Category: Life through Writing

Mission Complete At WSMR Today, Saturday, For Rockets 2025 Season

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!

Rockets 2025, Friday, Site Set Up Complete and Rockets on the Rail

A 6:15 a.m. call to move out for ABC-1 started the day for all SystemsGo team and schools. The mission, to accomplish all preparations for tomorrow’s launches. All personnel arrived at thegare at 6:30 a.m. and did ID checks and then waited out a mission that was in progress on the range. At 7:47 a.m we left the gate headed out the range. We arrived around 8:15 a.m. and quickly began preparations.

Randy Kuhlmann and Ginger Burow set up the electronics trailer and the fill and fire system. Steve Burow set up the pad, rails and wiring for the launch rails. Students from the teams helped erect the rails before finishing work on their vehicles.

Rebekah Hyatt and Andrew Matthes coordinated all the final checks for each of the rockets, while all the students worked through their Flight Readiness Reviews.

For the fourth year, Texas A&M college students from Hamilton, Caleb Lengefeld, Kash Kneuper, along with recent Hamilton graduates, Cate Hooper volunteered to help on range again. We also had recent grads from Fredericksburg, Gus Wagner, Jack Pedragon, Reece Harris, Wyatt Westbrook, and Will Bryla. Additionally we gained three young man from Anahuac/Hardin Jefferson’s current launch team, Ben Riddle, Christian Gillikan, and Brayden McShan.

They all helped set up the pad, the rails, and load the gas tank truck. For launches tomorrow they will again assist as needed at the pad and help Andrew with the Nitrous and Gox bottles. All have said they were really enjoying seeing the program in action and helping with it. Caleb and Kash are veterans, but all of the new crew members have jumped in fully and helped things run smoothly and quickly today. They have also expressed interest in returning in subsequent years to help.

Schools Participating were Alamo Heights, Union Grove, Anahuac/Hardin Jefferson, and Brazoswood. Alamo Heights and Union Grove were fit with charges and loaded onto the rails for launch tomorrow morning. Brazoswood will load the rail tomorrow as the third launch. They have been ready and waiting today. Unfortunately, Anahuac/Hardin Jefferson developed a leak during FRR and pressure checks today that could not be contained so that had to scrub their launch for tomorrow. They will be coming out to watch the launches from Tula G with the other schools.

A line of showers popped up just northwest of Alamogordo around 7:30 p.m. this evening and made for a nice lightening show before dissapating before reaching us here at the hotel.

Our crew stuck to our tight schedule today and our caravan of vehicles plus WSMR personnel vehicles left the test site by 3:30 headed in for the evening. Food and showers were top priorities upon returning to the hotels.We all headed to Applebee’s for dinner at 6:00 and were there until almost 8:00. Steve and I went to Walmart again after dinner for a few more provisions.

Launch order for Saturday is as follows:

  • Union Grove
  • Alamo Heights
  • Brazoswood

Saturday’s schedule is the following:

  • Saturday, June 25th
    1. Launch Day – All three Rockets
    2. Depart for WSMR by 5:00 a.m. for 5:30 a.m. arrival at the Tula Gate and 6:30 a.m. on site.
    3. Projected launch schedule:
      • T1 8:00 am. -Union Grove
      • T2 10:00 am. – Alamo Heights
      • T3 1:00 pm. -Brazoswood
  • 4:00 pm. – Range Time Ends

SystemsGo now has two launch rails and both will be in operation tomorrow. A rocket will be loaded onto each rail and then tested in sequence with only time out for safety. The launch team will be required to evacuate during each launch; and then return to swap out gas and electrical connections between the rails.

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.

After the first two launches, WSMR personnel will attempt to locate and retrieve the rockets for the students while the other rocket is loaded onto the rails. Mission complete will be at 4:00 pm. and all personnel must leave the range. If all three launch on time then everyone will be asked to help tear down and pack up equipment before leaving.

WSMR personnell have a Military Ball tomorrow evening so all missions must be complete early so that they can attend.

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.

