Welcome To The World Of Jack Parsons

 

A little-known history among the general public is that of the brilliant rocket scientist, Jack Parsons. And as per the quote under the chapter title, there were two sides to Parsons, his world of rockets by day and his world of the occult by night. In addition, these very same people will be surprised to learn that Parsons’ passion for rocketry practically paved the road to rocket technology that is still in use today. This is all the more amazing, given that Parson’s formal education was no more than a high school diploma.

His theories were incorporated into the overall design of rocket technology in general, which included the Apollo Moon missions (all of which went no further than Low Earth Orbit, if even that, as has been established in Part I of this series), and the Space Shuttle, which was retired in 2011. And in his spare time, Parsons, with an equal amount of passion, studied the world of the occult and the works of the well-known Satanist, Aleister Crowley with whom he maintained a close correspondence. His world of the occult eventually becomes his driving force which is apparent later on in his career, with many coincidences along the way that seem beyond belief.

 

 

Author John Carter:

In an ominous coincidence, Charles Taze Russell, whose “Russellites” now call themselves the Jehovah’s Witnesses, predicted the end of the world would happen on October 2, 1914, the day of John Parsons’ birth, and just a couple of months after the start of World War I. When Russell announced to his congregation in Brooklyn, New York, that the end had begun, he meant the finale was not an instantaneous end to all things, but rather the beginning of the end as outlined in the Book of Revelation – the appearance of the Antichrist and the harlot, Babylon the Great, being two of the key events. It is ironic that John Parsons, who would later attempt to incarnate Babylon and who would also sign an oath stating that he was the Antichrist, was born the very day of Russell’s eschatological event.1 

NASA tends to be hesitant in its recognition of Jack Parsons, presumably due to his unorthodox background and the fact that he wasn’t the usual academic or trained scientist. But there is some information about Parsons on NASA’s website, though very little, given his contribution to the aerospace industry.

Parsons had the look of a man who could easily have been mistaken for a Hollywood actor, rather than the usual look of the studious scientist deep in thought in a classroom or lecture hall writing down equations on a blackboard. Further, it’s not often that a man who not only lacked the recognized academic credentials but was also a passionate pursuer of the occult, would have the influence that he did on the whole area of rocket propulsion systems. This included the fact that he not only co-founded the Aerojet Corporation, later named the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, but also had a lunar crater named after him.

Figure 1.1- Jack Parsons

Source: Wikimedia

 

However, as will be discussed, Jack Parsons’ world by day, would eventually come in contact with his world by night. He would slowly move away from the industry he so passionately devoted most of his career to and immerse himself in the world of the occult with equal passion. Ironically, he would eventually find himself working in the film industry, not as an actor, but in the area of special effects. But as you’ll learn, both his worlds would inevitably collide, bringing an instant and early end to the world of Jack Parsons. 

This is a man who is just now being revered for his contribution to an industry dominated by the appearance of the stereotypical looking, suited, dark rimmed glasses academics.

History

Jack Parsons was born in Los Angeles on October 2, 1914. Soon afterwards in 1915, Jack’s parents, Marvel and Ruth Parsons divorced. He saw little of his father in years to come. This would haunt Jack for the rest of his life, compounded by the fact that he always strived to find that father figure he so longed for. It has often been said that brilliance and genius go hand in hand with emotional turmoil, leading to a complicated, insecure, sometimes insensitive and eccentric human being, which aptly describes the brilliant Jack Parsons.

After Jack’s parents divorced, his mother Ruth had agreed with her wealthy parents Walter and Carrie Whiteside that they should live together for the sake of young Jack. The Whiteside’s moved to Los Angeles and bought a home in the posh town of Pasadena. Jack was fortunate enough to grow up in a wealthy environment with servants, which gave him plenty of time for his wild and young imagination to flourish. It wasn’t long before he came across Jules Verne and his classic book ‘From the Earth to the Moon.’ This is a story about a group of American soldiers who designed a plan to send themselves into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and beyond on a journey to orbit the Moon. Then, the young Jack Parsons eventually found the popular magazine series Amazing Stories, which was the first magazine that concentrated solely on space-age fiction. Here, we see more than a hint of how this young Jack Parsons’ passion for rocket technology stood out from most children his age.

