* Astronomy

The deep, dark roots of JPL

Detractors belittled the Suicide Squad because of the trio's fondness for explosives.

"Frank Malina was studying aerodynamics at Caltech's Guggenheim Aeronautical laboratory. Jack Parsons was a self-taught chemist, and Ed Forman was an excellent mechanic. They scraped together cheap engine parts, and on Oct. 31, 1936, drove to an isolated area.  Four times that day they tried to test fire their small rocket motor. On the last attempt, they accidentally set fire to their oxygen line, which whipped around shooting fire! These were the first rocket experiments in the history of JPL."

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