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

Event details will continue to be available here. I will provide information each day as to how the schedule and other event details went for that day and how launches transpired. Pictures are not allowed on the range, so very few will be available. If anything is available I will post it for your viewing pleasure. Tomorrow should wrap up our launches for t his year.

If we are lucky and things go perfect and we leave the range early their may be dune sledding in tomorrow evening’s future. And Sunday we will all be heading home.

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 #SystemsGo #RideTheSky #Texasrockettrail #WSMRRocketLaunch2025 #EyesOnThe Sky #EyesToTheSkies

2025 SystemsGo Rocket Launch Event Preparations for White Sands Missile Range – Thursday

The SystemsGo team left Fredericksburg in two shifts, one at 7:00 a.m. and the second at 8:45 a.m. this morning headed to Alamogordo, New Merxico for lodging for White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) rocket launches. Schools from Union Grove, Alamo Heights, Brazoswood, and Anahuac/Hardin Jefferson also traveled to Alamogordo today to meet and begin preparations for launches this Saturday

The early crew, Rebekah Hyatt and George Burns set up in the parking lot of the Quality Inn and Suites to preform pressure and FRR checks for Union Grove and Anahuac Thursday afternoon .

Alamo Heights did their pressure test and FRR on Wednesday, but the pressure test will be redone at WSMR for safety. All schools will repeat these checks and tests on site tomorrow to ensure nothing has rattled lose in transit.

Steve, Ginger, Caleb, Cash and two new Hamilton recruits, Tyler and Cate, arrived in Alamogordo at 5:40 p.m. Andrew Matthis followed us in and brought four Fredericksburg recruits, Gus, Jack, Reece, and Will.

As soon as we arrived everyone settled into their rooms, we all took off on foot to Chili’s for dinner. There was good food, visiting and comraderie to start the weekend. After dinner Steve and Ginger took the van to Wal-Mart for provisions for on the range the next two days.

Portable restrooms are available at the site. Limited electricity is available. Each school is responsible for acquiring food and drinks for their group for all meals and snacks each day.

All documentation was completed online this year and/or turned in to Rebekah Hyatt. However having your hard copies with you is requested.

  • UXO, Wildlife, and Driving in WSMR briefing registry
  • WSMR waiver
  • SystemsGo waiver
  • Medical Release Forms

Be prepared to show ID’s at the security check at the gate in the morning.

There are four schools scheduled to launch four rockets. These include:

  • Union Gove
  • Brazoswood
  • Anahuac/Hardin Jefferson
  • Alamo Heights

The current launch schedule is as follows:

  • Friday, June 13th
    1. Depart for site from hotel by 6:10 a.m.
    2. Meet at Tula Gate for Security Checks at 6:45 a.m.
    3. Alamo Heights, Union Grove and Anahuac will be in our caravan from the hotel. Brazoswood will meet us enroute to the Tula Gate.
    4. Travel to ABC-1 at 7:00-7:20 a.m.
    5. Site Set up at ABC-1 upon arrival.
    6. Complete all rocket checks.
    7. 4:00 p.m. Leave the site with Union Grove and Brazoswood on the rails and Alamo Heights and Anahuac completed and ready to load the rail.
  • Saturday, June 14th
  • Launch Day – Four Rockets
  • Depart from Hotel by 4:50 a.m. for 5:30 a.m. arrival at Tula Gate for Security checks.
  • Depart Gate to ABC-1 6:00 a.m.
  • Projected launch schedule:
    • T1 8:00 a.m. – Union Grove
    • T2 10:00 a.m. – Brazoswood
    • T3 1:00 p.m – Anahuac/Hardin Jefferson
    • T4 3:00 p.m. – Alamo Heights
    • All rockets launched by 3:00 p.m.
    • Break for Lunch as each team has time.
    • Pack up site.
    • Range Time Ends – 4:00 p.m.
  • Sunday, June 25th
  • Travel Day/Contingency Day/Cleanup/Fun Day (To be determined.)
  • Monday, June 26th
  • Travel Day only if needed. Hopefully we are already home Mission Complete.

The Goddard level rockets, which are the capstones of the SystemsGo program and the culmination of all the skills the students have learned throughout their years in the STEM program. This marks the final senior project for the schools that participate in for the SystemsGo program.

