Rocket Man: My Rocket Propelled Life and High Octane Creations - Hardcover

Michaelson, Ky

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 076033143X ISBN 13: 9780760331439

Publisher: Motorbooks, 2007

Synopsis

In 1964, Ky Michaelson built his first rocket-powered motorcycle, propelled by two Turbonique T-16A rocket motors. His success at speed trials on a rocket-powered snowmobile (with a JATO mounted engine) inspired him to smash every acceleration record in the world: to date he has set 72 International and National speed records. This is the story of his life in his own words; a life driven by rocket power. Ky Michaelson tells us why he began and where he has gone: his work on hundreds of TV shows and films, and his development of rocket-power culminating in the successful launch of GoFastRocket, the world's only civilian rocket launch, with an altitude of 72 miles, and a speed of 3, 420 mph!Along the way, the reader is treated to a dazzling whirlwind of vehicles and devices - a scuba pack adapted for rocket propulsion, tractor seats, wheelchairs, a backpack, hydrogen-peroxide powered racing cars at speed trails on the Salt Flats, and the breaking of record after record by a man regarded as many as the king of modern speed barriers! The innovation that led to each rocket-powered vehicle is shown here, with photographs and design detail for each amazing accomplishment.

About this title

About the Author

Ky Michaelson’s penchant for the unknown began in childhood. In 1964, he built his first rocket-powered motorcycle, powered by two Turbonique T-16A rocket motors. While at a local racetrack, the track announcer said, “Here comes the Rocketman.” The nickname stuck. In 1969, Ky formed Rocketman Enterprises Inc. and built a rocket-powered snowmobile that made it into the Guinness Book of World Records. He has worked on over 200 films, television programs, and commercials, as well as the majority of stunt specials that have been seen on TV over the past 30 years. Literally hundreds of feature articles have been written about Ky and his adventures. On May 17, 2004, Ky and the Civilian Space eXploration Team became the first civilians successfully to launch an amateur rocket into space. He continues to build rockets and rocket-powered vehicles in his home workshop in Bloomington, Minnesota.

From the Back Cover

An unlikely combination of Hollywood stuntman, mechanical wizard, loving family man and friend, record-setting rocketeer, inspirational speaker, and humble genius, Ky Michaelson seems to have literally done and seen it all. Even so, his life is as busy as ever and there s no stopping Ky, as you ll learn in the pages of Rocketman.

Fascinated by rockets since his youngest days, Ky was instrumental in gaining license for the first NHRA-sanctioned hydrogen peroxide rocket-powered dragsters in the 1970s. Later in life, he aimed his rocket dreams skyward, building and launching several rockets toward space. In May 2004, from Nevada s Black Rock Desert, Ky Michaelson and his team successfully became the first civilian group to launch a rocket into outer space.

His stories are remarkable. His zest for life is unmatched. His inventions are real-life sci-fi. You ll have to read it to believe it.

From the Inside Flap

Since the 1960s, Ky Michaelson s rocket-powered vehicles have set 72 state, national, and international speed records. A penchant for the unknown and passion for speed have driven Ky since childhood, when he built his first rocket-powered motorcycle. After earning his first world record for a rocket-powered snowmobile Ky decided to go after every acceleration record in the world.

Ky tells the engaging story of how he began and where he s gone, including his behind-the-scenes work on hundreds of film and television programs, his home-built rocket-powered toys, and his service as program director of Space Shot 2004 the grand effort of the Civilian Space eXploration Team (CSXT) to build and launch the first amateur rocket into space. And he describes accomplishing the impossible dream to license and successfully launch the Go Fast rocket into space, reaching an altitude of 72 miles and a setting a new speed record of 3,420 miles per hour. This is Ky Michaelson s story, the tale of a rocket-powered man.

Edition details

• Publisher: Motorbooks
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 076033143X
• ISBN 13: 9780760331439
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240