If you have no clue what a Super Soaker is, you probably have just been introduced to this planet. The Super Soaker played a role in most kids in the 1980s and 90s growing up, and you probably never knew who actually invented it. Thanks to the folks from Great Big Story we know have a little more information about the NASA genius.

Remember the childhood hours of fun spent blasting your friends with neon-tinged water cannons? You can thank a NASA scientist for that. In 1982, Lonnie Johnson designed the Super Soaker. But that wasn’t Johnson’s only invention. The award-winning scientist came up with everything from the Nerf gun to a thermoelectric energy converter, and now he’s got even bigger aims. Lonnie Johnson: We salute you.

Enjoy the video and give a big thank you at the end to Lonnie Johnson.