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 benefited.

#Rockets2025 #SystemsGo #Launcher01 #RideTheSky #Texasrockettrail #EyesOnTheSky #TexasToNewMexicoRocketTrail #RideTheSky2025 #EyeToTheSkies

SystemsGo Rockets 2025 at White Sands Missile Range This Weekend

White Sands Missile Range is once again hosting the SystemsGo Rocket Program for its season end launches. This year four schools will be traveling to New Mexico to test their rockets at White Sands Missile Range, they include:

Alamo Heights HS

Brazoswood HS

Union Grove HS

Anahuac/Hardin Jefferson HS

June 13th through June 15th are the dates for this year’s WSMR launch.  The SystemsGo team and schools will be traveling to Alamogordo, New Mexico for lodging on June 12th. Early on the 13th, preparations at the site will be made with the goal of launching all four rockets Saturday.  The 15th, Sunday, is our contingency day, but the hope is that it will not be needed. Sunday is Father’s Day and WSMR personnel would prefer not to work and we would love to be on the road home.

ABC1 is our scheduled range again this year. ABC-1 does not have a large bunker, so only essential launch personnel stay on site, and the SG staff evacuate out five miles for launches. Students and teachers are taken to a secure location known as Tula G, which is further down range where they watch the launches on screen inside a designated facility. Due to this no extra personnel are permitted to attend these launches. All those in attendance please remember to have your state issued ID on your person at all times. WSMR will be checking them.

There will be tents on the range, the same as last year. Rockets need to be complete by the end of the day on Friday. FRR will be conducted on the 11th an 12th. Pressure checks will be retested on site the 13th to be sure the trip out to range has not compromised anything.

At this time I do not have exact information on schedules on range for Friday or Saturday. Hopefully I will be able to provide that in Thursday’s update edition.

If Mission is Complete on Saturday evening, then evening activities may include some White Sands National Park dune sledding.

SystemsGo team members will be residing at the Quality Inn and Suites in Alamogordo this year.

The Goddard level rockets, which are the capstones of the SystemsGo program and the culmination of all the skills the students have learned throughout their years in the STEM program. This marks the final senior project for the schools that participate in for the SystemsGo program.

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 benefited.

#Rockets2025 #SystemsGo #Launcher01 #RideTheSky #Texasrockettrail #EyesOnTheSkies #TexasToNewMexicoRocketTrail #RideTheSky2025

April 25, 2025, Rockets 2025 North Texas/Jacksboro Friday’s Final Launch Day Update

Friday, Day 2, the final day for North Texas Rockets 2025 launch series was mission complete by  this evening,  with all rockets launched by 6:57p.m. Twenty rockets from five different schools left the rails today. These schools included University HS, RL Turner HS, BCTAL, Buinger HS and one hold over from yesterday, from Hollenstein HS.

Weather for Friday was good with only partly cloudy for most of the day, but with a high ceiling. A threat of severe storms loomed in the area through the day, but never developed near the range.  

First launches blasted off shortly at 10:53 a.m. this morning.  After the first volley of three, the pad kept the rockets flying in a fairly continuous  set each time the rails were full .

Out of 20 rockets launched, only 6  were not recovered. Some flights were beautiful, and opened and came down under chute. Others went up and spiraled before blowing apart and landing scattered over the range. This made it a bit challenging for recovery teams to locate, but they did an amazing job. 

After Mission Complete the Team left the site to go find a decent dinner tonight at JR’s Chop House B & B  and the Butterfield Inn to crash for the night. Except me, I did not crash yet. I am still writing this article and will still post pictures to Facebook when I am done with this.

In the morning the crew will meat for breakfast at 7:00amat the Village Kitchen and then head back to the ranch to tear down the whole site and pack it away in the  cargo trailer for NTX until next year. After that we will all head home to prepare for the next sequence at the Central Texas/Stonewall launches this coming week,  May 1st through the 3rd. A contingency day is built into Sunday, May 4th if needed.