There was little inspiration in the 1920s and 30s for a child fascinated by rockets, to pursue this as a career. In fact, rockets were comic book lore and although they were written about in some nonfiction articles, they were not considered part of the scientific literature and therefore, were not to be taken seriously. Further, that meant that there were no courses on rocket science in the education system available at that time, so there was no guidance for anyone wanting to pursue a path to what is now known as the aerospace industry. But that didn’t deter Parsons with his passion for rockets as he was already dreaming of interplanetary travel, when most children his age were off chasing each other in hide and seek games and/or acting out their favorite movie idols.

Individuals like Jack stand out from the rest us, although to be fair, without the rest of us, there wouldn’t be a society for these exceptional people to flourish. More often than not, men and women like Parsons usually defy conventional thinking and walk a path to greatness that then leads people to ponder their greatness for centuries to come. We’ve seen many examples of this in history in areas such as mathematics, physics, philosophy, medicine (both conventional and alternative) and music, including classical, jazz, right up to contemporary genres. You occasionally see it in politics although not so much these days, as the message to anyone who dares to have a mind of their own is usually offered a fact-based report, other than the fictional Warren Commission Report, for their ‘reading entertainment.’ 

To add to Parsons’ mystic, he was not exactly a stellar student. In fact, he was considered to have been below average by an education system that more often than not, misses the real intelligence and potential in students such as Parsons. The education system tends to judge intelligence on how well students memorize and regurgitate their answers on paper. It makes one wonder how many seemingly and wrongfully labelled ‘unintelligent’ students, have been deprived of their rightful place in history and how society has been cheated out of their brilliance and genius. And to further compound the mystic about Parsons, he was considered to have had a learning disorder. It is now called dyslexia, a disorder that causes the individual to read words in sentences in different orders or to misspell them.

Author George Pendle writes:

Throughout his life he would misspell words, and his handwriting in particular -the words usually printed in capitals rather than written in cursive -indicates a learning disorder. At the time dyslexia was not considered a legitimate complaint and children who suffered from it were generally considered to be backward or stupid. For anyone, let alone such an avid reader as Parsons, the variable grades that resulted from this learning disorder would have only fueled a dislike for establishment education.2 

Thankfully, society is now recognizing that dyslexia is no determination of intelligence. In fact, in some cases, people with dyslexia have above average intelligence and creativity, as was apparent with Jack Parsons.

How ironic then that Jack, who was constantly being harassed and bullied in school, would be rescued on one such occasion by a fellow student who himself had dyslexia, Edward Forman. The two students would soon become lifelong friends and future collaborators in the pursuit of rocket science, producing work that would reverberate for decades to come.

If the idea of two people with dyslexia accidently meeting and then going on to make a major contribution to the aerospace industry seems coincidental, it gets even better.

Jack Parson’s World By Day

A well-known rocket scientist by the name of Robert Goddard had started writing his theories down long before Jack Parsons arrived on the scene, notwithstanding the Russians. It would take another book to discuss Goddard’s contribution to the world of rocketry. But where Goddard retreated into obscurity after being constantly ridiculed by the media for his theories on rocket science, Parsons was the opposite, who was much more confident, not caring all that much what people or the media had to say about it.

Parsons enrolled at Pasadena Junior College, but because of the great depression of the 1930s, their family’s fortune dwindled and he was forced to drop out after one term and find work. However, 18-year-old Parsons turned this unfortunate situation into an asset when he found work at the Hercules Powder Company in Los Angeles, which was known as the largest TNT production company for the United States during World War I. It was here that Parsons began to hone his skills in the mixing of propellants that he would incorporate into his theories on rocket propulsion systems in the future. It was here too that he became an expert on chemicals and explosives, two very important aspects of rocket technology.

