EPISODE · May 24, 2026 · 6 MIN
Why doesn't everyone have a jetpack? - Richard Browning
from TED-Ed · host TED-Ed
Explore the physics of how jetpacks fly, and discover the technology that allows pilots to maneuver the engines.--In 1961, Yuri Gagarin piloted a spacecraft in humanity’s first manned space flight. A week later, Bell Aerosystems debuted a gas-powered rocket pack that could fly 35 meters in 13 seconds. Unfortunately, engineers knew this short flight was all the rocket pack could muster. So why was a massive spacecraft easier to send flying than a single pilot? Richard Browning investigates.Lesson by Richard Browning and Gravity Industries, directed by Mitch Hearn and Lisa Vertudaches.Support Our Non-Profit Mission----------------------------------------------Support us on Patreon: http://bit.ly/TEDEdPatreonCheck out our merch: http://bit.ly/TEDEDShop----------------------------------------------Connect With Us----------------------------------------------Sign up for our newsletter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdNewsletterFollow us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/TEDEdFacebookFind us on Twitter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdTwitterPeep us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/TEDEdInstagram----------------------------------------------Keep Learning----------------------------------------------View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-do-jetpacks-work-and-why-don-t-we-all-have-them-richard-browning-debbie-browningDig deeper with additional resources: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-do-jetpacks-work-and-why-don-t-we-all-have-them-richard-browning-debbie-browning#digdeeperAnimator's website: https://www.instagram.com/mitchographer, https://www.mitchhearn.com, https://lisavertudaches.comEducator's website: https://gravity.coCheck out Gravity Industries on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takeongravityCheck out Gravity Industries on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GravityIndustries----------------------------------------------Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Adam Leos, Cindy Lai, Liz, Rajath Durgada Manjunath, Dan Nguyen, Chin Beng Tan, Tom Boman, Karen Warner, Isorn Sookwanish, Iryna Panasiuk, Diane Gallin, Aaron Torres, Vasundhar, Eric Braun, Denka Wee, Sonja Worzewski, Amy, Michael Clement, Ghaith Tarawneh, Nathan Milford, Tomas Beckett, Alice Ice, Eric Berman, Kurt Paolo Sevillano, Ron Kakar, Jennifer Heald, Megulo Abebe, TAO7CADENCE, Olympia Buckingham, isolwi, Vedasheersh, Michael Chang, Waqar Sheikh, Irene Y., Kate Sem, VPpurplebelt, Ujjwal Dasu, Angel Alberici, Minh Quan Dinh, Sylvain, JasonD, Terran Gimpel, Talia Sari, Katie McDowell, Allen, Sarat Chandra Vegunta, Mahina Knuckles, Charmaine Hanson, Thawsitt and Jezabel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What this episode covers
Explore the physics of how jetpacks fly, and discover the technology that allows pilots to maneuver the engines.--In 1961, Yuri Gagarin piloted a spacecraft in humanity’s first manned space flight. A week later, Bell Aerosystems debuted a gas-powered rocket pack that could fly 35 meters in 13 seconds. Unfortunately, engineers knew this short flight was all the rocket pack could muster. So why was a massive spacecraft easier to send flying than a single pilot? Richard Browning investigates.Lesson by Richard Browning and Gravity Industries, directed by Mitch Hearn and Lisa Vertudaches.Support Our Non-Profit Mission----------------------------------------------Support us on Patreon: http://bit.ly/TEDEdPatreonCheck out our merch: http://bit.ly/TEDEDShop----------------------------------------------Connect With Us----------------------------------------------Sign up for our newsletter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdNewsletterFollow us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/TEDEdFacebookFind us on Twitter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdTwitterPeep us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/TEDEdInstagram----------------------------------------------Keep Learning----------------------------------------------View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-do-jetpacks-work-and-why-don-t-we-all-have-them-richard-browning-debbie-browningDig deeper with additional resources: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-do-jetpacks-work-and-why-don-t-we-all-have-them-richard-browning-debbie-browning#digdeeperAnimator's website: https://www.instagram.com/mitchographer, https://www.mitchhearn.com, https://lisavertudaches.comEducator's website: https://gravity.coCheck out Gravity Industries on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takeongravityCheck out Gravity Industries on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GravityIndustries----------------------------------------------Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Adam Leos, Cindy Lai, Liz, Rajath Durgada Manjunath, Dan Nguyen, Chin Beng Tan, Tom Boman, Karen Warner, Isorn Sookwanish, Iryna Panasiuk, Diane Gallin, Aaron Torres, Vasundhar, Eric Braun, Denka Wee, Sonja Worzewski, Amy, Michael Clement, Ghaith Tarawneh, Nathan Milford, Tomas Beckett, Alice Ice, Eric Berman, Kurt Paolo Sevillano, Ron Kakar, Jennifer Heald, Megulo Abebe, TAO7CADENCE, Olympia Buckingham, isolwi, Vedasheersh, Michael Chang, Waqar Sheikh, Irene Y., Kate Sem, VPpurplebelt, Ujjwal Dasu, Angel Alberici, Minh Quan Dinh, Sylvain, JasonD, Terran Gimpel, Talia Sari, Katie McDowell, Allen, Sarat Chandra Vegunta, Mahina Knuckles, Charmaine Hanson, Thawsitt and Jezabel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Why doesn't everyone have a jetpack? - Richard Browning
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