Category: SystemsGo New Mexico

Rockets 2019 Central Texas/Stonewall Saturday Launch Report

Today was the third day of launches at Stonewall for Central Texas Rockets 2019. It was a fantastic day as the team and volunteers launched 19 rockets today. Schools from Akins HS, Alamo Heights HS, Fredericksburg HS, Hamilton HS, Kingwood HS, Llano HS, Liberty Christian HS, London ISD HS, Marble Falls HS, and McGregor HS all had rockets tested today. About half of these were trailered rockets from Thursday. These schools were ready to go when the storm prevented further launches, so the vehicles were held until they could be launched and videoed on Livestream allowing the schools to watch their tests from home.

All 19 rockets were successfully tested today. All but one was successfully recovered today.  That makes only two rockets out of 33 tested over the past three days, still in the field to be found.

Mr. Brett Williams, the program’s creator dropped by with Joan Baker, former NASA dignitary that was instrumental in getting NASA involved in the program, forging a relationship that still stands today.  Unfortunately I was unable to get a picture of Ms. Baker. This visit was also a short reunion for Mr. Williams and a couple of the teachers from the early days that are still heavily involved in the program. The three are pictured below, left to right, Brett Williams, Collin Lange, and Doug Underwood.

Today was originally scheduled to be the last day of Central Texas Rockets here in Stonewall, but due to weather on Thursday and Friday, some schools rescheduled to Saturday and Sunday. Therefore we are still launching tomorrow. There is only one school, Georgetown High School with 4 rockets left to accommodate tomorrow, so hopefully it will be a short day launching  and recovering, and a quick clean up.

Phil assures me that there will be Livestreaming again for tomorrow’s launches. As of yet I have not found a new link for that particular date. I am going to leave the link for today’s live stream as that should get you to the page where you will be able to pick up the stream when it actually goes live for tomorrow.

Stages 1 and 2 will still be at the Stonewall Chamber of Commerce building.  The launch site is still at the Sammy Segner Ranch on Double Horn Road.

The sites will be open to public viewing of launches. However, if you plan to attend any of these launches please register for your attendance ticket ahead of time or obtain them at the gate. These are free but required for admittance to each site as they also include a waiver for access to the site.  Reserving them ahead at the website is preferred to obtaining them at the gate because the latter slows entrance to the site and may result in you missing the viewing of your intended launch.

The Central Texas/Stonewall launch dates, locations, map links, ticket links, and schools are also listed here for your convenience or can be found at http://www.systemsgo.org/events/ .

Central Texas/Stonewall:

  • Sunday,  May 5
  • New Launch Site: 2187 Double Horn Road, Stonewall, Texas 78671
    Stage 1 & 2 at Stonewall Chamber of Commerce: 250 Peach Street, Stonewall, TX 78671
  • https://www.greateventseats.com/FBG-SystemsGo
  • Schedule for Sunday:
  • Georgetown High School with 4-1 pound/1 mile
  • Google Map Link: https://goo.gl/maps/84VMTwMqFvy
    Directions (PDF)
  • Schools participating: Fabens HS, Fredericksburg HS, Granger HS, Hamilton HS, Kingwood HS, Lampasas HS, Llano HS, Marble Falls HS, McGregor HS, Roosevelt HS, Summer Creek HS, Decatur HS, Georgetown HS, Kermit HS, Liberty Christian School, Terrell HS, Tom Moore Ingram HS, Union Grove HS, Victoria East HS
  • 49 expected rockets for testing
  • A live feed for each launch will be provided and will be available at www.systemsgo.org as each launch date arrives. Friday’s is as follows: May 4- Day 3

The sites will be open for admittance at 8:00 a.m. and launches will commence at 8:30 a.m.  Of course 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.

