Invention: Rocket chair Country: China Died: 16th Century Yes, you're reading that right, it's a rocket chair from the 16th century. Wan Hu is supposedly a figure from the Ming dynasty, who strove to become the first person in space. There are varying accounts as to Wan Hu and his fate, and many believe that Hu's rocket chair is purely apocryphal. The story goes that Wan Hu ordered a chair to be built with forty-seven rockets attached, the idea being that the thrust from the lit rockets would be powerful enough to lift him all the way into space. However, all didn't go to plan (not that the vacuum of space is the most desirable environment for a lone man on an exposed chair). Herbert S. Zim in his book Rockets and Jets writes, "On the day of lift-off, Wan, splendidly attired, climbed into his rocket chair and forty seven servants lit the fuses and then hastily ran for cover. There was a huge explosion. When the smoke cleared, Wan and the chair were gone, and was said never to have been seen again."
Invention: Rocket chair Country: China Died: 16th Century Yes, you're reading that right, it's a rocket chair from the 16th century. Wan Hu is supposedly a figure from the Ming dynasty, who strove to become the first person in space. There are varying accounts as to Wan Hu and his fate, and many believe that Hu's rocket chair is purely apocryphal. The story goes that Wan Hu ordered a chair to be built with forty-seven rockets attached, the idea being that the thrust from the lit rockets would be powerful enough to lift him all the way into space. However, all didn't go to plan (not that the vacuum of space is the most desirable environment for a lone man on an exposed chair). Herbert S. Zim in his book Rockets and Jets writes, "On the day of lift-off, Wan, splendidly attired, climbed into his rocket chair and forty seven servants lit the fuses and then hastily ran for cover. There was a huge explosion. When the smoke cleared, Wan and the chair were gone, and was said never to have been seen again."