Category: Summer

Rockets 2026, Thursday, Site Set Up

The SystemsGo team, or the four of us that got up in time, went to Denny’s for a very quick breakfast this morning. At first we weren’t sure we would get served in time, but the staff and cook worked swiftly to accomodate our schedule and we were out the door and in our cars ready to roll.

At 0530 the group headed to the Tula gate for security and ID checks, and then on to ABC-1 as we enjoyed a phenominal mountain sunrise full of color. Today’s mission, accomplish all preparations for tomorrow’s launches. All personnel arrived at the site at 0648 where we quickly began preparations for launches and final FRR checks. We had until 1630 to accomplish as much of the setup as possible. And the pad crew rocked. We had both rails up, test and rockets loaded by that time.

Ginger Burow set up the electronics trailer and the fill and fire system. It was all ready for testing by 1130. George handled the end at the “bell”. Later he went through the testing phase of the electronics for both rails, again handling the end at the bell while Cate and I did testing of equipment and wires at the launch trailers. We only had one minor snag with a bad injection wire which we built a new one and corrected the issue.

After George, Cate and I completed the testing we built load cells for the schools so they would be ready for launches tomorrow. Cate really enjoyed this part. She works on the electronics and wiring on her rocket at Hamilton and finds it interesting.

Steve Burow set up the pad, constructed the rails and helped hook up the “gas” truck. Students from the teams helped erect the rails and roll out the cables before finishing work on their vehicles.

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

For the fifth year, now college student from Hamilton, Kash Kneuper, returned along with second year Hamilton high school student returnee, Cate Hooper to volunteer on range again.

Schools Participating this year are Alamo Heights, Union Grove, Anahuac/Hardin Jefferson,Fredericksburg and Brazoswood.

Anahuac/Hardin Jefferson and Union Grove were to slated to be our first two launches tomorrow morning, but both have been fightinog pressure leaks. This lead to them having to shift further down the launch sequence. And unfortunately, by the end of the day, Union Grove after failing their pressure tests multiple times, decided to abort their launch. They will be going to Cloudcroft for cooler temperatures abd some sight seeing.

Anahuac/Hardin Jefferson is still working on theirs. They have a leak in a connector between a valve and the injections system, similarly to what they had on last year’s rocket. Hopefully they will be able to come to a solution for it this year.

Due to Union Grove aborting and Anahuac not being complete yet, the schedule shifted and Alamo Heights and Brazoswood’s 2026 rockets were loaded on the rail this evening and will be tomorrow’s first and second launches respectively.

Heat was a big factor on the range today. Our vehicle registered 116 and one of the WSMR guys pointed a temp reader at the ground and it read 140 degrees. This explains how no amount of water seemed to quench the dry in your throat. By the end of the day, we were all beat and ready for AC, food and cold beverages.

After the rockets were loaded on the rails we all went up top and Rebekah awarded R L Turner student, Anish Vishwamitra, a volunteer on the range this year, the Brett Williams Scholarsip for $3000. I believe the young man was quite surprised and pleased.

Our crew stuck to our tight schedule today and our caravan of vehicles plus WSMR personnel vehicles left the test site by 1700 headed in for the evening. Food and showers were top priorities upon returning to the hotels. They all headed to ApplebeeChili’s for dinner at 0645ish and were there until almost 8:00.

Steve and I were both very tired. He went to town to get gas, ice and some parts for out on the pad. I showered and started working on this article. I had a blaring head ache and wasn’t up to walking to Chili’s so George brought food back for me. Steve went to Poppeye’s and got him some food.

All in all it was a great day on the range today, and everything went quite well for SystemsGo. Setup was accomplished in a very timely manner and although it was not the original two rockets, there were still two loaded on the rails ready for tomorrow’s launches.

Launch order for this weekend’s launches has become fluid since several were not ready. At this point it will be whomever is ready next.

