My unsung hero of science: Frank Malina – fearless rocket engineer, groundbreaking artist and communist ‘traitor’

Stephen Roddy

My unsung hero of science: Frank Malina – fearless rocket engineer, groundbreaking artist and communist ‘traitor’

Stephen Roddy

School of English and Digital Humanities

Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Featured article

Abstract

Frank Malina was a lot of things. The Texas-born aeronautical engineer co-designed the first jet-assisted take-off (Jato) rocket and the US’s first operational high-altitude rocket. He co-founded and became director of Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory – and along the way, joined a team of rocket engineers who became known as the “suicide squad” for their risk-taking approach.

Original language	English
Specialist publication	The Conversation
Publication status	Published - 4 Feb 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

UCC Futures

Future Humanities Institute

Keywords

Frank Malina
NASA JPL
NASA
New Media Art
Rocketry
Jack Parsons
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Kinetic Art
Light Art
Lumino Kinetic Art
Aerospace engineering

Cite this

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KW - Light Art

KW - Lumino Kinetic Art

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My unsung hero of science: Frank Malina – fearless rocket engineer, groundbreaking artist and communist ‘traitor’

Abstract

UN SDGs

UCC Futures

Keywords

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Cite this