The Central Texas Launches sail into the skies over Stonewall, Texas starting tomorrow, April 30, 2026. This is the third in the series for the Rockets 2026 and the second in the Texas Rocket Trail lineup. This is our seventh year in Stonewall for the CTX Rockets launch.
The SystemsGo Team spent several days early this week setting up the launch site at the Sammy Segner Ranch on the Double Horn Road. This included construction of the Pad and Mission Control and testing of the rails. Stage 3 inside MC, Media, and Communications were also part of this set up.
Class A Event Rentals arrived to set up tents for Mission Control, Media and spectators. Duane Neffendorf again provided portable restrooms and wash stations to the site. Later LCRA, Bee Creek Communications and Starlink provide support for IT, Internet WiFi and Radio communications.
Stages 1 and 2 rocket check in stations were also established at the Stonewall Chamber of Commerce building. Student Team tables were numbered for evaluations and last-minute corrections to the vehicles.
The Stonewall site covers the Fredericksburg and Hill Country area schools. Some of our North and South Texas schools still participate here, in leu of our NTX and SETX sites. Our two out of state schools, Canon City from Colorado, and Mustang from Oklahoma also elected to test here. This year our over seas school, the American Community Schools Abu Dhahi, will also launch at Stonewall, in previous years they participated in the SETX launch at Smith Point.
Currently there are 57 rockets scheduled for launch by 16 schools at the Stonewall location for Rockets 2026. This schedule may be updated this week with the possibility of schools adding or dropping close to launch time.
Spectators are welcomed again this year. Teachers are encouraged to bring pop-up tents for themselves and their students. Please remember sunscreen, chairs, umbrellas, extra snacks, drinks, and food. Downtime entertainment for the students to engage in between launches may also be helpful. Rockets are subject to winds, weather, and workmanship, all of which can stall a launch, and delay schedules.
The FHS “Grub Uber Alles” Culinary Arts Trailer will set up shop and provide concessions for the weekend. The pics below are from the last time they graced the event with their food, so this menu and pricing may not be exact. Tomorrow I will update it as needed.
Paige Findly will be handling media and live stream for the CTX Rockets event. With changes in staff happening this season, he has been instrumental in helping Rebekah and myself get media and the livestream up and running. He is testing out his equipment at this weekend’s launch event.
The Central Texas/Stonewall launch dates, locations, and schools are listed here for your convenience or can be found at http://www.systemsgo.org
Central Texas/Stonewall:
The sites will be open to admittance for students and teachers only at 6:00 a.m. Projected start time for launches is 9:00 a.m. All is contingent on test vehicle readiness and ability to pass Stages 1 and 2. Mission Control will be ready for Stage 3 checks by 8:00 a.m.
Rockets are subject to winds, weather, and workmanship, all of which can stall a launch. Unfortunately the weather for the weekend is less than ideal with rain and thunderstorm predicted Friday and Saturday. This being said, be prepared for the possibilities of delays. But with any luck maybe the rain will hold off until the overnight hours so launching can stay on track for the daytime.
Please either join in the action on site or help cheer the students on while watching the Livestream. The look on your students’ faces when their vehicle goes up and then is recovered is priceless. If they know you are watching and supporting them, then it is even more memorable. If you are not on site, then shoot them a text, letting them know you are watching online, or participate in the chat on YouTube Livestream page.
A live feed for each launch will be provided here:
The link is available at www.systemsgo.org on the home page.
Daily reports featuring schedule links, school names, results, pictures, and editorial content will be posted during the events if information is available.
Pictures from each day are on SystemsGo Facebook page, as well as my Facebook page. They can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/SystemsGoEducation/
https://www.facebook.com/ginger.burow
Central Texas/Stonewall:
- Thursday, April 30- Saturday, May 2, Weather Contingency Day-Sunday, May 3
- Launch Site: 2187 Double Horn Road, Stonewall, Texas 78671
- Stage 1 & 2 at Stonewall Chamber of Commerce: 250 Peach Street, Stonewall, TX 78671
- Central Texas Map Links:
CTX Check In / Stage 1 and 2
CTX Mission Control / Launch Site
- Central Texas-Stonewall 2026 Flight Schedule for Thursday, April 30, 2026
-
- Schools participating: Fredericksburg HS, Union Grove, Roosevelt HS, Canyon City HS, Fabens HS, and Johnson HS
- 20 expected rockets for testing
Here are a couple of things that SystemsGo requires for your attendance:
- Any member of the public wishing to attend a launch is required to register online and agree to Launch Day Entry Form / Waiver
Scan or Click
There is no charge, but proof of registration is required before entering the site. You will be issued arm bands as proof and you must have them on at all times.
- All information can be found https://www.systemsgo.org listed under each individual venue.
Questions and concerns may be directed to info@systemsgo.org.
Please watch the SystemsGo website, SystemsGo Facebook page, SystemsGo Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/SystemsGoNews and this blog for upcoming information on these events.
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.
I hope you are as super excited about this year’s CTX launches as I am! Let’s pray the weather cooperates and we get to see a steady stream of rockets screaming into the sky.
Hope to see you at the launches!
#RideTheSkies #TexasRocketTrail #Rockets2026 #EyesOnThe Skies #EyesToTheSkies
On the Wings of Angels 