Friday’s and Saturday’s schedule is listed below:

  • Friday, June 12th
  • 1st Launch Day Two Rockets
  • 0500 Depart from Hotel
  • 0530 arrival at Tula Gate for Security checks/Proceed to ABC-1
  • 0600 SystemsGo Set ups at ABC-1/FRRs.
  • 0800 Rocket T #1 – Alamo Heights
  • 0900 Load Rocket #3 onto launch rail
  • 1000 Rocket T #2 – Brazoswood 2026
  • 1100 Rocket T #3 – ??????
  • 1500 Load rockets #4 and #5 on rails ( and Brazoswood)
  • 1600 Complete All

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 0800 Saturday morning. All SystemsGo personnel and schools will be headed out to the range at 0500.

After these three launches, WSMR personnel will attempt to locate and retrieve the rockets for the students while the next two rockets are loaded onto the rails, ready for Saturday’s launch schedule. Mission complete will be at 1600 tomorrow and all personnel must leave the range.

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.

#Rockets2026 #SystemsGo #RideTheSky #Texasrockettrail #WSMRRocketLaunch2026 #EyesOnTheSky #EyesToTheSkies #ItIsRocketScience

2026 SystemsGo Rocket Launch Travel to White Sands Missile Range – Wednesday

The SystemsGo team left Fredericksburg in two shifts, one at 0730 and the second at 0850 this morning headed to Alamogordo, New Merxico where we lodge for White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) rocket launches. Schools from Union Grove, Alamo Heights, Brazoswood, Fredericksburg and Anahuac/Hardin Jefferson also traveled to Alamogordo today to meet and begin preparations for launches this Friday and Saturday.

The early crew, Rebekah Hyatt and George Burns set up in the parking lot of the Sure Stay Plus Best Western to preform pressure and FRR checks for Union Grove Wednesday afternoon.

All schools will repeat these checks and tests on site tomorrow to ensure nothing has rattled lose in transit.

Steve, Ginger, Cash, and Cate, arrived in Alamogordo at 2015. Arriving at Applebees just in time for dinner as Rebekaha and George were headed back to the hotel to check on Union Grove’s progress, and then head to Walmart for provisions for the SystemsGo team for the next few days on range.

And yes, you read that right. We left at 0815 this morning and arrived at 2015 this evening. We had a great rental van from Herc this year. It looked like a wine tour van, so we felt right at home. The first part of the trip went well, but at the first fill up in Fort Stockton, we noticed that the van was getting hot as we traveled. Steve bought anti-freeze and topped off the reservoir hoping this would fix the problem. He also noticed that the cap for the reservoir was broken and not sealing well. We got back on the road and along the way noticed it was getting hot again and that the AC wasn’t responding well either. We made it to Fabens and pulled over to fill the tank and check on the reservoir. Steve refused to turn it off as he was afraid it would not start again. Unfortunately that didn’t work. He topped the tank and pulled to the side to top the reservoir, which he filled but they couldn’t get the vehicle to cool down and then it stopped running all together. And the full reservoir quickly emptied itself.

At this point we called Rebekah and George for help and Herc was dispatched to us with a four door pickup truck, and a 3″ hitch recepticle and we had a 2″ hitch. The pin for the hitch also didn’t fit, and we discovered that the trailer plug had come out and the plug pulled off and was lost. Now after waiting in the heat at the little Speedway station where we broke down for two hours before getting a replacement vehicle, we waited a little while longer while Steve took the pickup to O’Reiley’s for the parts to get us on the road again.

The pickup ran well and the AC worked well too, as long as the truck kept running. When we stopped in line at the border check station we had to roll the windows down to get a breeze as the AC stopped blowing cold when we were not in motion, and the smell of cigarettes and dogs was stifling. To say the least it was a long eventful day. But we made it. We were all glad to see Alamogordo, New Mexico.

We heard when we got here that the Anahuac group had a flat tire on the way, so it must have just been the day for traveling mayhem. We all arrived in one piece and unscathed so for that we can all count our blessings.

Andrew Matthis brought the Fredericksburg rocket class this year with a rocket to launch so they traveled in FISD vehicles.