Pictures from the progress at the site to this point 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

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

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 #texasrockettrail #Rockets2019

 

 

 

Rockets 2019 Central Texas/Stonewall Friday Launch Report

Saturday started off as a delayed launch until noon until the cloud window decided to hand a break  for a few hours before clouding up again around lunch. Crews rushed to the site to try to get rockets on the rails and in the skies. As it was, it was still hurry and wait as the clouds and weather never quite behave as  predicted. Even so, the second day of launches at the new site in Stonewall at the Sammy Segner Ranch was a great success.

The SystemsGo team and volunteer staff loaded and launched 8 rockets. Add to that a great recovery effort for the day. At day’s end all rockets shot for the weekend so far, with the exception of one, #77 have been recovered. I believe, that even so, #77 has at least a chute in possession at Mission Control.

We truly have an enthusiastic group of recovery volunteers this year. They are all having such a blast on this addictive game of lost and found.

George Burns put it best with his answer to the question, “what are you doing this weekend?” He said, “I am going out to a pasture I don’t know to run around looking for a needle in a haystack!”

Of course we are all enjoying ourselves and love the program or we would not be here doing what we do. Land owners Sammy Segner, Troy Spies, and Richard Koone are on recovery as well, and really enjoying the hunt.

Along with hunting Mr. Segner, had the added experience of pulling the LCRA truck out of the mud right in between Mission Control and the launch pad. Definitely not and ideal place for him to be stuck. 

Tomorrow will start early for the whole group as we have a start time of 0700. We have a full docket as our three original schools, Akins, Alamo Heights, and London, are being joined by Liberty Christian which moved from Friday, and the nine rockets from the trailer which didn’t get to launch due to weather Friday night. They include Hamilton, Marble Falls, McGregor, and Roosevelt. The schools whose rockets were in the trailer will not be in attendance but left their vehicles for SystemsGo to launch at the first opportunity provided they could watch them on Livestream. That is a total of 16 rockets for Saturday as far as I am informed.

Pictures from the progress at the site to this point 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

Festivities continue tomorrow as weather permits. Fortunately, tomorrow is predicted to be a better weather day for Stonewall Rockets 2019, and Sunday will be even better.

Unfortunately it has been raining here in Gillespie County since about 1645 and is still predicted to go until about 0200. This means it will be a bit of a messy start in the morning, but hopefully the sun will come through and dry it out a little. There still might be some delays in the morning from weather,  clouds, or flooding depending on how long the storms last this evening so be sure to watch for updates on SystemsGo‘s Facebook page.

Stages 1 and 2 will continue to be at the Stonewall Chamber of Commerce building.

This site is be open to public viewing of launches. If you plan to attend any of these launches please register for your attendance ticket ahead of time or obtain them at the gate. These are free but required for admittance to each site as they also include a waiver for access to the site.  Reserving them ahead at the website is preferred to obtaining them at the gate because the latter slows entrance to the site and may result in you missing the viewing of your intended launch.

The Central Texas/Stonewall launch dates, locations, map links, ticket links, Livestream Links and schools are also listed here for your convenience or can be found at http://www.systemsgo.org/events/ .

Central Texas/Stonewall:

  • Saturday, May 4
  • New Launch Site: 2187 Double Horn Road, Stonewall, Texas 78671
    Stage 1 & 2 at Stonewall Chamber of Commerce: 250 Peach Street, Stonewall, TX 78671
  • https://www.greateventseats.com/FBG-SystemsGo
  • Central Texas-Stonewall 2019 Flight Schedule
  • This schedule is still valid with the addition of Liberty Christian HS which moved to Saturday with one 1/1,  and the rockets from the trailer from Friday for schools, Hamilton HS with one of each 1/1 and Transonic, McGregor HS with one of each 1/1 and Transonic, Marble Falls HS with one of each 1/1 and Transonic, and Roosevelt with three, two 1/1 and one Transonic.
  • Google Map Link: https://goo.gl/maps/84VMTwMqFvy
    Directions (PDF)
  • Schools participating: Fabens HS, Fredericksburg HS, Granger HS, Hamilton HS, Kingwood HS, Lampasas HS, Llano HS, Marble Falls HS, McGregor HS, Roosevelt HS, Summer Creek HS, Decatur HS, Georgetown HS, Kermit HS, Liberty Christian School, Terrell HS, Tom Moore Ingram HS, Union Grove HS, Victoria East HS
  • 48 expected rockets for testing-7 on Saturday
  • A live feed for each launch will be provided and will be available at www.systemsgo.org as each launch date arrives. Friday’s is as follows: May 4- Day 3

The site will open for admittance at 8:00 a.m. and launches will commence at 8:30 a.m.  Of course 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.

