Jack Parsons

Jack Parsons, born on October 2, 1914, in Pasadena, California, was a multifaceted individual known for his contributions as a rocket engineer, chemist, and Thelemite occultist. He was instrumental in founding both the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Aerojet, where he made significant advancements in rocket technology, including the invention of the first rocket engine utilizing a castable, composite propellant.

Parsons' journey into rocketry began in 1928 when he started amateur experiments with his school friend Edward Forman. Although he was admitted to Stanford University, financial difficulties during the Great Depression forced him to leave before completing his degree. In 1934, he, Forman, and Frank Malina established the Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory (GALCIT) Rocket Research Group, which later evolved into JPL. Their work on Jet-Assisted Take Off (JATO) technology for the U.S. military led to the founding of Aerojet in 1942.

In addition to his scientific endeavors, Parsons was deeply involved in the occult, converting to Thelema in 1939 and becoming a prominent figure in the Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.). His leadership in the California O.T.O. branch and his controversial practices ultimately led to his dismissal from JPL and Aerojet in 1944. Following a tumultuous personal life, including a divorce from his first wife Helen Northrup and a marriage to Marjorie Cameron, Parsons faced financial ruin after being defrauded by L. Ron Hubbard.

Despite his expertise as an explosives expert in the late 1940s, Parsons' career was marred by accusations of espionage amid the rising tide of McCarthyism. Tragically, he died at the age of thirty-seven in a laboratory explosion in 1952, a death officially ruled an accident but surrounded by speculation of suicide or foul play. Today, Parsons is celebrated for his pioneering work in rocketry and his role in the early U.S. space program, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire.