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The Legacy of Jack Parsons: A Short Fuse From Volatile Science To Combustible Collapse
Jack Parsons used an area of the Arroyo Seco known as Devil's Gate as his rocket laboratory.
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Archival footage courtesy of M.G. Lord
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In this episode of LA Made: Blood Sweat & Rockets, we take a closer look at the incendiary life and death of Jack Parsons — one of the original members of the "Suicide Squad," a group of pioneering figures in JPL rocket science.
What to expect in this episode
Ever since he was a teenager, Parsons has operated on the fringes of spiritual and terrestrial frontiers. His unorthodox thinking results in the breakthrough development of rocket fuel, and his sexmagick allegedly conjures up a supernatural woman.
Parsons’ fearlessness and appetite for experimentation puts him at the core of groundbreaking rocket science. Unfortunately, that explosive combination won’t allow him to stay there.
Listen
Listen
27:44
Listen: The explosive demise of Jack Parsons and the conspiracy theories that came after
Scientist or enthusiast?
Despite having no formal education, Parsons has a remarkable career trajectory that some people would kill for. Listen in to find out if some people do just that.
Spellbound and hell bent
From occultism to rocket fuel to special effects, one question still burns: Did Parsons write his own fate?
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That sounds great! How do I find the podcast?
It's available now from LAist Studios. Check it out wherever you get your podcasts! Or listen to this episode via the player above.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
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