More event details will be available here in upcoming days as events progress. Daily reports featuring schedule links, school names, results, pictures and some editorial content will be posted each day of the event 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 #texasrockettrail #Rockets2019

 

 

 

Rockets 2019 Central Texas/Stonewall Thursday Launch Report

We had a slow start today due to low cloud ceilings for our first day of launches at the new Stonewall site at the Sammy Segner Ranch. The schedule began with 11 schools and 25 rockets and quickly decreased to 7 schools and 17 rockets as 4 schools canceled due to weather concerns.

The original list included Fabens, Fredericksburg, Granger, Hamilton, Kingwood, Lampasas, Llano, Marble Falls, McGregor, Roosevelt, and Summer Creek. OF the four schools that canceled, I have not been able to confirmation as to whether they have rescheduled to another day, or dropped out for this year. These schools include Fabens, Lampasas, Llano, and Summer Creek. At this time schedules have not been updated on SystemsGo to confirm changes so I will continue to post them for up coming days as they are. SystemsGo did post a bulletin yesterday offering Sunday as a weather contingency day to make up launches. We have no word yet if any schools have moved to that day.

The team and volunteers did manage 9 rockets on the rails today of which, 6 launched, and three returned to Stage 3. Of the 6 only Frederickburg’s Transonic and McGregor’s 1 pound/1 mile were not recovered before the site had to be shut down for a severe thunderstorm approaching. Roosevelt was still in Stage 3 finishing their rocket at that time. Eight other rockets were ready for the rails and stored in the SystemsGo trailer for protection for the night.

Property owner, Sammy Segner, and son-in-law, Troy Spies, helped on recovery today. They participated as part of 8 teams in the field watching, and documenting rockets as they sailed the skies and returned to the ground. Mr. Segner is seen here on the second recovery of the day as he retrieves Kingwood’s #76 rocket from a tree with the help of Steve Burow. Standing by were Mr. Segner’s recovery partner, George Burns, and Burow’s partner, Ginger(me), who were navigating the new ArcGIS Survey for the Recovery of Rockets, by AlphaSAR, that Erin Arkinson,  with Alpha Search and Rescue from Houston, was helping our teams to implement to better track the vehicles’ recoveries.

We really appreciate the use of Mr. Segner’s place for this concert in the sky, as well as his enthusiastic participation in our recovery efforts.

Pictures from the progress at the site to this point 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

Festivities continue tomorrow as weather permits. Unfortunately, tomorrow is predicted to be the worst weather day for the stint of Stonewall Rockets 2019. Hopefully it will allow for some launches. Right now there is an 80% prediction of more storms during the night tonight as well as all day tomorrow. This could cause delays in our start times tomorrow as well as subsequent launches throughout the day.

Watch SystemsGo‘s Facebook page as well as their web page for updates about delays in the morning and throughout the day.

As for tomorrow, launches will continue as possible at the Sammy Segner Ranch on Double Horn Road and  Stages 1 and 2 will be at the Stonewall Chamber of Commerce building.

Remember if you and your school have not been to the sites already today, these are also a new locations. Be sure you have the updated maps and directions to your intended locations.   Links are posted below.

The site is open to public viewing of launches. However, if you plan to attend any of these launch days please register for your attendance ticket ahead of time or obtain them at the gate. These are free but required for admittance to each site as they also include a waiver for access to the site.  Reserving them ahead at the website is preferred to obtaining them at the gate because the latter slows entrance to the site and may result in you missing the viewing of your intended launch.

