Rocket Guy Getting Closer - But No Firm Launch Date

BoomZilla writes "Brian Walker, the self styled "Rocket Guy" is making excellent progress with his one-man booster. Project R.U.S.H. plans to launch Brian in to orbit 'sometime later this year'. Brian's site (http://www.rocketguy.com/rocket.html) has many excellent pictures of the rocket and launch site (his backyard!) under construction. This is certainly the real (if somewhat dangerous) deal." (And Napkin Art? Look here.) Update: 05/29 04:08 GMT by T : Brian Walker dropped a note to point out that his plan is actually for a sub-orbital flight 35 miles up, not Earth orbit.

Comments

I was worried about him last year, so I wrote...

[Syre]

Here's some correspondance I exchanged with the RocketGuy last year. I was a bit harsh with him, but I was really concerned that he'd show up in the Darwin Awards:

To:
Sent: Friday, October 12, 2001 1:57 AM
Subject: WWW:Rocket Guy Site Feedback

Message: Are you going to do an unmanned test flight (or several) before you launch yourself in this rocket?

If not, I suggest you go to space.com and look at the videos under their "launches" section. You will see many rockets exploding and crashing.

If you launch yourself without doing unmanned test flights, it must be concluded that you are either an idiot or suicidal.

I hope that neither is the case and that you do the test flights and insure that you are not remembered as a fool.

Best wishes.

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And his reply:
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From Brian Walker Fri Oct 12 08:10:26 2001
From: "Brian Walker"
Subject: Re: WWW:Rocket Guy Site Feedback
Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2001 08:10:26 -0700

Yes, I will be conducting unmanned launches. The first will be is a smaller rocket 12 foot high, 320 pounds fuel,gross weight about 4000 pounds). It will demonstarte the separating fins and air launch system.

No, I am neither an idiot of suicidal.

Thanks for the message and concern.