Ejection Tower, Warminster PA

The tower is located next to the centrifuge that trained the Mercury Astronauts.
(the top now houses a weather radar)

Abstract: Fifty two tests were conducted at the NAWC Warminster Ejection Tower Site. Seven cushion configurations were used in the test program to measure their effect on ejection safety.

Interview of one of the participants.
I spoke to a local Rotary club this morning about the museum. During the Q&A one of the members told about his experience as a volunteer test subject on the ejection tower in the 1950′s. He told about how he had to pull a leather loop from above his head to initiate the explosive charge that was to shoot him up the tower. The first time the charge did not fire, so they reset and it fired the second time. After he explained more about what the experience was like to be propelled up the tower by a charge of TNT, I asked him how many times he volunteered for the job. He simply said, ”Once.”