The Central Texas/Stonewall launch dates, locations, map links, ticket links, Livestream links and schools are also listed here for your convenience or can be found at http://www.systemsgo.org/events/ .

Central Texas/Stonewall:

The sites will be open for admittance at 8:00 a.m. and launches will commence at 8:30 a.m.  Of course 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.

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 #texasrockettrail #Rockets2019

 

 

 

Rockets 2019 Central Texas/Stonewall Launch Rides the Skies Tomorrow, Thursday

Central Texas/Stonewall  Rockets 2019 starts tomorrow! This launch is third in the series for the Rockets 2019 season. This site has moved from Willow City to the Sammy Segner Ranch in Stonewall, Texas, please be aware of that change. More information below.

Currently there are 48 rockets scheduled for launch by 21 schools at the new  Stonewall location. This schedule may be updated this week with the possibility of a few schools that were scheduled for the North Texas launch that could not make it, shifting to this launch. Also rain is in the forecast for most of the launch days. Due to this SystemsGo has issue a weather contingency plan adding Sunday as an alternative. PLEASE see that information quoted below the regular launch information.

Stages 1 and 2 will be at the Stonewall Chamber of Commerce building.  This is also a new location.   This testing site  now covers mostly the Fredericksburg and Hill Country area schools.

The Central Texas/Stonewall launch dates, locations, map links, ticket links, Livestream links and schools are also listed here for your convenience or can be found at http://www.systemsgo.org/events/ .

Central Texas/Stonewall:

  • Thursday, May 2
  • New Launch Site: 2187 Double Horn Road, Stonewall, Texas 78671
    Stage 1 & 2 at Stonewall Chamber of Commerce: 250 Peach Street, Stonewall, TX 78671
  • https://www.greateventseats.com/FBG-SystemsGo
  • Central Texas-Stonewall 2019 Flight Schedule
  • Google Map Link: https://goo.gl/maps/84VMTwMqFvy
    Directions (PDF)
  • Schools participating: Fabens HS, Fredericksburg HS, Granger HS, Hamilton HS, Kingwood HS, Lampasas HS, Llano HS, Marble Falls HS, McGregor HS, Roosevelt HS, Summer Creek HS, Decatur HS, Georgetown HS, Kermit HS, Liberty Christian School, Terrell HS, Tom Moore Ingram HS, Union Grove HS, Victoria East HS
  • 48 total expected rockets for testing-25 Thursday
  • A live feed for each launch will be provided and will be available at www.systemsgo.org as each launch date arrives. Thursday’s is as follows:
  • May 2- Day 1

*************************************************************************

Weather Contingency Advisory from SystemsGo:

Subject: Central Texas Launch Advisory:

Greeting teachers scheduled to launch in Stonewall May 2-4! If you have monitored the weather at all, you know we are in store for a wet event!  Being mindful that our FAA waiver prohibits us from launching into cloud cover and/or lightning in the vicinity, our opportunities to launch will be limited particularly on Thursday and Friday. We want to make sure you are aware of this and the options available. We do have Sunday scheduled as a weather contingency day.  That being said, you have the following options.

Option 1: You continue as planned with your scheduled launch date.  This may mean your rocket will not launch as scheduled. You will have the option to stay and see if we can launch it the following day OR you can leave it with us, we will launch it at our first opportunity.   Should you choose this, we will contact you prior to launch so you can put out the word so your students/parents can watch it on live stream.

Option 2:  Reschedule travel plans and launch day for Saturday or Sunday.  Contact Christy at 830-997-3567 IMMEDIATELY if you would like to reschedule for Saturday or Sunday depending on space available.

We are still looking forward to a great event, but are unable to control the weather. We regret any inconvenience!  Rest assured we will do everything within our power to launch your students rockets.

