FASTEST MAN ON EARTH

[Silence] Essentially, this is a contest  between man and machine. So far, man is learning. We're learning just how tough the human body is. Turns out to be a lot tougher than you ever thought it would be. Worst part of it was the last five minutes by myself in the  sled waiting for the rockets to ignite. Then a sudden hissing noise  and a tenth of a second later, I was booming down the track, getting up  speed to 421 miles an hour in 1,800 feet. I was plastered against the back of the seat. Then I was thrown violently forward as the sled power shut off, coasted, and as it  hit the water brakes, I was thrown again, more violently forwards, against the  straps, against my shoulders and hips. Six-tenths of a second later,  the sled was through the brakes. A little later it stopped. People came up, loosened the straps. I felt very good. Eight seconds to get from standing start to 421 miles an hour to a  stop again in less than two-thirds of a mile. A fast takeoff by an express  subway is nothing compared to this. It's more like being hit from  the back by a freight train.