Parsons was a self-taught genius and co-founder of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the Aerojet Corporation . His work on solid rocket fuel was critical to the Allied victory in WWII and later NASA moon missions; a lunar crater is now named in his honor.
Outside the lab, Parsons was a devoted follower of Aleister Crowley and led the Agape Lodge of the Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO) in Pasadena. He identified as "The Antichrist" and performed Thelemic rituals intended to usher in a new occult age. John Carter - Sex and Rockets. The Occult World...
Parsons died at age 37 in a 1952 laboratory explosion at his home. Whether the blast was an accident, suicide, or murder remains a subject of debate. Reader Insights & Reviews Parsons was a self-taught genius and co-founder of
In the 1940s, Parsons befriended L. Ron Hubbard (who later founded Scientology). The two engaged in the "Babalon Working," a series of rituals to manifest a goddess, before Hubbard eventually left with Parsons' money and his wife. He identified as "The Antichrist" and performed Thelemic