We do have a safety plan in the event of lightning in the vicinity that involves sheltering in place in the buses.  We appreciate your cooperation!

Rebekah Hyatt

*************************************************************************

The sites will be open for admittance at 8:00 a.m. and launches will commence at 8:30 a.m.  Of course as noted above, 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.

If you plan to attend any of these launches please register for your attendance ticket ahead of time or obtain them at the gate. These are free but required for admittance to each site as they also include a waiver for access to the site. Reserving them ahead at the website is preferred to obtaining them at the gate because the latter slows entrance to the site and may result in you missing the viewing of your intended launch.

Here is a quick look at how our new home is shaping up for tomorrow. Pictures courtesy of Steve Burow. The intro picture for this article is Stage 3/Mission Control from here also.

More event details will be available here each evening during the even. Daily reports featuring schedule links, school names, results, pictures and some editorial content will be posted in these updates 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 #texasrockettrail #Rockets2019

 

 

 

Rockets 2019 Central Texas/Stonewall Launch Rides the Skies From a New Location, This Week

The Central Texas/Stonewall launch is third in the series for the Rockets 2019 season. This site has moved from Willow City to the Sammy Segner Ranch in Stonewall, Texas.

The “Fredericksburg” launch is the original  and therefore the longest  operating launch in the program. The rocket class began in 1996  as Principes of Technology, with a single one pound/one mile rocket developed and launched from a trailer in Lady Bird Johnson Park in 1997. In 1998 they launched the first Transonic vehicle, and in 1999 the first launch at White Sands Missile Range was conducted.

In 2003 the formal program know then as Ignite and now as SystemsGo was created and shared with other schools.

In 2007, five schools joined Fredericksburg in launching 1 pound/1 mile and transonic rockets at a one day event at the Meek Ranch off of State Hwy 16 South of Fredericksburg. This was the programs first official expanded group launch site where it remained  through 2009 until necessity called for a new place away from a major highway.

In 2010 they moved to the Camey Stewart Ranch in Willow City where it remained for 9 years, closing its season there in 2018.  Now in 2019 it continues activities at a new location in Stonewall.

In past years the volume has grown  substantially.  In 2017,  87 rockets were tested in that one  4 day weekend at the Stewart Ranch.  Even with the addition of the Houston launch site in 2012, taking some of the roster, the Fredericksburg launch carried a heavy load.

In 2018 some Southeast Texas schools still coming to Fredericksburg were asked to participate in Houston to try to even the load further. In doing this, they added a third day to the Houston launch and decreased Fredericksburg’s launch from four days to three.

The Fredericksburg site covered the Fredericksburg and Hill Country area schools, as well as North Texas,  and West Texas schools. Now with the addition of Jal, New Mexico and the New North Texas launches, the Fredericksburg load has reduced by about 1/3. With the program growing, these numbers will also continue to grow, but now each site has a renewed potential for expanded volume.

Currently there are 48 rockets scheduled for launch by 21 schools at the new  Stonewall location for Rockets 2019. This schedule may be updated this week with the possibility of a few schools that were scheduled for the North Texas launch that could not make it, shifting to this launch. These will be tested at the Sammy Segner Ranch in Stonewall.

Stages 1 and 2 will be at the Stonewall Chamber of Commerce building.  This is also a new location.   This testing site  now covers mostly the Fredericksburg and Hill Country area schools.

If you follow this program and like to view the launches, Rockets 2019  will continue with one more launch in May. The final launch of the junior level rockets will be held in Smith Point just south of Anahuac, Texas (the Southeast Texas/Smith Point launch) for schools in the Houston  and Southeast Texas area.

The senior groups are tentatively scheduled to launch their Goddard level rockets at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in New Mexico in late June.  These are not available for public viewing or Livestream due to being tested on a military facility, but blog and SystemsGo updates will be posted online as available during that week. This will be the fifth launch sequence and will finalize the Rockets 2019 season.