It has been a really long day, and traveling makes me tired so I best get my pictures posted so that I can get some much needed sleep as I am fighting staying awake to write this tonight. The rest of the SystemsGo team is alreay fast asleep. It is well deserved. They all worked really hard to make this a great event for the students and they will do it again soon, twice more.

Please also forgive me if there are any errors or editing faux pas in this article tonight. I have no one to preread or edit and my internal editor keeps falling asleep at the key board! I might have to fire her, or at the very least send her to bed soon!

Pictures are from today 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

North Texas was the second launch in the 2025 series, and is followed by launches in Central Texas/Stonewall and Southeast Texas/Smith Point. 

The launch dates, locations, and schools are always listed for your convenience at http://www.systemsgo.org/events/ .

A live feed for each launch will be provided and will be available at www.systemsgo.org as each launch date arrives.

More event details will be available here in upcoming days as events get closer. Daily reports featuring schedule links, school names, results, pictures and some editorial content will be posted during the events if information is available.

Please watch the SystemsGo website, SystemsGo Facebook page,  SystemsGo Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/SystemsGoNews and this blog for upcoming information on theses 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.

Hope to see you at the launches!

#RidetheSkies, #EyesontheSkies #ItisRocketscience #SystemsGoRocketTrail #TexasRocketTrail#Rockets2025 #EyesToTheSkies

 

 

ROCKETS 2025 Season, Spring Launch Sequence Begins Today!!!!!

SystemsGo Rockets 2025 launch sequence begins with T-0 set for early today, Wednesday morning in Jal, New Mexico. After launches on Wednesday and Thursday in Jal, action will transition to the second venue in Jacksboro, TX for the Northeast Texas Launches on Thursday and Friday.  Central Texas Launches are third on the docket and will open in Stonewall the first week in May on Thursday through Saturday, and Smith Point will host the Southeast Texas Launches on Friday and  Saturday of the second week in May, concluding the 2025 Spring Launch series.

Necessities and logistics for all  Texas and New Mexico launch venues have been established. Travel  and accommodation plans are also lined out, and the Team is ready.

Things that will be available onsite this year:

  1. Concessions will be available onsite at each location  (menus may be limited.)
  2. We encourage bringing your own 10×10 pop up for extra shelter from weather be it sun or rain.
  3. Hand washing stations and portable restrooms.
  4. A Livestream link from all Texas launches. Available online at https://www.systemsgo.org/events/ The correct link will be listed under each venue information section.
  5. A Google map link directing you to the launch site and the individual Stages is available at https://www.systemsgo.org/events/

Here are a couple of things that SystemsGo requires for your attendance at our spring launches:

  1. Any member of the public wishing to attend a launch is required to register online and agree to SystemsGo Terms and Conditions 2025 waiver acknowledging that you are entering a test site on an unimproved ranchland, launching area with student designed and built, previously untested, experimental rockets.  There is no charge, but proof of registration is required before entering the site.
  2. The QR code for registration can be found https://www.systemsgo.org/events/ .

Questions and concerns may be directed to info@systemsgo.org.

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

  • Jal, New Mexico  — April 23-24
    • Phillips Hill Rd & County Rd 10, Jal NM 88252
  • North Texas/Jack County — April 24-25,  weather contingency day on the 26th
    • FM 2210 W and Gowan Ranch Lane, Jacksboro, TX 76458
  • Central Texas/Stonewall — May 1-3,  weather contingency day on May 4th
    • 2187 Double Horn Road, Stonewall, Texas 78671
  • Southeast Texas/Smith Point — May 9-10,  weather contingency day May 12th
    • 19350 FM 562, Anahuac, TX 77514
  • WSMR – Late June, final dates TBD

Twelve schools will launch in Jal, and a total of 34 schools in the three Texas launches, which brings the grand total of schools to 46. A total of 161  rockets will be tested between the Texas and New Mexico launches for this 2025 Rocket season.

The sites will be open for admittance to the general public at 8:00 a.m. and launches will commence as soon as the first rockets complete all Stages and are cleared for launch.  Rockets are subject to winds, weather and workmanship, all of which can stall a launch. Come join in the action and cheer on these students. Admission is free, but the look on your students’ faces when their vehicle goes up and then is recovered, is far from priceless.

