[bosco24]

I was stationed at Holloman for 5 years in the early 90's and worked at the test track. We had a Dining-In every year and Maj Stapp showed up for 3 of them as he was retired in the area. He was very interesting to talk to.

The goal of the series of tests he was involved in was to increase the speed of the sled with each test to investigate the effect on the human body of high speed and G's. As they increased the speed of the sled they had to increase the G's to stop him before he ran off the end of the track (the track is currently 10 miles long but was much shorter when he made his runs). Braking was accomplished by filling the area between the tracks with a level of water that was picked up by a scoop on a sled trailing Stapp's.

On his last run the G's were so high that blood vessels in his eyes were broken to the point that he had so much blood in the fluid in his eyes that he couldn't see.

More faster tests were planned, so while Stapp was recovering a faster test was conducted with a monkey strapped into the sled. During the test the slipper housing that held the sled to the track broke, the sled left the track and unfortunately for the monkey, he was killed. This ended the test series.

There is a space museum in Alamogodo that displays the sled used by Stapp. If you're in the area it's worth a couple of hours to stop by.

[RadioAstronomer]

There is a space museum in Alamogodo that displays the sled used by Stapp. If you're in the area it's worth a couple of hours to stop by.

Been there. :-)

I also like the "Little Joe" they have on display as well.

[rdl6989]

...There is a space museum in Alamogodo that displays the sled used by Stapp. If you're in the area it's worth a couple of hours to stop by.

Thanks for the info. I will try to see that museum one of these days.

[Kirkwood]

It's a wonder he had any recollection of the test or didn't suffer permanent neurological damage. You would think some brain blood vessels were ripped apart as well.