Alamo Heights, Brazoswood and Union Grove tested rockets at White Sands Missile Range today. WSMR had SystemsGo on a tight schedule again this year. It meant that two rockets had to be loaded on the rails before we left the range yesterday on set up day. The third had to be ready to swap out as soon as the first two were tested.
We had an 8:00 a.m. slot for the first T-time. Range time began at 6:30 a.m. The team was wheels rolling at 5:00 a.m. The school were dropped off at Tula G along the way, where they watched the launches on live feed. The SystemsGo team arrived at ABC-1 at 6:30 a.m.
Union Grove was fueled and ready for launch at 8:20 a.m.The rail and fuel teams evac’d 5 miles out on the range to watch the launch from the road. Rebekah, Randy and George readied the rocket for fire and evac’d to the “bell” (tiny metal launch bunker) and coordinated with WSMR for count down and launch.
Union Grove’s rocket tested at 8:30 a.m. right on schedule to start the day. Unfortunately they had an internal ignition wire that pulled lose and resulted in a misfire.
Alamo Heights was on the second rail. It was fueled and ready by 10:28 a.m. The same evac process for the Team was followed. The rocket left the rail and traveled a couple thousand feet before beginning to spiral, banking back toward the bell and nose diving into the ground about 150 yards from the bell. The boom of impact was loud even 5 miles out. Rebekah and George said it make the ground shake. Wsmr used a backhoe to dig out what the coil and return it to the students. The engine casing was still mostly intact, but there was only a tiny piece of the nose one, and the rest was just chunks of twisted metal. It was pretty amazing to see.
Brazoswood students were brought in from Tula G to load thier rocket on the first rail and take team pictures. Then they were escorted back to Tula G to await their launch and watch. SystemsGo team worked quickly to get everything connected and the rocket fueled to meet an 12:30 p.m. T-time to test.
At 12:30 Brazoswood was fueled and ready for their launch. Unfortunately before countdown ever commenced the vehicle had an internal failure that resulted in the nitrous blowing out the aft end of the rocket. This ended any further chance of the vehicle testing.
As soon as WSMR determined the pad was again safe, they called for the SG team and schools to return to the site for tear down. We had the entire site packed up by 2:48 p.m.
Rebekah and George spoke to the students about perseverance and that this was a great accomplishment even if their rocket failed. Last but never least she thanked all the WSMR personnel for all their hard work and support again this year and promised them cool new swag that was still coming in the mail.
When presentations were complete, all of the SystemsGo team took photos in front of the old resident tank, fascilitated by Chris, our WSMR Doc Photo. Then Mission was called complete and it was wheels rolling off the range at 3:30 p.m.
The SystemsGo team capped off the evening with dinner at Johnny Carino’s Italian Restaurant and then called it a day.
One quick side note, we did see two Oryx this year on our way in to the range this morning. Both stood there curiously watching us and posing as they knew we couldn’t even take his picture.
Tomorrow will be a good breakfast at 6:00 a.m. at Denny’s for some or the hotel for the sleep ins and then on the road back to Texas by 7:00 a.m.
WSMR concludes another successful year of launches that begain with Jal, NM, Jacksoboro, Anahuac/Smith Point , and Willow City. The group helped test 159 Tchaikovsky, Oberth and Von Braun rockets and 3 Goddard level rockets for the Rockets 2025 season.
Now the volunteer staff returns to their daily lives and the SystemsGo team transitions into program updates, new teacher training begins with more schools, teachers, students and rockets. It won’t be long and “launch season” will be back again with Rockets 2026. Next year’s season will begin again with spring launches in Jal, New Mexico, NTX-Jacksboro, SETX-Anahua/Smith Point, CTX-Stonewall, and White Sands Missile Range. It should prove to be another exciting year.
Watch for Spring dates to be announced in late fall, so you can begin planning to watch. Until then, keep your Eyes To The Sky! See you next year!
www.systemsgo.org as always is the place for more information on this program. You may also email them at info@systemsgo.org .Take the time to get your school involved, the future of your students will be greatly benefited.
#Rockets2025 #TexasRocketTrail #EyesonTheSkies #Ridetheskies #ItisRocketScience #EyesToTheSky!
On the Wings of Angels 