Stage 1 and Stage 2 check stations will start admitting students and teachers at 6:00 a.m.

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 under two weeks.  Welcome back to the SystemsGo 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 supremely enhanced.

Hope to see you at the launches!

#EYESTOTHESKY!! #RideTheSkies #texasrockettrail #Rockets2025 #SystemsGoRoocketTrail #TXNMRockets2025 #EyesToTheSky!!

 

Who Are You Today?

Who Are You Today?

Who are you today?
Is the person I know there?
Or have you gone away?

Right know you still know my name,
But whether you love me or have me
Depends on whether I play along with your mental games!

They say I should not argue or disagree,
And never contradict,
But the mean things you say I know cannot be.

You are living in delusions and bad dreams,
And you believe all you see there,
Even at the expense of tearing your family apart it seems.

You claim things are stolen, carried away,
And even when for you we find them;
You cannot possibly be wrong so, “that is not them,” you say!

Some things you even tell us where to look,
And when we bring them to you,
You are surprised and shook.

Some days you are almost you.
Other days you are angry and mean.
Your character changes by whose talking with you.

You scream, yell, beat your fists,
Play the victim, the martyr, the guilt and pity cards.
Your words and personality are a constant twist.

You’ve become so ugly and mean,
Your loved ones cringe at your name on their phone,
Because of the stress the conversation will glean.

We try to help you any way that we can,
But the more we do,
The more the flames of your delusions fan.

We watch as you steadily decline,
In both body and mind,
Knowing the help, you need you will never agree to find.

I see only glimpses of the person I once knew.
If you could truly see and hear yourself,
You would know this is not you!

You used to worry so much about what people would think.
Now the things you say and do,
Would have made the real you, in shame shrink!

You talk about and try to end your life.
You say you wish you have never married, never had kids.
Your words drip with hate and we do our best to take it in strife.

Who are you today?
Will you talk to me, love me, hug me,
Or bang your fists, scream, cry and send me away?

Who are you today?
Will I know you at all except by your face?
And will your words be more things I wish you wouldn’t say?

Who are you today?
Will we get a tiny glimpse at least for a moment,
Of our loved one today?

Who are you today?
We beg you to get help before it’s too late.
And this person stays, and the real you goes completely away.

Who are you today?
We know it will happen eventually,
But if you just let us get you help, it wouldn’t have to be today.

Ginger Burow
11/14/24

Alzheimer’s and Dementia are rude and cruel diseases, not only to the individual that has it, but also to everyone they love and that loves them. It turns them into people they would never aspire to be, causing them to act in ways that would mortify them if they were in their right minds.

As a family member it calls into question everything you thought you knew about them and yourself. You constantly have to remind yourself, they don’t know what they are doing or saying. But just like what they are doing and saying they believe is real when it isn’t, it is also very real to you that they are treating you this way and talking to you in this manner, and accusing your of atrocious things. It is very hard to accept that the person that is supposed to love you, can be the meanest, ugliest person to you. That they can speak to you with a voice dripping with disdain, venom and hate all because you didn’t agree with something they said. They can be so angry an unbelieving that they need medical help, that they hate you, wish you were never born, want to kill themselves, and sometimes you.

Your soul aches and pities them wanting to help, but they refuse. Your mind and heart reel from their words, actions and voice unable to believe that they really don’t know what they are doing and saying, but knowing there is no other answer, because the real person would be distraught if they could really see their own behavior.

Love is the answer, and you try to keep that going and in mind, but some days it is very hard to remember this person loved you. Try your best to remember who they were instead of who they are now. Take a moment alone to cry when you need to, and realize you may need it more than you allow. That is where distance has become a friend. Just for a few days when things are super ugly you minimize contact just until the current rage calms a bit. Then you get a few days of someone close to who they should be. Oh for those few days!

Faith and God are the strongholds, along with family. Staying strong as a family even though this loved one may be trying desperately to tear you apart in order to bolster their delusional beliefs is a major key. Support one another and your dementia patient as best as you can. You will need each other as this progresses. Sometimes sharing your experiences about the situation is the best way to release stress and gain a hold in the moment.

