Behind the Bastards The Man Who Built A Gun To Shoot Space
Jan 20, 2022
Karl Kasarda, a gun design expert, joins the discussion to unpack the fascinating life of artillery designer Gerald Bull. They delve into his groundbreaking innovations and his ambitious yet controversial Project Babylon, aimed at advancing Iraq's military technology. The conversation takes an amusing turn as they explore Bull's dream of a massive gun for space travel, linking arms design to the complexities of colonialism. With humor and insight, they highlight the moral dilemmas behind weaponry and its impact on society.
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Bull's Childhood
- Gerald Bull had a difficult childhood marked by parental abandonment and family deaths.
- This instability may have contributed to his later personality traits.
Early Engineering Aptitude
- Gerald Bull displayed remarkable engineering talent from a young age, building model airplanes and excelling in academics.
- He entered a graduate program for aeronautical engineering at 16, showcasing his precociousness.
Personality Traits
- Bull's brilliance was coupled with a difficult personality, marked by anger and an inability to handle criticism.
- His peers consistently noted his challenging nature.