All sites will be open to public viewing of launches except White Sands Missile Range. However, if you plan to attend any of these launches please register for your attendance ticket ahead of time or obtain them at the gate. These are free but required for admittance to each site as they also include a waiver for access to the site.  Reserving them ahead at the website is preferred to obtaining them at the gate because the latter slows entrance to the site and may result in you missing the viewing of your intended launch.

The Central Texas/Stonewall launch dates, locations, map links, ticket links, and schools are also listed here for your convenience or can be found at http://www.systemsgo.org/events/ .

Central Texas/Stonewall:

The sites will be open for admittance at 8:00 a.m. and launches will commence at 8:30 a.m.  Of course 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.

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 #Texasrockettrail #Rockets2019

 

 

 

Rockets 2019 Season Boasts a Successful Start at Jal, New Mexico Last Week!!!

The Rockets 2019 Season kicked off last week with a thrilling launch series in Jal, New Mexico. According to reports from SystemsGo Program Director, Rebekah Hyatt and SystemsGo New Mexico head, Dave willden, 32 rockets sailed the skies over New Mexico, successfully.

“It was an exciting start to the SystemsGo Rockets 2019 season!” -Rebekah Hyatt.

Many volunteers joined Willden and his staff, Kelley Alsup, Naira Mendoza and Christine Hendershot –  of the PVREC #8  to coordinate and carry out this outstanding event.

Superintendent, Brian Snider, and Pricipal, Elaine O’Neal graciously loaned the use of their schools for Stage 1 and 2, to which SystemsGo would like to extend a special thanks.

SystemsGo New Mexico is continuing to grow, so keep your “Eyes to the Skies” for next year’s rocket event.

Later in the summer, eight Texas schools are currently on the roster to attempt a possible 10 rockets at White Sands Missile Range ,   also in New Mexico, completing the Rockets 2019 season.

If you follow this program Rockets 2019  will continue with three  more launches in April and May. Next the brand new site in Jack County in North Texas will be the place to be. Followed by the Central Texas/Fredericksburg launch which will be at the Sammy Segner Ranch in Stonewall, Texas.  And last of the junior level launches will be held in Smith Point just south of Anahuac, Texas.

A live feed for each of these three launches 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! #RideThe Skies!

 

 

 

Rockets 2019 Blasts Off 5 Times this Season, Begining at Jal, New Mexico Next Week!!!

The  2019 Rocket season is boasting five launches this year! The SystemsGo program added a brand new venue in North Texas as well as a new location for the original Central Texas launch, making three Texas launches and one New Mexico launch for the Tsiolkovsky and Oberth levels. The fifth and final launch for the season is the Goddard level at White Sands Missile Range, in New Mexico.

The current rosters list 13 schools participating in the Jal, New Mexico launch,  where they will be testing 33 rockets. This is the third year for this venue and already they are outfitted with their own staff and volunteers. Fredericksburg Program Staff will still be there to help and oversee operations. Their numbers in both schools and rockets has greatly increased since their first season. They began with 6 schools and 10 rockets, only testing Tsiolkovsky vehicles. Now they test both Tsiolkovsky and Oberth level vehicles, and  have doubled the amount of participating schools and more than tripled the rocket numbers.

With 13 schools launching in Jal, and a total of 51 schools in the three Texas launches, that brings the grand total of schools to 64. Add testing 145 rockets at the Texas launches to Jal’s 33 and 178 rockets will #RideTheSkies for this 2019 Rocket season.

Later in the summer, eight Texas schools are currently on the roster to attempt a possible 10 rockets at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, completing the fifth launch and finalizing the season.

SystemsGo New Mexico does have a twitter feed  in order to follow the launches. The link is still live, but right now there are no current tweets.  That link is https://twitter.com/SystemsGoNM

All sites will be open to public viewing of launches except White Sands Missile Range. However, if you plan to attend any of these launches please register for your attendance ticket ahead of time or obtain them at the gate. These are free but required for admittance to each site as they also include a waiver for access to the site.  Reserving them ahead at the website is preferred to obtaining them at the gate because the latter slows entrance to the site and may result in you missing the viewing of your intended launch.

