Date: ca. 1964
Country of Origin: United States of America
Dimensions:
Overall: 1ft 4in. x 1ft 10in. x 1ft 10 3/4in., 42lb. (40.64 x 55.88 x 57.79cm, 19.1kg); diameter, outside, nozzles (2), 0.75 in.
Materials:
Steel propellant tanks and iron piping; aluminum tubing; back pad, probably wood base, with foam padding and plastic wrapping; fabric straps with steel buckles; gray plastic insulation on wires; plastic push button for thrust control switch; stainless steel nozzles
This is a rocket belt, also called a jet pack, built by the Reaction Motors Division (RMD) of the Thiokol Chemical Corporation, in Denville, New Jersey in 1964. RMD began development of this device in 1958. The first units were propelled by compressed nitrogen gas. The model shown here is a later version that used compressed hydrogen peroxide. Although other firms, such as Bell Aerosystems, also built rocket belts, they did not achieve much success as commercial or military products. RMD's rocket belt was not adopted for use by the military.
The Reaction Motors Division of Thiokol Chemical Corporation gave this rocket belt to the Museum in 1964.
Reaction Motors Division, Thiokol Chemical Corp.