Parsons’ friend Ed Forman also worked at the Hercules Powder Company as an apprentice and they eventually collaborated on developing rocket technology to the point where their trial-and-error approach to solving problems, now required the type of mathematical calculations that they both lacked. Even though Parsons was by no means devoid of mathematical abilities, as his papers with numerous algebraic calculations show, he lacked the necessary skills of differential calculus necessary for the complex calculations needed in rocket technology.

By chance, a set of circumstances that could only apply to Parsons and Forman, led to a direct connection to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Caltech needs no introduction and a quick google search will show the many famous scientists who were either students and/or employees there.

What’s even more amazing is Caltech’s acceptance of two seemingly uneducated individuals, Parsons and Forman, when they casually walked into this preeminent university in 1935, looking for the author of an article on ‘Rocket Technology’ published in the Los Angeles Times. It’s another example of Parsons’ confidence and refusal to be intimidated by the appearance of what many would consider, academic men beyond reproach. The author’s name of the article was William Bollay. 

A graduate student in aeronautics (the study of motion in air) named William Bollay had presented a paper at Caltech on the recent work of a member of the amateur Austrian Society for Rocket Technology, Eugen Sanger. Sanger, who had conducted most of his work apart from the scientific establishment and without any outside funding, spoke in strongly optimistic terms about the possibility of rockets being used to power aircraft. What the newspapers were most excited about was the mention of maximum velocities and breaching of the stratosphere.3

Parsons and Forman walked right into Bollay’s office and introduced themselves, expressing interest in his work. But what Parsons and Forman really saw in this article, was the potential for rockets to be used other than in aircraft. For them, they saw an obvious means of leaving Earth’s atmosphere for LEO. It’s an example of how Parsons envisioned a future for rockets as compared to his academic contemporaries who lacked the insight of a man like Parsons, going as far as to mock those who even suggested the use of rockets in any other capacity, besides aircraft. However, some of that mocking behavior from his peers would turn out to be justified, given the present state of NASA’s nonexistent manned launched capabilities to LEO, which is no fault of the brilliant Parsons.

Bollay was busy with his own research unrelated to rockets, but was impressed enough upon meeting Parsons and Forman for the first time, to recommend them to a graduate student named Frank Malina. It was this introduction that formed the team of Parsons, Forman, and Malina. 

Frank Malina had studied mechanical engineering and had an interest in interplanetary spaceflight. However, at the time he met Parsons and Forman at Caltech, he was working at the Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology (GALCIT), specifically in the wind tunnel experimenting with scale model designs of aircraft submitted by several aviation companies. But he was so impressed with Parsons and Forman’s work that he immediately saw the possibilities, which rekindled his own passion for rockets. 

Since the 1930s was a time when rockets were not a part of any academic curriculum, this meant of course there were no scientists trained in any aspects of rocketry, or better put, there were no rocket scientists as of yet. Rockets were only taken seriously when seen on the big screen alongside Buck Rogers. This is all the more remarkable when considering the future achievement of Parsons, who had little more than a high school education, whose work would be credited with solving problems that eventually contributed to the success of the Space Shuttle program. 

But at the time, Frank Malina clearly saw Parsons’ potential, regardless of his lack of academic credentials.

Pendle, quotes Frank Malina:

It seems to me that at most he had finished high school. When I met him, he already had a certain amount of experience with the manufacture of explosives…but I think what was outstanding about him was that he was not of any fixed view on which way to go…He had a very flexible sort of attitude.4

Soon, Parsons and Forman would be working alongside the university educated Malina at GALCIT and in the process, the team acquired its skill for differential calculus. And this “flexible sort of attitude” would soon lead Parsons and his new-found team aptly called the Suicide Squad, due to their experiments and the occasional explosions that would reverberate throughout Caltech, on a path that would bring innovative technologies for the future of the aerospace industry. These technologies were then incorporated by an industry that would benefit most from Parson’s brilliance, even more so than the manned space program, that of the military industrial complex. Parsons, Forman, and Malina, would go on to influence the aerospace industry for decades to come.

