The Moment He Chose His Own Path

Are we to conclude, Mr. Hickam, that since leaving school, you've not only become an expert in rocket science, but in the field of trigonometry?

I didn't say that I was a rocket scientist.

Obviously, you learned more in the coal mines than you did in high school.

Let the boy talk.

The time of the fire, the best that we could do, was 1.2 miles. Now, the fire was near Welch, just under three miles from our launch pad. See, Mr. Turner, that rocket fell for about 14 seconds, which means that it flew to an altitude of 3,000 feet. According to the equation, S equals 1 half A T squared. Velocity equals acceleration times height.

Kid, kid.

Are you following this, Mr. Turner?

We're all duly impressed. If you did not start that fire, who did?

It's ingenious.

The fins are spring-loaded. If you did not start that fire, who did? It's ingenious.

The fins are spring-loaded. Aeronautical flare.

There's an airport here in Welch. There's an airport here in Welch.

It's right above where the fire started.