Rocket man

The rocket age is so old that a lot of kitsch and nostalgia is associated with it. This applies particularly to the 1950s. The appeal hasn’t changed, but the times have. Many startup companies are in the rocket scene these days. The field is no longer the exclusive domain of legacy contractors or government departments.

So how about adding a backyard tinkerer to the mix? Well, I’m glad you asked. It leads to the best story I’ve seen all year. And thus we make the acquaintance of Mike Hughes, a chauffer by trade. He has built a steam-powered rocket ship out of metal scrap. He intends to launch it (with himself on board) in California this weekend.

As reported by the Associated Press, the plan is for the hop to hit around 500mph and 1,800 feet of altitude over its one-mile distance. This event is slated for Saturday, Nov. 25, California time.

The launch site, a town called Amboy, is essentially a ghost town in the Mojave desert. It used to be a stopping-off point for motorists along the old Route 66. That’s some pretty harsh desert out there. An old Amboy cafe called Roy’s was featured in the 1986 slasher movie The Hitcher, which starred Rutger Hauer as a very creepy psycho killer. If you’re looking for a cinematic backdrop that conveys the remoteness of the dusty desert, Amboy is a good place.

A few miles west of Amboy is the Amboy crater. This volcanic cinder is a black hill about 250 feet high. You can hike up the thing. The last time I was there I saw a few Japanese tourists making the trek. Tourism: It never rests!

Hughes’ rocket launch has invited comparisons with the legendary daredevil Evel Knievel. Knievel was famous for his bone-breaking motorcycle jumps. In 1974 he tried to jump the Snake River canyon in Idaho using, yes, a steam-powered rocket. The parachute deployed early and the jump was unsuccessful.

Knievel wasn’t just a daredevil, though he was one heck of a showman. His persona was far bigger than his stunts were.

There were a whole lot of things going wrong in the U.S. during that time. Knievel’s confidence and daring offered Americans a respite from the more sober realities of the usual news. I recall that he wore colorful, star-spangled outfits that were red, white, and blue, and was sort of a swashbuckling version of Elvis. Knievel passed away in 2007 at the age of 69. During the peak of his fame I was in grade school and I held that guy in awe, as did all of my friends.

I don’t recall that anyone ever filled Knievel’s shoes as America’s daredevil. Breaking a stunt record of some sort is one thing, but Knievel’s fame was obviously based on layers and layers of groundwork in media relations and promotions.

As for steam-powered rockets, I have no idea if they will forever be consigned to the stunt realm or if there’s some more practical potential here. Maybe we’ll set one up to launch between Saipan and Tinian some day. Anybody up for that? Great. I’ll hold your beer.

As for the Amboy action, the URL for Mike Hughes’ website is MadMikeHughes.com.

I don’t know anything about steam-powered rockets. I am, however, no stranger to flying jets. So I’ll note that 500mph at a height of 1,800 feet is a mighty fast proposition for that low of an altitude. If this all works out as envisioned, well, I’ll be impressed.

Until then, at least I have something to look forward to this weekend besides eating leftover turkey sandwiches.