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 I AM QUENTIN T. WILSON, of the book "Rocket Boys" and the subsequent movie, "October Sky". I fear, as a consequence of the book and movie, that many youngsters will try the imitate the Rocket Boys and construct home-built rockets. Most will lack our cautiousness, and many will fail to have our luck. Already, one case of building a rocket and taking it to school has received national attention, and the way the boy was treated would have warmed the heart of Vlad the Impaler.
I would not care to idlely stand by and watch these consequences develop. An intensive public relations and education campaign is needed to teach these prospective young rocketeers that safe and superior rocket motors, and many other advantageous materials and devices, and organizations that teach and train, are available.
Here is what I have to say to youngsters who are interested in becoming rocketeers:
As charming and as wonderful as "Rocket Boys" and "October Sky" proved to be, and despite the salubrious effect they are sure to have upon amateur rocketry, I have had one very great fear about it all since inception. That fear is: Young people will try to imitate our actions, and many would not be so lucky as we were!
I believe that a very serious campaign to discourage experimentation with home-made fuels and rockets is badly needed at this point to prevent a rash of accidents which would lead to an inappropriate call for even tighter restrictions. Note that, when it comes to government regulation, appropriateness is no criterion of governance.
To young persons newly interested in rocketry, I say this: You can cheaply buy much better, much safer rocket motors than you can build in your shed or basement. Buy them, and devote your creative instincts to computer related electronic control and guidance problems. This training will prove more valuble to your careers in the long run than blowing your hand off making inferior rocket motors.
Understand, youngsters, that the Rockets Boys took serious risks, and were very lucky. We had to, in a sense, because good rocket motors could not be bought at that time. Many other young persons of that time were not so lucky or so careful, and lost hands, eyes, even their lives.
So, youngsters, I please with you to do the following if you would be a rocketeer: - Involve an adult;
- Purchase safe rocket moters from reputable vendors; and
- Have fun and learn.
Editor's Note:Mr. Wilson is currently a semi-retired independent oilman living in Amarillo, Texas. He is a skilled public speaker, an ATM with over 25 years in Toastmastmasters, International. He has time on his hands, and his name currently has a high public profile both with the general public and within amateur rocketry because of the book and movie. Mr. Wilson wants to constructively use these assets for a combined program of safety and product promotion in the amateur rocketry field.
If you would like to have Mr. Wilson available to speak to your group, you can contact him at the email address given below. It's not often an opportunity like this presents itself for true legends in our field to be made available for use to teach the aspects of safety to new people entering the hobby. I urge you to take advantage of this situation.
Quentin Wilson is one of the principals of the book Rocket Boys by Homer H. Hickam, Jr., and is availble for public appearances. You may reach him by email at
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