Goddard – Page 4 – On the Wings of Angels

Goddard Teacher Training Day 1

Goddard training began today with FHS Engineer teacher, Andrew Matthes directing the class.

SystemsGo Program Director, Rebekah Hyatt, sitting in the back where she was able to add in information or examples as needed. SystemsGo Regional Director, Doug Underwood was also in attendance.

Seven teachers were present for training. Most were from schools around Texas including Birdville Career and Tech Center, RL Turner, Union Grove, Brazoswood, and Booker T Washington High Schools, and one from Jal High School in New Mexico.

I watched and listen for about 40 minutes today, during which, Chris Madsen, NASA JSC, Orion Entry GN&C Systems Manager skyped in to present The SystemsGo Goddard 6-DOF Inputs session of the training.

As I listened to discussions including center of mass, Roll, Yall and Pitch, metric and standard measurement uses, weight balance across the vehicle, just to mention a small fraction of the information being presented, I was really wishing I had brought a folder for notes and not just a camera. I definitely wish I could have stayed for the full presentation as this program and all they do, never ceases to amaze and fascinate me.

Here are a few more pics. Not too much different, but I will check in on them again tomorrow to see if there is more of interest to report.

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.

#RideTheSky! #Rockets2022 RocketSeason!

Rockets 2022-Begins With Teacher Training

Rockets 2021 has barely ended as the Team and students returned home from launches at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, on June 27th, and July already starts a new year.

Rockets 2022 begins with SystemsGo Teacher Training for the 2021/2022 school year. 22 Schools from Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado will be participating in training on all levels of the program at locations in both Texas and New Mexico.

July 12-16 kicks off these educational events at the Goddard level. FHS Program teacher, Andrew Matthes, will conduct this event in the Fredericksburg High School Engineering Department classroom.

Five teachers from Texas high schools, including Birdville Career and Tech Center, RL Turner, Union Grove, Brazoswood, and Booker T Washington High Schools, and one from Jal High School in New Mexico will attend and secure certification to teach the curriculum at their respective schools this fall. This first week of training encompasses the senior level rockets which launch at White Sands Missile Range. It is the final and highest level of the program. These vehicles are designed to reach 50,000 feet.

July 19-23, four schools will train on the Tsiolkovsky level at Artesia Administration Building in Artesia, New Mexico. Canon City High School from Colorado, and Logan, Elida, and Animas High Schools all from New Mexico will all train with Program Director, Rebekah Hyatt. These classes are designed for Sophomore, Junior and Senior grade students whose projects are generally one pound/one mile rockets for launch at one of the spring launches.

The following weekend, July 24-25, two teachers will train on the Oberth level also at the Artesia Administration Building in Artesia, New Mexico. One is from the West Texas school of Fabens and the other from Canon City in Colorado. Regional Coordinator, Doug Underwood, will conduct these trainings. July 31- August 1 he will be in Fredericksburg training Texas teachers on this same level. Hollenstein, Georgetown and McGregor High Schools will be in attendance in Fredericksburg. This level teaches students in the Junior and Senior years on the Transonic rockets, which are designed to break the speed of sound.

The next week will be back at Fredericksburg High School, where Program Director, Rebekah Hyatt continues training teachers on the Tsiolkovsky level of rockets. The Texas schools of Summer Creek, Hollenstein, Friendswood, Atascocita, Galena Park, Georgetown, and McGregor will attend this session in Fredericksburg.

The first week in August, PD Hyatt will also be conducting webinars for teachers needing the Intro to Engineering training. These teachers generally work with eighth and ninth graders just starting in the program, which teaches the Research Design and Development Loop as well as the history and basics of rocketry. These are two hour working web trainings that are scheduled as needed. Currently there is only one on Wednesday, August 4th, but a second may be added later.

Covid caused many schools and teachers to drop the program last year. Fortunately, many are returning this year and at least five new schools have been added. SystemsGo is glad to see this uptick in the program.

