NASA Engineer Lonnie Johnson Invented the Super Soaker

The toy that defined summer fun for millions of kids started with a burst of water in a NASA engineer's bathroom.

In 1982, Lonnie Johnson was working on a new heat pump design at home when a powerful stream of water shot across his bathroom. Most people would have grabbed a towel. Johnson saw the future of water guns.

At the time, Johnson was already an accomplished engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, working on systems for spacecraft including the Galileo mission to Jupiter. But that accidental moment sparked an idea that would change playtime forever.

Johnson spent nights and weekends developing a pressurized water gun that could shoot farther and stronger than anything on toy store shelves. He built the first prototype in his basement, using PVC pipe, acrylic glass, and a plastic soda bottle.

The path from prototype to toy aisle took nearly a decade. Johnson pitched his invention to multiple toy companies before Larami Corporation finally took a chance on it in 1989. They named it the Super Soaker.

The toy exploded onto the market in 1991. Kids everywhere abandoned their wimpy squirt guns for these neon-colored cannons that could drench someone from 50 feet away. The Super Soaker generated over $200 million in sales in its first year alone.

Why This Inspires

Johnson didn't stop with water guns. He also contributed to the development of Nerf guns and has earned over 120 patents throughout his career. His inventions span from toys to renewable energy technology, including a thermoelectric energy converter that could revolutionize how we generate power.

Today, Johnson runs his own research company, continuing to work on innovations in energy and battery technology. He's proved that the same creativity that launches spacecraft can also bring joy to millions of children.

The Super Soaker remains one of the top-selling toys of all time, with over one billion dollars in sales since its debut. Not bad for an accidental discovery in a bathroom.

Johnson's story shows how curiosity and persistence can transform a simple observation into something extraordinary.