The  launch dates, locations, map links, ticket links, and schools are also listed here for your convenience or can be found at http://www.systemsgo.org/events/ .

Jal, New Mexico:

North Texas/Jack County:

  • Friday, April 26-Saturday, April 27
  • New Launch Site: FM 2210 W and Gowan Ranch Lane, Jacksboro, TX 76458
    Stage 1 & 2 at Perrin VFD: 2210 W Hackley Street, Perrin, TX 76486
  • https://www.greateventseats.com/NthTexas
  • North Texas-Jack County 2019 Flight Schedule
  • Map to Sites (PDF)
  • Schools participating: Buinger CTE Academy, Carroll HS, Henrietta HS, Hollenstein CTC, Scurry-Rosser HS, University HS, Birdville CTAL, Grapevine HS, Maypearl HS, Northwest HS, Petrolia HS, RL Turner HS
  • 39 expected rockets for testing

Central Texas/Stonewall:

Southeast Texas/Smith Point

The sites will be open for admittance at 8:00 a.m. and launches will commence at 8:30 a.m.  Of course 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.

If you follow this program and like to view the launches, Rockets 2019  will continue with three  more launches in April and May. Next the brand new site in Jack County in North Texas will be the place to be. The launch site is in Jacksboro while Stages 1 and 2 are at the Fire Department in nearby Perrin. Patience may be in order if you are watching here, since occasionally  there can be small kinks to work out at a new location. Of course as those of you know that have watched before, patience is a normal requirement with test vehicles.  39 rockets will be tested by 12 schools at this new site this year.

The Central Texas/Fredericksburg launch site  will be third in the line up this year. It has moved from Willow City to the Sammy Segner Ranch in Stonewall, Texas.  Stages 1 and 2 will be at the Stonewall Chamber of Commerce building.  This is a new location for this launch as well, but hopefully it will continue to run smoothly (as smooth as this kind of thing does anyway) since it is the same basic crew and volunteers, with a few new volunteers too, but just in a new place.  This testing site covers mostly the Fredericksburg and Hill Country area schools. Currently there are 49 rockets scheduled for launch by 22 schools at this location.

The last of the junior level launches will be held in Smith Point just south of Anahuac, Texas for schools in the Houston  and Southeast Texas area.   Currently  57 vehicles are scheduled for testing by 17 schools at this site.  This location is in its third year for that area. Information and a map links are available.

A live feed for each launch, except Jal, New Mexico, will be provided and will be available at www.systemsgo.org as each launch date arrives.

The senior groups are tentatively scheduled to launch their Goddard level rockets at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in New Mexico in late June.  These are not available for public viewing or Livestream due to being tested on a military facility, but blog and SystemsGo updates will be posted online as available during that week.

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!

 

 

 

June 18-2 More Days Until Goddard Level Rocket Launches- Here’s What’s Happening for WSMR

The SystemsGo team leaves in shifts starting today for New Mexico to launch rockets at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR). Rebekah Hyatt and Scott Netherland head out this morning. They have some business meetings in New Mexico ahead of the launch days. Then the rest of the team and schools leave on Wednesday, June 20. That is two days from today. The list and schedules have been finalized and packing is underway.

The schedule will proceed as follows:

Wednesday will be a travel day to Alamogordo, NM to the hotel.
Thursday morning will be T-1 briefing preceded by a live viewing of a missile test at the range.
Thursday afternoon they will travel to West Center 50 Range and do site set up and rocket prep-Fredericksburg rocket will be left on the launch rail ready for first launch on Friday morning.
Friday launch order: Fredericksburg, Brazoswood, Booker T., and Anahuac
Saturday launch order: Union Grove, Alamo Heights
Sunday launch order: Contingency day with four available launch times if needed, or travel home if all vehicles have tested.
Monday will be travel back home day for the group if they are unable to leave on Sunday.