The Suicide Squad

Although the Suicide Squad would add other members, Parsons, Forman, and Malina would be the foundation of this team. And now Parsons and Forman had access to GALCIT, a remarkable and unheard-of achievement despite the fact that these two seemingly uneducated members literally walked into Caltech from the street. This meant that they had access to the laboratory’s equipment regardless of the fact that Parsons and Forman were not even students, let alone formal employees of one of the most revered academic institutions in the United States. However, they soon developed a not so flattering reputation through their laboratory work which was compounded by their lack of formal education. They would never be fully accepted as equals into the ‘perfect’ world of Caltech, despite their obvious brilliance and their eventual acceptance by the scientific community in general.

Note: This is one of several red flags as to the official narrative regarding Jack Parsons. There are many examples of formally uneducated but very intelligent individuals, who have been written about in history. But few of these individuals have literally walked into a prestigious academic institution such as Caltech, only then to be accepted as faculty members.

(...)

Ordo Templi Orientis

Parsons was soon to be introduced to Wilfred Talbot Smith by another scientist, whose identify is unknown. But it would seem Parsons was not the only scientist at Caltech with some connection to Crowley’s Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO). Smith was Crowley’s representative in Los Angeles who introduced Parsons to Crowley’s mystical order, the OTO. This was the only OTO order in Los Angeles and in another of many coincidences, it was located only a few miles from Parson’s own house. 

There are many aspects to Satanic rituals which people find disturbing, which were now a routine part of Parsons’ life. This author will not indulge in writing about it here, however, as author John Carter says:

This enigmatic fusion of “sex and rockets” was to prove a fascinating development in the history of the aerospace industry in America.8

In yet another interesting coincidence, Parsons happened to meet L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of the Church of Scientology which needs no introduction considering its connection to Hollywood and the numerous stories that are so often sensationalized in the media. And as is typical of Parsons’ apparent vulnerability, Hubbard too had a major influence on him. And in one of many letters Parsons had written to Crowley, whom he referred to as ‘Most Beloved Father,’ he explained his friendship with Hubbard saying that he is the most Thelemic (explained below) person he had ever met.

Wikipedia: 

Within the modern system of Thelema, developed by occultist Aleister Crowley in the first half of the 20th century, Thelemic mysticism is a complex mystical path designed to do two interrelated things: to learn one’s unique True Will and to achieve union with the All.

Aleister Crowley’s work is now being taken seriously by historians, so there is plenty of literature in books and online for those of you interested in Aleister Crowley’s influence on celebrities and the power elite. 

Jack Parsons’ Worlds Collide

In 1944, both Parsons and Forman were forced to sell their stock in JPL. This eventually led to Parsons being ostracized by the scientific community, even though the rocket industry was now being taken seriously and more so by the military industrial complex. In their world, there was just no room for the unorthodox style of a scientist who lacked the formal education of an academic, despite the fact that Parsons’ innovation and insightfulness brought solutions which are still in use today. 

Pendle:

At the age of 30, Parsons was cut adrift from the world of rocketry for the first time in his adult life. It was plain to see that, like Goddard before him, he was left behind as the very science he had helped to create soared up and away from him.9

This led to Parsons’ deeper involvement into the occult and his increased use of black magic. This greatly disturbed Crowley, who saw black magic as nonsensical. Instead, Crowley preferred his own form of magic to be used for mental and mystical development. Parsons however saw it differently who preferred the version put forward by the media, that of evil rather than good. This shows another aspect to Parsons where he seems to have chosen a deliberate path to evil, which could be interpreted by many as a disdain for humanity. However, given the complexity of a man like Parsons, one can never be too sure as to what the path he chose meant for him.

The path that Parsons was on would lead those closest to him to worry as to what his real motivations were, and how far he was prepared to go in many of the rituals in which he immersed himself. His trusted friend and colleague Ed Forman was always there to support him in any endeavor, including the many magic spells and rituals Parsons was working on. However, it seems Forman too had his limits when one of these magic spells went horribly wrong, at least for the shaken and frightened Forman.

The story, as has been described, is that after one of these rituals with Parsons late one night, Forman claims to have felt the whole house shake. He then heard screams and a number of entities outside his window, which he claimed were banshees. He ran downstairs and asked if anyone else had felt the house shake and if they saw any of the entities, but no one did. Whether all of this was in Forman’s imagination or not, is a matter for debate among those in the Fortean world. But the fact is, something happened that night which would have a profound psychological effect on Forman for the rest of his life.