The more schools and teachers mean many more students involved, and with that many more potential career paths in the STEM fields.

#RideTheSky! #Rockets2022 RocketSeason!

Saturday, Rockets 2021-WSMR Launch Day Report Mission Complete

Three schools tested rockets at White Sands Missile Range today. Brazoswood, Alamo Heights and Union Grove comprised that list. All three rockets left the rail. Some flights were not optimal but they were off the rail.

The big winner of the day, was first up, Brazoswood High School. They had a slow lift off but a good burn, eventually picking up speed and altitude for a beautiful flight, sailing off the rail. They flew to a considerable height and distance before landing somewhere down range. Unfortunately, WSMR, was not able to lock on radar due to technical issues and lost it before impact. They are actively looking for it but had not located it by the time we called mission complete for the day.

Visual estimates by some WSMR personnel on the ground, put it over 30,000 feet. Our WSMR photographer, Mike says he thinks it is the best flight since Fredericksburg High School’s record of 36,000′. He has seen every launch the program has made over the past 22 years. Bare in mind this is only speculation at this point.

Unfortunately we will have to wait on actual information until they find the rocket. Either way it was an awesome flight! Congratulations Brazoswood and Chris McLeod, their teacher. Great first time up, as their new instructor. The opening picture for this blog today is the Brazoswood rocket at Stage 2 on Friday.

Alamo Heights was the second launch. They had problems with leaks in their Nitrous fill lines. Several attempts were made by SystemsGo personnel to correct this but it continued to fail. One of the students from the team came in and continued work and was able to correct the issue.

At 12:31 the vehicle went for launch. It did ignite, but then barely left the rail. It lost the nosecone right after lift off, but then laid over and flew horizontally, nose diving into the ground about 100 yards down the road from the pad where the altimeter bay housing dug into the ground. The impact sent the body tube away where it landed across the road another 30′ plus feet away.

This vehicle was the only and the easiest recovery of the day. Fortunately there was only minimal damage to the new launch rail. Alamo Heights was the first test for this new rail.

Union Grove was the third and final launch of the day. They made the call to continue launch even though SystemsGo could not confirm that the altimeter was armed and active. This meant no deployment of their recovery system. At this point this was an allowable concession in order to fly.

At 2:15 they filled and went for launch. They lifted off nicely but nosed over and continued down range flying horizontally instead of up. The rocket eventually dove into the ground quite a distance away. A chute with only the nosecone attached was seen deploying as it hit. It tunneled across the ground for a while before it too was lost. Even though several on the ground were able to follow it to impact, WSMR has still not located and recovered it. The search will be ongoing.

Deputy Test Center Commander, Jerry Tyree, from White Sands Missile Range, visited the launch site today. He brought family along to show them what we do here. It was a treat for SystemsGo staff, students and teachers whom he visited with at both locations.

Mission was called complete by WSMR at 5:16 p.m. today! This officially ended the Rockets 2021 season.

Thanks to White Sands Missile Range for once again allowing this program to be tested on the range.

Tomorrow the SystemsGo team will be traveling home again. Some of the younger pad crew are staying around to see some of the sites in the area, including the White Sands Monument.

Training for this year’s new rocket teachers in the program will take place the last three weeks in July.

We will see you again next year for the Texas Rocket Trail 2022. In the upcoming year watch for interesting high lights from the program.

#Rockets2021 #TexasRocketTrail #EyesonTheSkies

Rockets 2021, Friday, New Sites for Stage 2 and Launch site

The SystemsGo team and schools headed out at 6:30 am. Friday morning, with their first stop as Alamogordo High School. They set up under a pavilion next to the athletic department, where they completed Stage 2 checks for each rocket. This was a new experience for the group since this activity usually takes place under tents on the range.