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 or here at the hotel and 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 five schools scheduled to launch six rockets. These include:

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

The current launch schedule is as follows:

  • Thursday, June 11th
  • 0530 Depart from hotel.
  • 0600 Meet at Tula Gate for Security Checks/proceed to ABC-1 for SystemsGo set ups.
    • Alamo Heights, Union Grove, Fredericksburg and Anahuac will be in our caravan from the hotel. Brazoswood will meet us enroute to the Tula Gate.
  • 0700 SystemsGo Set ups at ABC-1/FRRs.
  • 1500 Load rocker #1 and #2 on launch rails (Anahuac/Hardin Jefferson and Union Grove.)
  • 1630 Complete All.
  • Friday, June 12th
  • 1st Launch Day Two Rockets
  • 0500 Depart from Hotel
  • 0530 arrival at Tula Gate for Security checks/Proceed to ABC-1
  • 0600 SystemsGo Set ups at ABC-1/FRRs.
  • 0800 Rocket T #1 – Anahuac/Hardin Jefferson
  • 0900 Load Rocket #3 onto launch rail
  • 1000 Rocket T #2 – Union Grove
  • 1100 Rocket T #3 – Fredericksburg
  • 1500 Load rockets #4 and #5 on rails (Alamo Heights and Brazoswood)
  • 1600 Complete All

  • Saturday, June 13th
  • 0500 Depart from Hotel
  • 0530 arrival at Tula Gate for Security checks/Proceed to ABC-1
  • 0800 T #4 – Alamo Heights
  • 1000 T #5 – Brazoswood
  • 1200 T #6 – 2026 recycle or 2025 Brazoswood
  • 1400 Spare T-Time (In case 1100 T doesn’t work on 6/12)
  • 1600 Complete All – Site is packed/loaded and headed out

  • Sunday, June 14th
  • Travel Day

Well that’s the story for today. It’s late and I am done. Catch you on the flip side tomorrow evening after launches. Hopefully we will have some super exciting rocket news to share that will thrill your senses more than broke down vans, overheated AC’s and flat tires. And so with that I say, “Good Night!”

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.

#Rockets2026 #SystemsGo #Launcher01 #RideTheSky #Texasrockettrail #EyesOnTheSky #TexasToNewMexicoRocketTrail #RideTheSky2026 #EyeToTheSkies

SystemsGo Rockets 2026 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 11th through June 13th 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 10th.

At 0530 the morning of the 11th, our group will caravan out to the Tula gate for security and ID checks.

At 0700 we will arrive at ABC-1 to begin all SystemsGo Setups and FRR checks for launches on Friday. Range complete time for Thursday is 1630. Any unfinished setups will be completed on Friday morning, with the intension of launching 3 rockets starting at 0800 Friday morning.

Currently, as per the draw, Anahuac/Hardin Jefferson launches in the first T-Time at 0800, Union Grove has the second at 1000, and Fredericksburg at 1100 Friday morning. We will load the first two on to the rails at 1500 Thursday evening.

In between these two launches we will load the third rocket. After the second launch we will load the next two rockets on the rails and leave the range by 1600. At this point, the rest of the launch order is as follows: Alamo Heights, Brazoswood, and one final T-Time at 1400 for either a 2026 recycle or 2025 Brazoswood. However, if a school is not ready at their appointed launch time, the next school in line takes their spot provided they are ready, and the school that was not ready goes to the back of the line.

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 Thursday. FRR will be conducted on the 9th at Fredericksburg HS and the 10th in the Hotel parking lot in Alamogordo, and the final checks will bonsite the 11th beginning at 0700. Everything must be complete by 1630 that day.

At this time the schedules for our range time all three days is shown below.

Mission Complete on Thursday leaves the afternoon open. Exploring Alamogordo is most definitely an option. This could also include the White Sands National Monument and sledding. Of course Saturday will be a semi early day also and Sunday should be even earlier which may afford more free time activities.

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.