To add to Parson’s despair of being ostracized by the scientific community, he was now being investigated by the FBI for allegedly having a connection to a Communist Party. With this investigation, the FBI would inevitably come across his occult background as well. To make matters worse, Parsons was also being investigated for the more serious offence of espionage.

This was around the early 1950s when the country was in an era of paranoia over the fear of communist infiltration in government, the military industrial complex, educational institutions, Hollywood, and just about any other facet of society, as named by The House Committee on Un-American Activities. This led to Parsons’ security clearance being revoked as he was a member of the scientific community that was under close scrutiny given the importance of their work, especially in the military industrial complex. 

As a result of no security clearance, Parsons could no longer be employed in the aerospace industry. However, due to insufficient evidence of any espionage activity, Parsons’ security clearance was renewed by the Industrial Employment Review Board (IERB). But that didn’t last long, as the IERB revoked his security clearance yet again, this time permanently, due to his connections to the occult, which they used to judge his character.

Parsons was no longer involved in the OTO and now without a security clearance, he was no longer allowed to work within the military industrial complex. In essence, Parsons’ two worlds collided, which in a twist of fate, would annihilate one another and as we’ll soon see, Parsons along with them.

His Final Act And Demise

The early 1950s was an era of change for Parsons. He had taken on other projects for example, working in the film industry as a special effects expert on explosives. It was during the period, that he and his wife Cameron had already made plans to relocate to Mexico for at least several months. 

It was on the very day that he and Cameron had planned on leaving for their trip, that he received a call from the Special Effects Corporation for a quick project they needed done before he left. In fact, he had been storing his highly volatile chemicals in their warehouse at the time since he was on contract with them. But because someone had rented some space from the Special Effects Corporation, Parsons was forced to move his highly volatile chemicals and stored them in the laundry room of his house. 

Parsons had agreed to the Special Effects Corporation’s request. It was around 5 pm while Parsons was alone mixing various chemicals for their project, when the house shook from an explosion. When people rushed to Parsons’s makeshift laboratory, he was found seriously injured but conscious. His injuries included multiple fractures and serve burns. He lingered on in obvious shock for an estimated 37 minutes.

Jack Whiteside Parsons died at Huntington Memorial Hospital at the young age of 37.  After hearing of her son’s death, Ruth Parsons had gotten a prescription for Nembutal to help her cope with her understandable and obvious grief. However, in an obvious moment of intense grief, Ruth Parsons, who is alleged to have overdosed at the young age of 61, joined her son hours after hearing the tragic news.

There has been speculation over the years as to what led to the explosion that killed Jack Parsons. Some say that Parsons was careless and sloppy with his work, but that seems out of character for a man who was meticulous and organized about the work he did. Others say that there was something more nefarious going on which is intriguing given his background both personally and professionally. The more likely scenario is, it was an unfortunate accident, although we will most likely never know for sure.

Jack Parsons’ Legacy

It’s obvious to anyone with a basic background knowledge of Jack Parsons, why NASA is reluctant to discuss this man although even they can’t deny his proven methods, which as mentioned above, were included in the launch of the Space Shuttle. Further, his place in history has in part, been solidified by others including JPL. In an open house to the public once a year, JPL recreates a scene that depicts its founders Rudolph Schott, Amo Smith, Frank Malina, Ed Forman, and Jack Parsons relaxing after their first test of a liquid fueled rocket on October 31st, 1936, which is the very day of JPL’s foundation. Halloween day seems a fitting choice to officially start a company by a self-taught scientist who had as much passion for the occult as he did for rockets. And it was the International Astronomical Union in France, not NASA, who honored Parsons in 1972, by naming a lunar crater after him called “Parsons Crater.” The crater is appropriately located on the ‘dark side of the Moon.’

The Apollo Moon Missions

Hiding a Hoax in Plain Sight

Part II

First Edition

Randy Walsh