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Uncredited Invention
The Super Soaker Was Invented by Lonnie Johnson
Original Creator/Source
Lonnie Johnson
Time Period
1989
Region
United States
The Full Story
Lonnie Johnson, an African American nuclear engineer who worked for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, invented the Super Soaker water gun in 1989. The invention came accidentally while he was working on a heat pump that used water instead of Freon. The Super Soaker became one of the best-selling toys in history, generating over $1 billion in sales. Johnson holds over 100 patents and has invented technologies used in spacecraft, including the Galileo mission to Jupiter and the Mars Observer.
Evidence & Sources
- U.S. Patent 4,591,071 - Squirt Gun (1986)
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory records
- Forbes interview with Lonnie Johnson