Career Technical Education Coordinator, Manny Klaasen, was there point of contact and support at the school. Ironically, she is a native Texan from the Dallas area. She moved to New Mexico 20 years ago to teach at the college on base at WSMR, and then later took a teaching job in town at AHS. AHS is a participant in the SystemsGo program, but still in the early stages, and in need of a new teacher for the program. There current one left during Covid. She is super excited to see this level of the program and host the Stage 2 event.

At 10:30 am. the set up crew headed out to ABC-1 to begin preparations for tomorrow’s launches. Only SystemsGo pad crews went at this time to set up the pad, rails, fill and fire system, and all other pertinent equipment for launches. They were met and assisted by several WSMR range personnel.

A quick correction to my previous posts is that Booker T Washington High School, actually aborted last week, so that only leaves three high schools here at WSMR. Those include, Alamo Heights, Union Grove, and Brazoswood. All three completed Stage 2 checks and loaded up to go down range by 2:15 pm. They were lead in by the rest of the SystemsGo Team from Stage 2, and met at the Tula Gate by WSMR personnel. At the site they underwent Stage 3 checks and were loaded with charges for launch.

Brazosport and Alamo Heights were the first to complete all checks. Because of this the new launch order for Saturday is as follows:

Brazosport
Alamo Heights
Union Grove

The first two were loaded on the rails this evening before the group left for the day. SystemsGo now has two launch rails and both will be in operation tomorrow. A rocket was loaded onto each and then they will be tested in sequence with only time out for safety; including the return of the launch team as they will be required to evacuate during each launch; and swapping gas and electrical connections between the rails.

WSMR pushed launches to Saturday only. With only three rockets this should not be a problem. Although the Covid restrictions do pose some extra time issues.

Launches are to commence at 8:00 am. Saturday morning. All SystemsGo personnel and schools will be headed out to the range at 5:00 am.

Brazoswood High School is first to launch and Alamo Heights is next on the second rail. After both launches, WSMR personnel will attempt to locate and retrieve the rockets for the students while the third rocket is loaded onto the rail. After the third launch we will be mission complete and pack all equipment. The first two schools may leave after their rocket has been returned to them, or WSMR has determined that it cannot be returned at this time.

Realistically, this is a very tight launch sequence with little to no room for errors. As we know, errors can and do occasionally happen and can cause severe delays in the launch schedule and hinder time availability.

If we do not get all three launches done tomorrow, then they will have to abort because we no longer have Sunday time slots as allowed by WSMR.

We also had two visitors from Space Port America here today to observe so they could get a more realistic idea of what the SystemsGo program does, it’s capabilities and also it’s necessities for launches. In attendance were, Chas Miller, Space Port Engineer, and Susan Raitt, Business Development. They observed at both Stage 2 in town and ABC-1 on the range.

Andy Berger, from ESRA, Experimental Sounding Rocket Association, was also in attendance. He is from the Houston area. He helps plan and host rocket competitions designed to further promote rocketry and aerospace challenges.

The team and schools finally left the range and arrived back in Alamogordo for dinner, food shopping for tomorrow, and much needed showers and rest at around 8:00 pm.

Best of luck to all schools so that they may have a successful launches tomorrow.

Event details will continue to be available here. I will provide more information each morning as to how the schedule and other event details will progress for that day and how launches went for the schools testing that day. Pictures are not allowed on the range, but some pictures of teams getting ready to leave for the range with their vehicles might be available. If anything is available I will post it for your viewing pleasure.

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.

Rockets 2021: Travel to White Sands Today, Stage 2 and Range Set Up Information For Tomorrow, Friday

The SystemsGo team left Fredericksburg at in two shifts this morning headed to White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in New Mexico. The last group arrived in Alamogordo at about 5:30 pm. after a late start due to a bad tire on the van. Luckily Patrick Krauskopf at 7 Day Tire was able to replace it get us on the way by 9:00 am.

