Ice makers should be emptied and the filter replaced after flushing. Dishes and clothes that were washed during the "Do Not Use" order should be re-washed, the water company said. After the hot water pipes and water heater have been flushed, the dishwasher and washing machine should be run empty one time. Homes may be equipped with other devices, such was water softeners or humidifiers, that also need special attention. Hilbert said he has been called many times over the years to flush residential water systems following water line breaks.

Duel blazes split efforts of Conway firefighters

As he rode in a tanker with his fellow firefighters, Deputy Fire Chief Adam Baker saw a column of black smoke cut through the evening sky from three miles away. With four team members by his side, Baker was headed straight for the smoke, where a double-wide trailer on Main Poland Road was quickly going up in flames. Baker was one of nine Conway firefighters who had just spent an hour and a half assisting their Ashfield counterparts at a log cabin fire on Briar Hill Road last Friday. By 4 p.m., as the Conway firefighters rushed to suppress a fire in their own town, it had already been a long day. Earlier that cold afternoon, at 2:20 p.m., the volunteers had been dispatched to provide mutual aid for the Ashfield Fire Department with a fire engine and a tanker. While the crew headed north, they called for Sunderland Fire Department to provide coverage at the Conway firehouse. Once the Conway team arrived at Briar Hill Road, they met up with Ashfield Fire Capt. Matt Haskins, who was leading a team attacking the log cabin fire. Ninety minutes later, an alarm went off in Conway for another fire engulfing a double-wide mobile home, camper and van. The Conway team’s radios were channeled into a regional tower and the call wasn’t reaching them. As they worked to control the flames in Ashfield, Greenfield Fire Chief Robert Strahan, who was also on scene, told Baker to call dispatch. There was a working structure fire in Conway. The Conway firefighters were torn. The Ashfield and Conway fire departments are each other’s number one partners. The Conway firefighters were reluctant to abandon their Ashfield partners. Ashfield Fire Chief Del Haskins told the Conway firefighters they could leave to assist in their own town, where other mutual aid departments were already headed, according to Baker. The Conway firefighters jumped in their tanker and headed back home. Sunderland firefighters covering the Conway station were the first ones to respond, Baker recalled. While in Ashfield, Baker had assumed a regular firefighter role, but now back in his community he switched roles to operations manager on Main Poland Road. Herrmann, the Bensons and Vanderheld, on the other hand, continued in their role of directly fighting the fire. “We had the same role. We just changed location,” said Herrmann, a member of the force for 10 years. It was Ms. Benson’s first major structure fire. The 19-year-old had already been training for five years. But she has only been active for one year. Firefighters have to be 18 to give full support. Vanderheld is a veteran of the force, serving 13 years.

A driver for Simple Energy

In Vermont, the state is available by calling 211 to help with housing needs during “cold weather exceptions,” which is when temperatures or wind chill are less than 20 degrees or when temperatures are less than 32 degrees and there is a more than 50 percent chance of precipitation. The state can put people in hotels, but Kobylenski said that due to state budget cuts, the state is turning away more people than it did last year, which means those people then often arrive at the Haven. The Haven tries to exhaust other housing possibilities, such staying with a relative or friend, but will provide hotel vouchers if there are no other options. Kobylenski said she hopes the warming shelter would decrease the number of hotel vouchers that are currently needed and encourage people to come inside who might not currently be asking for help. Wednesday afternoon, large stacks of water softener and bags of salt were covered with snow and lined the front sidewalk leading up to LaValley Building Supply. A green and red sign also advertised wood pellets, but LaValley has been running low on the stove fuel this winter. Because of the high demand for pellets, LaValley’s supplier hasn’t been able to keep up a supply. On Dec. 19, LaValley had a waiting list for 40 tons of wood pellets. Last week, 25 tons were delivered, but all of that supply went directly to people who were already on the waiting list. Currently, LaValley has 24 tons on a waiting list. Assistant manager John Jackman said he hopes to get another supply within three weeks.“I think this year there is just a lot more people who put in a pellet heating system, and we weren’t expecting the demand,” general manager Lucas Seaver said. “In the past, oil, propane and electric have gone up in price, but pellets have stayed pretty stable.” The Dartmouth Skiway is also taking precautions because of the cold temperatures and will be closed today. The facility will use the time to repair the Winslow lift, which was closed a little after noon on Thursday so the hydraulic ram could be repaired. When temperatures get extremely cold, the skiway sees fewer skiers, said Doug Holler, general manager, and safety of skiers and staff becomes a concern. The hydraulic ram that needs repair controls the tension of the wire cable that carries lifts and skiers up the mountain. But Holler said the lift is still functional and there was no risk to safety.“We just want to take advantage of it before (the lift) fails at an untimely time,” Holler said. The cold weather also causes heating companies like Simple Energy in West Lebanon to see a spike in calls. Whenever the temperature drops to below 10 degrees, the company’s call volume can double, service manager Gordon Cruz said. Like many heating companies, managers are always on call to respond to customer’s requests, and Cruz said he often receives emergency calls for frozen pipes, low fuel levels and insufficient heat or no heat. When temperatures drop, furnaces have to work extra hard to heat a home, causing the volume of fuel being used to increase. Cruz said it’s important for homeowners to check their fuel levels on a regular basis and when temperatures are dropping. A home could go from having a quarter of a tank to a dangerously low level very quickly.