Pray without ceasing. Pray for comfort, strength, peace and love. But above all pray for help through God’s wisdom as to how to proceed and confront each situation as it comes. Pray for the Holy Spirit to intercede on your behalf, guiding your thoughts, words and deeds while working with this person and your involved family. Pray for peace and joy in each day amidst the storms and the power to recognize the blessings that are still there.

Lastly, take a walk. Look to God’s glorious and beautiful world to show you there is still wonder and beauty to be had. Then fill your soul with it every chance you get, especially in between the gathering storms, so that His inner peace might lead you. This is appropriate for all life’s trials.


Three Schools Tested At WSMR Saturday After Which The SystemsGo Rockets 2024 Season Called Mission Complete

Alamo Heights, Brazoswood and Union Grove tested rockets at White Sands Missile Range today.  WSMR had SystemsGo on a tight schedule this year. Concerns that in upcoming years when more schools join the program, time may become even more of a factor for the range, so they tested SystemsGo out on a very vigorous schedule. 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 7:00 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 6:05.

Alamo Heights was fueled and ready for launch at 7:30. The rail and fuel teams evac’d 5 miles out on the range to watch the launch from the road. Rebekah 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.

Alamo Height’s rocket left the rail at 8:00a.m. right on schedule to start the day. It traveled an estimated few thousand feet up, then rolled over and returned to the range. WSMR had eyes on it immediately and went to recover. It was fully recovered. It had separated into nosecone, body and engine case, but it was mostly intact with only real damage where the engine casing had separated from the body.

The only picture after recovery I could get is the one shown below of Alamo’s burnt weld cap.

resized_resized_20240615_145650-1

Union Grove was on the second rail. It was fueled and ready by 8:50 a.m. The same evac process for the Team was followed and ignition was at exactly 9:00 a.m. which was aslo on schedule. Unfortunately, it ended in a hang fire. When we could return to the pad, it appeared that the ignition had burned through the injection wire and hoses, inspite of the kevlar braided sleave on the injection wire. Ice was still melting off the tank from residual nitrous. The rail was lowered and the rocket left in place to cool.

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 11:00 a.m. T-time for this vehicle to test. We were alotted a 2 hour window for this one since the rocket had to be brought up and loaded on the rail and all systems reconnected.

At 10:45 Brazoswood fueling was halted. Their vent was not working properly and therefore it resisted not further fueling. It was decided to launch with what we could had loaded. At 11:00 a.m. Brazoswood lifted off  the rail, banked a hard left and nosed dived into the range about 200 yards behind the pad. WSMR was also able to recover most of the vehicle. Later is was determined that the cameras were no longer on baord. Team members were allowed to follow WSMR personnel to the site to look for them but they were not found.

Brazoswood sent these after photos of the students trying to diagnose their rocket’s launch issues post recovery:

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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 stopped for lunch at this time, and were back on the pad tearing down by 11:48 a.m. We had the entire site packed up by 1:30 p.m.

Rebekah did a presentation to the Union Grove team for their Oberth rocket during the spring season. They had made 1.05 Mach and fully recovered the vehicle intact under chute. Next she thanked Collin Lange, of Alamo Heights and Greg Park, of Union Grove for all their dedicated years of teaching the program. Both are retiring and this is their final launch as their program’s teachers. Last but never least she thanked all the WSMR personnel for all their hard work and support again this year and gave them caps, shirts and space pens.

When presentations were complete, all the teams 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 2:03 p.m. We met the perameters WSMR set this year and all parties were satisfied.

On our journey back to the hotel we took a few small excursions. First we stoopped at Pistachio Land, home of the world’s largest pistachio, and shopped for a bit. Next we went to Caliche’s Frozen Custard and got ice creams for the whole team. When we finished there we took a driving toor back behind the park and by the old saw mill because Rebekah had spied a rocket from the highway. After an interesting tour around the sawmill on an old dirt road, we found the stortage yard for The Museum of Space History where we did indeed find several old rocket relics. If you follow me for the small rockets you know I have a Facebook page where I generally post pictures. I will post the link here and you can see what we found if you would like to see them:

https://www.facebook.com/ginger.burow

The SystemsGo team capped off the evening with dinner at Johnny Crinos’s Italian Restaurant and then called it a day.