The early crew, Scott Netherland and Rebekah Hyatt, met with, Brigadier General Eric D. Little, at Range Control for finalization of schedules, other information for the launches this weekend, and continued support for the program. The meeting went very favorably but they will not be able to accommodate any launches on Friday, just set up at the range. Saturday and Sunday will continue to our testing days as originally scheduled.

The group walked to Chili’s for dinner and discussion about tomorrow’s events and schedules. The team plans to leave for the Alamogordo High School tomorrow morning at 6:30 am.

Schools and other personnel also traveled in today. Tomorrow all Stage 2 checks will begin by 7:00 am. All schools and personnel are asked to be there on time and ready to work. Schools are asked to bring their own weights to simulate load cells and nitrous oxide loads. All other needed equipment for pressure checks will be there. Load cells will be available for sale for those that need one.

Electricity and restrooms are available at the high school during the day. Each school is responsible for acquiring food and drinks for their group for all meals and snacks each day.

All documentation was completed and turned in to Rebekah Hyatt, Thursday evening upon arrival.

UXO briefing registry
WSMR waiver
SystemsGo waiver

Friday upon notification from WSMR, SystemsGo Staff, pertinent personnel, and students from the first two rocket teams, who have cleared Stage 2, will be going down range to set up the rails and equipment for launch. They will also load these two rockets onto the rails that evening, ready for testing, Saturday morning,

In the event that all schools are through Stage 2 and rockets are finished, then all groups will go at that time and transport rockets to the site. Therefore the earlier vehicles are completed the more chance this can be accomplished. If this is not accomplished then the rest will come in a later group.

The current launch order as per the draw, but contingent on readiness, are as follows:

Brazoswood
Union Grove
Booker T Washington
Alamo Heights

The current schedule has launches beginning by 8:00 am Saturday morning.

Here is the address for the high school for Stage 2 on Friday morning. It is located just east of the Walmart.

Alamogordo High School
103 Cuba Ave
Alamogordo, NM 88310

Tomorrow will be an early morning, and a busy day in preparation for Saturday’s launches.

Good luck to all schools on your rocket tests.

Event details will continue to be available here. I will provide more information each day as to how the schedule and other event details will progress for that day and how launches went for the schools testing the previous day. Pictures are not allowed on the range, but some pictures of teams getting ready to leave for the range with their vehicles might be available. If anything is available, I will post it for your viewing pleasure.

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.

#Rockets2021 #SystemsGo #RideTheSky #Texasrockettrail #WSMRRocketLaunch2021

Goddard Level Rockets Return to The Skies Once Again in 15 Days, Rockets 2021

The Goddard level rockets, which are the capstones of the SystemsGo program and the culmination of all the skills the students learned throughout their years in the program are set to launch June 25-27. This marks the final senior project for the schools that participate in this level of the program, and the last big event of the Rockets 2021 season.

Four schools are scheduled for testing at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) . The numbers of schools able to participate in this part of the program this year are significantly down. This is again due to COVID creating learning and participation barriers for students in both the 2020 and 2021 school years. Lack of in class time made it hard for students to finish large projects like these.

Due to shutdowns for COVID last year, White Sands Missile Range is also backlogged with military contracts that take priority. They are still accommodating our group but our regular range, WC-50 is under heavy contract and will not be available. We will instead be located on a smaller range, ABC-1. This poses several new restrictions for the group.

The first of these is an even more limited number of personnel allowed on the range during set up and launches. ABC-1 is a smaller range than what the group usually uses. It is not equipped with a large bunker like WC-50. Therefore, only two SystemsGo personnel will stay on the range during each launch. ALL others will be evacuated to Tula G. There will be video and radio communications with the pad available at Tula G.

A small group of SystemsGo essential people will evacuate to a limit of 5 miles out to expedite turn around between launches.

Because of this change, no non-essential personnel should expect to attend the event. Chaperones should be limited and double as drivers if possible. Along with a smaller launch site, there will not be any public viewing for parents and students at Range Control. WSMR COVID restrictions still do not allow for visitors at Range Control.