#Rockets2026 #SystemsGo #Launcher01 #RideTheSky #Texasrockettrail #EyesOnTheSkies #TexasToNewMexicoRocketTrail #RideTheSky2026

WSMR Rockets 2026, Friday Launch Excitement

A 0500 call to move out for ABC-1 started the day for all SystemsGo team and schools. The original mission, to launch 3 rockets and load 2 more on the rails and be Mission Complete and off range by 1600. Our scheduled T-Times were 0800, 1000, and 1100.

All personnel arrived at the gate at 0545 for security and ID checks. Then SystemsGo Team including the gas truck crew were pulled ahead and escorted to ABC-1 to begin launch sequence preparations. We arrived around 0620 and quickly began preparations.

George Burns, Ginger Burow and Rebekah set up the electronics trailer, fill and fire system, and tested each rail. 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.

Andrew Matthes coordinated the gas fill crew at the pad. This actually left his team working diligently by themselves at Tula G to complete their final pressure test issues. It also took Kash from the gas crew to facilitate those pressure tests for Fredericksburg and Anahuac/Hardin Jefferson.

Schools Participating this weekend were Alamo Heights, Anahuac/Hardin Jefferson, Brazoswood, Union Grove (aborted yesterday due to repeated failed pressure tests) and Fredericksburg. Alamo Heights and Brazoswood’s 2026 were fit with charges and loaded onto the rails ready for launch yesterday evening.

Alamo Heights was the first launch of the day. It left the rail at approximately 0830, only about 30 minutes behind our projected T-Time of 0800. It was slow off the rail, burning as it went and then hovered slightly above the rail for about 20 seconds before hopping the nose cone, and then lifting away, doing end to end loops and belly flopping into the range about 200+/- yards south of the rail.  EOD came in quickly and recovered it. Doc Photo took a picture of the nose cone lying by the rail.

After EOD cleared the area, the teams came in and Brazoswood loaded it’s 2025 rocket onto the first rail Alamo Heights has just left. After it was ready for launch, Steve took Kash to Tula G to help check pressure on Fredericksburg and Anahuac/Hardin Jefferson’s rockets.

Brazoswood 2026 left the rail around 1050, slightly ahead of its projected T-Time. We had a slight delay turning on the altimeter because the indicator sounds could not be heard, but the students determined that it should be fine. It lifted off the rail quickly and sailed into the sky with a beautiful flight. It reached an altitude of 20,000 feet . It was supposed to have a computer system tracking telemetry, but the students reported that the system had gone down. This one was also found by EOD today but had significant damage from nosing into the range.

Brazoswood 2025 was the third and final launch for the day. At 1250 it flew straight, true and high reaching 41,000 feet. It came down under chute. Unfortunately, it had not bee found by the time we completed our mission time and left the range. It was an awesome flight though.

After the completion of Brazoswood’s 2025 launch everyone was called back to ABC-1. While they were in transit, Rebekah and George shut down the pad for the day. The gas crew came back in, and we all ate lunch while we waited for the rest of the schools to return.

Brazoswood and Alamo Heights loaded up the remains of their rockets. It was decided to drop Fredericksburg in its trailer at the site ready to load charges in the morning for launch tomorrow. It was also decided that Anahuac/Hardin Jefferson would abort mission as the leaks it had could not be fixed in time to launch tomorrow.

Rebekah and George spoke to the schools before we moved out since only Fredericksburg would be returning tomorrow.

 Temperature on the range only made it to 107 degrees today. Ten degrees cooler than yesterday.

A line of showers popped up just northwest of the range at the end of the day. We left the range by 1505 headed back to Alamogordo. The storm was right over Alamogordo when we got there. After it was over a pretty heavy windstorm moved in.  

The team rested for a bit and then walked over Johnny Carinos’s for dinner. We had a real nice time. We talked about rockets, had great food and dessert. Everyone turned in afterwards.

Fredericksburg is the only rocket left to launch tomorrow. We should be packed up early afterwards. At this point I am leaving the schedule showing the extra two T-times, but we should not need them.

After the completion of Alamo Height’s launch. Eveyone returned to ABC-1 and Brazoswood were loaded onto the rails for tomorrow’s launches. Brazoswood will eihter load their 2026 and 2025 recyle onto the rails for the last two T-Times.