 One quick side note, we did see one Oryx this year on our way in to the range this morning. He stood there watching us posing as he knew we couldn’t even take his picture.

Tomorrow will be a good breakfast at 6:00 a.m. and then on the road back to Texas!

WSMR concludes another successful year of launches that begain with Jal, NM, Jacksoboro, Anahuac/Smith Point , and Willow City. The group helped test 169 Tchaikovsky and Oberth rockets and 3 Goddard level rockets for the Rockets 2024 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 2025. 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 On 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.

#Rockets2024 #TexasRocketTrail #EyesonTheSkies #Ridetheskies #ItisRocketScience

Rockets 2024, Friday, Site Set Up Complete and Rockets on the Rail

A 5:00 a.m. call to move out for ABC-1 started the day for all SystemsGo team and schools. The mission, to accomplish all preparations for tomorrow’s launches. All personnel arrived at the site at 6:30 am and quickly began preparations.

George Burns and Ginger Burow set up the electronics trailer and the fill and fire system. Steve Burow set up the pad, rails and wiring for the launch rails. Students from the teams helped erect the rails before finishing work on their vehicles.

Rebekah Hyatt and Andrew Matthes coordinated all the final checks for each of the rockets, while Brazoswood students worked through their Flight Readiness Reviews. WSMR range personnel assisted the team.

For the third year, the now Texas A&M college students, Caleb Lengefeld, Kash Kneuper, and Taylor Long, volunteered to help on range again. They helped set up the pad, the rails, and load the gas tank truck. For launches tomorrow they will again assist as needed at the pad and help Andrew with the Nitrous and Gox bottles. All three said they were still really enjoying seeing the program in action, helping with it.

Schools Participating are Alamo Heights, Union Grove, and Brazoswood. Alamo Heights and Braopswood were fit with charges and loaded onto the rails for launch tomorrow morning. Union Grove will load the rail tomorrow as the third launch. They have been ready and waiting today.

Pop up showers passed over the site throughout the day, occasionally dropping just enough rain to settle the dust and keep the temps in the 80’s instead of yesterday’s 100+ degrees. Steve had complained about how bad the dust was driving in. We could not even see the cars in front and behind us. He was going to ask Dante if he could get the road watered down before tomorrow. Well Dante didn’t but the skies above complied for him.

Some minor mishaps slowed what would have otherwise been a great timeline for the day. The bolts were accidentally switched on the rails which slowed the progress of construction but it was something managable. The we had no power to the launch system. After searching out most of the system’s wiring we discovered it was just a lose main connector. The unfortunate part was that it literally took hours to diagnose and test. The wood bolts for the gas truck rack were also missing, but they were able to find some other hardware to use to get it mounted.

Inspite of the challenges, our caravan of vehicles plus WSMR personnel vehicles left the test site by 4:00 headed in for the evening. Food and showers were top priorities upon returning to the hotels.We all headed to Chilli’s for dinner at 6:00 and were there until almost 8:00. A few SystemsGo personnel went to Walmart again after dinner for a few more provisions.

Launch order for Saturday is as follows:

  • Alamo Heights
  • Brazoswood
  • Union Grove

Saturday’s schedule is the following:

  • Saturday, June 25th
    1. Launch Day – All three Rockets
    2. Depart for WSMR by 5:00 a.m. for 6:30 a.m. arrival on site.
    3. Projected launch schedule:
      • T1 8:00 am. -Alamo Heights
      • T2 10:00 am. – Brazoswood
      • T3 12:00 pm. -Union Grove
  • 4:00 pm. – Range Time Ends

SystemsGo now has two launch rails and both will be in operation tomorrow. A rocket will be loaded onto each rail and then tested in sequence with only time out for safety. The launch team will be required to evacuate during each launch; and then return to swap out gas and electrical connections between the rails.