The second big change will affect the teams and their rockets. ABC-1 is a much smaller range than is generally used for this event. Because of this, it does not meet the criteria in recovery radius needed for vehicles reaching an altitude of 100,000 feet. Schools are now required to alter their rocket altitude requirements to a lesser height of 50,000 feet. The suggested correction for this is to adapt fuel loads for each vehicle to quell the altitude it can reach.

That sounds simple but adjusting fuel load and altitude also effects things like apogee and recovery deployment just to mention. Students are reminded that adjustments to their altimeters and recovery systems to adapt to the 50,000 ‘ Apogee limit is a necessity.

Part of this program is the challenges and meeting those challenges. It is late in the process, but it will be interesting to see how each team steps up to these new challenges and overcomes them in the time they still have before arriving for launch at WSMR.

The third change is another location change, this time for the Flight Readiness Reviews (FRR). These are normally conducted on WC-50. ABC-1 cannot accommodate this, so they will be hosted by the Alamogordo High School. Currently this is projected to be in their commons room. These will begin promptly at 7:00 AM, Friday morning, June 25th. Additional information about this may be available in an update email from Program Director, Rebekah Hyatt, closer to the event.

WSMR has military testing on Friday morning. At its completion, SystemsGo personnel will go down range to ABC-1 to begin set-up for launches. If Brazoswood and Union Grove are complete at this time they will bring their vehicles and assist in set-up, rail assembly, and will load their rockets onto the rails in preparations of first launch. If not, all remaining schools will wait and come as a group later in the day.

Launches are scheduled for June 26th and June 27th. The team will travel out to WSMR on Wednesday, June 24th, and back home again on either the 27th or the 28th. Hopeful expectations are that all rockets are launch complete on Saturday. Sunday is still open for contingency. There is a probability that WSMR may shift launch days and want testing for SystemsGo to be on Friday and Saturday. If this happens the first two rockets will launch Friday afternoon. This would also move FRR checks up to Thursday afternoon at either the school or the hotel parking lot as is available.

SystemsGo asks that everyone be prepared for any scenario and arrive as early as possible on Thursday so that any changes to the schedule can be accommodated. All paperwork must be turned in on Thursday as well. This includes:

UXO briefing registry
WSMR waiver
SystemsGo waiver

There are four schools scheduled to launch four rockets. These schools in their current projected launch order include:

Brazoswood
Union Grove
Booker T Washington
Alamo Heights

This order is based on the random draw and totally contingent on rocket completion and readiness. Otherwise, they will test in order of readiness, first done, first to launch.

Good luck to these students and schools! We will be seeing you very soon in New Mexico!

#Rockets2021 #SystemsGo #RideTheSky #Texasrockettrail #Rockets2021

ROCKETS 2021, Riding the Skies of Education and Fun!

SystemsGo Rockets 2021 is already in full swing. The group met, February 5, to line out details for the upcoming spring launches. In attendance were SystemsGo team members, Rebekah Hyatt, Program Director; Scott Netherland, Executive Director; Doug Kimbrell, Board President; Tara Kitchens, Executive Assistant; with Phil Houseal, Communications Director; Kirk Moore, Regional Director for Southeast Texas; and Doug Underwood, Regional Director for North Texas joining on video. Also in attendance were volunteers, Steve Burow and Ginger Burow.

Necessities and logistics for all Texas launch locations were discussed. Venues for lodging, and all needed equipment for each launch site were decided and individuals lined out, to secure them . Travel plans were also lined out. Bear in mind that due to COVID some things will be different. The following changes and requirements will be in place for spring launches:

1. There will not be onsite concessions. We will provide boxed lunches each day and of course water and sodas throughout the day for our volunteers. Schools are responsible for their own food.

2. We are not having spectator tents to reduce the opportunity for people to congregate. We are encouraging schools to bring their own shelter and chairs. We are asking that all participants practice social distancing.

