The Fastest Man on Earth

Before space travel, Colonel John Stapp pushed the human body to its absolute limits by intentionally crashing rocket sleds. He earned his title by enduring speeds of 632 miles per hour and sudden, bone-crushing stops.

Stapp served as his own test pilot to determine how much force a human could survive during an aircraft ejection. His experiments proved that humans could withstand forces far greater than previously believed possible. These findings were critical in designing modern seatbelts and passenger safety systems for cars. Without his willingness to risk everything on a rocket track, today's high-speed safety technology might not exist.