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.

After the first two launches, WSMR personnel will attempt to locate and retrieve the rockets for the students while the other rocket is loaded onto the rails. Mission complete will be at 4:00 pm. and all personnel must leave the range. If all three launch on time then everyone will be asked to help tear down and pack up equipment before leaving.

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.

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

#Rockets2024 #SystemsGo #RideTheSky #Texasrockettrail #WSMRRocketLaunch2024 #EyesOnThe Sky

2024 SystemsGo Rocket Launch Event Preparations for White Sands Missile Range

The SystemsGo team left Fredericksburg in two shifts, one at 5:30 a.m. and the second at 9:15 a.m. this morning headed to Alamogordo,, New Merxico for lodging for White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) rocket launches. Schools from Union Grove, Alamo Heights and Brazoswood also traveled to Alamogordo today to meet and begin preparations for launches this Saturday

The early crew, Rebekah Hyatt, George Burns and Andrew Matthes, set up in the parking lot of the Quality Inn and Suites to preform pressure and FRR checks for Union Grove Thursday afternoon .

Alamo Heights did their pressure test and FRR on Wednesday, but the pressure test will be redone at WSMR for safety.

Steve, Ginger, Caleb and Cash arrived in Alamogordo at 6:00 p.m. Taylor drove in to New Mexico from California, arriving in Alamogordo slightly before us. We all reported driving through pretty serious dust storms on the way here.

As soon as we arrived everyone piled in the van and the SystemsGo team went to La Hacienda for dinner. The tea was good, the service was excellent, as was the salsa. The food was ok. Unfortunately our favorite Mexican place, Margos has permanently closed down, and C J’s Si Senore was packed and close to closing. After dinner our van load went to Wal-Mart for provisions for on the range the next two days.

Portable restrooms are available at the site. Limited electricity is available. Each school is responsible for acquiring food and drinks for their group for all meals and snacks each day. WSMR is not supplying any food this year.

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

  • UXO, Wildlife, and Driving in WSMR briefing registry
  • WSMR waiver
  • SystemsGo waiver
  • Medical Release Forms

Be prepared to show ID’s at the security check at the gate in the morning.

There are three schools scheduled to launch three rockets. These include:

  • Alamo Heights
  • Brazoswood
  • Union Grove

The current launch schedule is as follows:

  • Friday, June 14th
    1. Depart for site from hotel by 5:00 a.m.
    2. Meet at Tula Gate for Security Checks at 5:45 a.m.
    3. Alamo Heights and Union Grove will be in our caravan from the hotel. Brazoswood will meet us enroute to the Tula Gate.
    4. Travel to ABC-1 at 6:00 a.m.
    5. Site Set up at ABC-1 upon arrival.
    6. Complete all rockets.
    7. 4:00 p.m. Leave the site with Alamo Heights and Brazoswood on the rails and Union Grove completed and ready to load the rail.
  • Saturday, June 15th
  • Launch Day – Three Rockets
  • Depart from Hotel by 5:00 a.m. for 5:45 a.m. arrival at Tula Gate for Security checks.
  • Depart Gate to ABC-1 6:00 a.m.
  • Projected launch schedule:
    • T1 8:00 a.m. – Alamo Heights
    • T2 9:00 a.m. – Brazoswood
    • T3 11:00 a.m – Union Grove
    • All rockets launched by 2:00 p.m.
    • Break for Lunch as each team has time.
    • Pack up site.
    • Range Time Ends – 4:00 p.m.
  • Sunday, June 25th
  • Travel Day/Contingency Day/Cleanup/Fun Day (To be determined.)
  • Monday, June 26th
  • Travel Day only if needed. Hopefully we are already home Mission Complete.

The Goddard level rockets, which are the capstones of the SystemsGo program and the culmination of all the skills the students have learned throughout their years in the STEM program. This marks the final senior project for the schools that participate in for the SystemsGo program.

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 benefited.

#Rockets2024 #SystemsGo #Launcher01 #RideTheSky #Texasrockettrail #EyesOnTheSky #TexasToNewMexicoRocketTrail #RideTheSky2024