3. Wristbands are required for all. We have limited participating teams to 3 students per team. (****This is correct at time of publication but may be changing with COVID restrictions lifting in some areas.) We have closed the event to any and all spectators. We must limit and control the number of people on site so we are requiring all to wear a wristband and will be monitoring that throughout the day.

4. Face coverings are required.

5. Temp checks – we will do temp checks each day upon arrival/check in at Stage 1.

6. We recommend that all volunteers over 65 be vaccinated. This is not mandatory, just suggested.

7. All toilet facilities will have disinfectant spray. We are asking that everyone use the spray before and after use. There will also be handwashing stations available.

All schools have been notified of this change. Questions and concerns may be directed to info@systemsgo.org.

Dates for all events except White Sands Missile Range are as follows:

New Mexico (Jal) — May 11-13th
North Texas (North of Mineral Well/Jack County) — April 22-23, weather contingency day on the 24th
Central Texas (Stonewall) — April 29-May 1, weather contingency day on May 2nd
Southeast Texas (Anahuac/Smith Point) — May 6-8, weather contingency day May 9th
WSMR – TBD

Current schedules for launches show about 150 vehicles expected for launch at the spring launch sites.

Excitement is building and plans are under way. Stay tuned for more updates as events get closer. More changes may be announced as plans and arrangements are completely finalized. Rockets will #RideTheSkies in just over two weeks. Welcome back to the Texas Rocket Trail, we will see you at lift off!

Event details will continue to be available here.

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.

Hope to see you at the launches! #RideTheSkies #texasrockettrail #Rockets2021

I Miss All Things Rockets!

I miss all things Rockets!
From travel to set up,
And set up to tear down;

There is not a memory I can call up,
That would make me frown.

I miss all things Rockets!
From the first vertical rail;

The first day’s engine roar;
Watching the first rocket sail,

To anticipating more.

I miss all things Rockets!
Listening for charges to pop,
Watching them float under chute,

Dancing on ethereal winds as they drop,
And searching for them like lost pirate loot.

I miss all things Rockets!
Pictures with the teams,

As their rocket loads the rail.
Hearing students scream,

As their vehicle begins to sail.

I miss all things Rockets!
Searching for a glint of light,
A high pitched whine you might here,
Or a flash of something bright,
Letting you know it is near.

I miss all things Rockets!
From a picture perfect flight

To a ballistic drop.

From racing to grab one in plain sight,
To searching by where you heard the pop.

I miss all things Rockets!
Whether watching the students,
Or listening to Joyce and Phil,

These are quite the events;
Even after years, I am a rocket junky still.

I miss all things Rockets!
From collecting rockets whole,

To picking up pieces;

Students’ smiles light my soul,
Each year the joy increases.

I miss all things Rockets!
It’s education in motion;
Learning with style;
Using hands on application,
Propelling the future all the while.

ROCKETS 2020 is Under Way!

SystemsGo Rockets 2020 is already in full swing. The group met, this past Friday, to line out details for the upcoming spring launches. In attendance were SystemsGo team members, Rebekah Hyatt, Program Director; Scott Netherland, Executive Director; Gene Garrett, Board President; Doug Kimbrell, Board Vice President; Tara Kitchens, Executive Assistant; Phil Houseal, Communications Director; with Kirk Moore, Regional Director for Southeast Texas; and Doug Underwood, Regional Director for North Texas joining on video. Also in attendance were volunteers, George Burns, Jr., Steve Burow and Ginger Burow.

Dates for all events except White Sands Missile Range are as follows:

New Mexico (Jal) — April 21-22nd
North Texas (North of Mineral Well/Jack County) — April 24-25, weather contingency day on the 26th
Central Texas (Stonewall) — April 30-May 1 & 2, weather contingency day on May 3rd
Southeast Texas (Anahuac/Smith Point) — May 8, 9 &10, weather contingency day May 11th

A note of importance for all schools this year is this change to launch equipment. The Closed Transonic Cage launch towers used in years past have been permanently retired. All rockets will be launched off the rail launch towers. ALL rockets at ALL launch sites will need to be equipped with rail guides in order launch off these towers. Be sure all vehicles are properly equipped. All schools have been notified of this change. Questions and concerns may be directed to info@systemsgo.org.