Along with all the regular excitement of launching rockets, today was an extra special day for me. I was asked to stay on pad and help the SystemsGo directors do the actual launching of the rockets. I walked through the launch sequence steps with George and then evacuated to the bell with him and Rebekah.

On the first rocket, I was asked to man the MSS switch for the launch. It requires that you hold it down for the last 20 seconds of the count down and until your hear the rocket actually lift off the rail.

For the second launch, I was allowed to actually flip all the switches that launch the rocket. They have to be done in sequence at different intervals during the countdown. First opening the safety covers and setting the system to fire at 30 seconds, then activating the oxygen switch at 10 seconds and both the ignition and injection switches at “0”. Both of these were nerve racking, exciting and fun.

On the last rocket Rebekah and George manned the MSS and Fire sequences. I got to stand inside the back of the bell and hold a mirror around the corner in order to watch the rocket go up. That was really cool. It was an amazing day. I am looking forward to tomorrow.

Good luck tomorrow Fredericksburg!

Saturday’s schedule is the following:

  1. Saturday, June 13th
  2. 0500 Depart from Hotel
  3. 0530 arrival at Tula Gate for Security checks/Proceed to ABC-1
  4. 0800 T #4 –
  5. 1000 T #5 –
  6. 1200 T #6 –
  7. 1400 Spare T-Time (In case 1100 T doesn’t work on 6/12)
  8. 1600 Complete All – Site is packed/loaded and headed out

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.

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.

#Rockets2026 #SystemsGo #RideTheSky #Texasrockettrail #WSMRRocketLaunch2026 #EyesOnThe Sky #EyesToTheSkies #ItIsRocketScience

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

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

Rockets 2023 Arrived in Alamogordo, Thursday for WSMR Launches on Saturday

The SystemsGo team left Fredericksburg at in two shifts, one at 6:00 a.m. and the second at 8:30 a.m. this morning headed to Alamogordo, for lodging for White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) rocket launches in New Mexico. 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 and George Burns, set up by 3:00 p.m.in the parking lot of the Quality Inn and Suites to preform pressure and FRR checks for Union Grove and Alamo Heights teams. At 8:45 p.m. the SystemsGo team walked to Applebee’s for dinner as the students from Alamo Heights were still evaluating their rocket and finishing configuration.

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, except lunch on launch day will be provided by WSMR.

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 four rockets. These include:

  • Union Grove
  • Alamo Heights
  • Brazoswood

The current launch schedule is as follows:

  • Friday, June 23rd
    1. Depart for site from hotel by 7:15 a.m.
    2. Meet at Tula Gate for Security Checks at 8:00 a.m.
    3. Alamo Heights and Union Grove will be in our caravan from the hotel. Brazoswood will meet us at the Tula Gate.
    4. Travel to ABC-1 at 9:00 a.m.
    5. Site Set up at ABC-1 upon arrival.
    6. Complete all rockets.
    7. Leave the site with Union Grove and Alamo Heights on the rails and Brazoswood completed and ready to load the rail by 5:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, June 24th
  • Launch Day (Three Rockets, barring any schedule changes by WSMR.)
  • Depart from Hotel by 5:15 a.m. for 6:00 a.m. arrival at Tula Gate for Security checks.
  • Depart Gate to ABC-1 6:30 a.m.
  • Projected launch schedule:
    • T1 8:00 a.m. –
    • T2
    • T3
    • All rockets launched by 2:00 p.m.
    • Break for Lunch 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
    • Range Time Ends – 4:00 p.m.
  • Sunday, June 25th
  • Contingency Day/Cleanup/Fun Day/ Travel (To be determined.)
  • Monday, June 26th
  • Travel Day

The schedule as seen above is a preliminary estimate, and though accurate as stated by Program Director, Rebekah Hyatt, at the moment, is subject to changes and adjustments as needed per WSMR necessities.

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.

#Rockets2023 #SystemsGo #Launcher01 #RideTheSky #Texasrockettrail #EyesOnTheSkies #TexasToNewMexicoRocketTrail