What were early rockets like?
Around A.D. 1,000 a Chinese ruler became interested in space. And he wanted to be the first person in space. So he had a team of “rocket scientists” construct for him a rocket, which could then be mounted on his throne. The rocket(s) to shape of small pieces of bamboo (approximately 2 feet long and 5 inches wide) stuffed with an early form of gun powder. These pieces of bamboo were then placed around the entire throne. Then they launched the ruler in hope that he will travel into space… this was not a good idea. First of all, because the ruler including the throne weighed about 600 pounds. And secondly, because you don’t even want to be anywhere near a chair with about 160 pounds of gun powder, let alone on top of it. All in all the throne didn’t move very far. Basically it just blew up, and toppled over.