Current schedules for launches show a total of 189 vehicles expected for launch at the spring launch sites.

Excitement is building and plans are under way. Stay tuned for more updates as events get closer. More changes may be announced as plans and arrangements are completely finalized. Rockets will #RideTheSkies in about three months and this short piece is to put it back in mind so that all will be ready.

Event details will continue to be available here.

Hope to see you at the launches! #RideTheSkies #texasrockettrail #Rockets2020

Sunday,Rockets 2019-Final Day at WSMR

Rockets 2019 at WSMR ended today much better than it began with two out of three rockets leaving the rail and achieving altitude. Fredericksburg High School, Anahuac High School, and Brazoswood High School all tested today. Brazoswood and Anahuac were each on their third attempt for the weekend.

Brazoswood was the top launch for the day and the final one ending the day on a high note. The 25’6″, 10″ diameter vehicle weighing in at 781 lbs fully fueled finally achieved lift off at 1:26 this afternoon after two prior unsuccessful attempts.

The rocket, named John Redden 1, after a senior member of the team that passed away of an aneurysm shortly before graduation, looked like fireworks at ignition as it blew Estes motors across the pad. Then it sailed skyward making a peak altitude of 12,859′ before nosing onto its side and sailing 5.1 miles down range to impact. The chute popped at impact.

The first rocket to leave the rail today was “Panther 6”. Also on it’s third run for the weekend, the rocket built by Anahuac High School students, weighed in at 350 lbs, standing 23′ tall with an 8.6″ diameter. This vehicle had a “Rasberry Pi” GPS payload that a team of brothers designed and assembled. The older brother, 2018 graduate, Caleb Moore designed and 3D printed the plate to hold the payload, and the the younger, Joshua Moore, a 5th grader, assembled the GPS and did the soldering to connect it.

Panther 6 had a valve issue on the pad again today, but finally achieved lift off at 10:59 this morning. It made 1391′ traveling .3 miles down range before impact.

Both Anahuac and Brazoswood were very excited with their accomplishments. Brazoswood had hoped to break some of the standing records for height by other SystemsGo schools. If that had happened, then student, Michael Bomar, who has a very full head of hair, and beard, had planned to allow his team mates to shave all hair from his head. Looks like he will be staying wild and woolly a while longer.

Fredericksburg’s Redbird #20 was the first test of the day, but did not leave the rail in flight. Shortly after ignition, as the vehicle began to ascend the rail, it exploded apart between the engine compartment and the main body of the rocket. The aft end stayed sitting on the load cell. The explosion blew the body to the right leaving it hanging from the rail by the top lug. It was cocked off to the side at an angle just slightly above the end of the engine section.

This presented a challenge to the SystemsGo team and students to remove it from the rail. The students are still evaluating what casused the rocket’s accident. When Mr. Matthes was asked what happened, he answered that it was no short answer but many factors that contributed and some were still being discussed.

Seven schools traveled to WSMR this year. One school returned home unable to launch leaving 6 to test. Literally half achieved flight and half did not. Regardless, congratulations is in order for all students that came and attempted to launch. You made it to the rail, something that most schools in the program have yet to achieve. Whether your vehicle left the rail or not you and your teams are ahead of your peers. You came here high school grads with a rocket, you leave here, seasoned rocket scientists!

The mission was then called complete at 1:40. Cleaning and packing up of WC50 began, as this was the official last day of testing for SystemsGo, students, and WSMR personnel.

Safe travels to all schools heading home, tomorrow. It is back to Texas for the SystemsGo team tomorrow as well. Tonight, the team enjoyed dinner, drinks, conversation and an early bed time.

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