The final list of schools participating in this year’s WSMR tests is:

  • Alamo Heights High School
  • Anahuac High School
  • Brazoswood High School
  • Booker T. Washington High School
  • Fredericksburg High School
  • Union Grove High School

Parents and students already on the approved list with SystemsGo, and attending, be sure you have your proper identification with you. State driver’s license, federal pass port, or state id card are required for access to the base. Also be sure they have medical insurance information with them in case of an emergency.

Please be advised that WSMR is an Army base and does not allow spectators in to view these launches. Only the students, personnel, and parents who have been previously approved through SystemsGo and added to the list may enter the base with the group. Please do not drive to White Sands and attempt to enter on your own, or expect to do so with the group, because you will be turned away.

Event details will continue to be available here. I will provide information as made available to me from team members on site as to how launches have gone for those schools testing on that particular 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 and passed on, 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.

Fredericksburg’s Engineering Rocket Program-Pre-Launch Week Red Bird #19 Update

Red Bird #19 is scheduled for testing at White Sands Missile Range(WSMR) next Friday, June 22. This marks the last big event for Rockets 2018 and the Fredericksburg STEM Academy for this season.

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

As of today, June 15, the Fredericksburg Engineering Red Bird #19 rocket team is due to pick up the vehicle from SRM tomorrow,  now that the welding is completed. The team still has to complete the assembly of the motor and then integrate it, as well as the,  injector valve, payload, and parachutes.  They will be attempting to finish the FRR tonight. In spite of the remaining tasks they are on schedule to make their launch at WSMR.

Red Bird #19 has an 8 inch diameter and is 25 feet long. The team outsourced the payload to the district IT employee and former FMS science teacher, Keith Jenkins. He created a sensor for the vehicle that will measure methane levels at the time of nose cone deployment.

When asked about the rocket’s expectations, Harrison Spisak stated, “My expectations are about 65,00 feet, but after NASA evaluated it they estimated 102,000.” Therefore that is the hopeful estimate if all goes perfectly.

Today, team members, Joey Leal and Harrison Spisak were working on the FRR, and T-1 briefing as seen in the photos below.

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Here the nose cone and injection system also await integration.

Here Joey Leal checks on the rockets progress at SRM machine shop.

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Harrison Spisak’s father will be hauling the rocket on his trailer to White Sands for the team.

Pictured here is this year’s Red Bird #19 Team:  Back Row:  Harrison Spisak, Jacob Wienecke, Evan Knapp, Bryce Erwin, Sergio Walle. Front Row:  Corbin Smajstrla, Rebecca Sechrist, Pierce Vasquez, Joey Leal.  Not pictured in the seniors picture was Chris Calzada.

Launches are scheduled for June 22nd and June 23rd, with a contingency day on the 24th if needed. The team will travel out to WSMR on Wednesday, June 20th, and back home again on the 23rd.

There are 5 schools scheduled to launch 6  rockets. These schools include:

  • Alamo Heights
  • Anahuac
  • Booker T. Washington
  • Brazoswood
  • Fredericksburg
  • Union Grove

The current launch schedule is as follows:

  • Wednesday, June 2oth          Travel Day
  • Thursday, June 21st              T-1 and Site Set up/Rocket Prep at WC- 50
  • Friday, June 22rd                   Launch Day One (Four Rockets-Fredericksburg,  Brazoswood, Booker T., Anahuac)
  • Saturday, June 23rd              Launch Day Two (Two Rockets–Union Grove, Alamo Heights)
  • Sunday, June 24th                 Contingency Day/ Travel Day
  • Monday, June 25th                Travel Day if needed

This article is the eighth for the 2017/2018 school year in a series of periodic updates that has followed the Fredericksburg Engineering/Rocket program. This school is a participant of the SystemsGo STEM program. This series of articles is intended to support and encourage students in the program as they share their working status and accomplishments throughout the year in the program. These publications will be available for tags and re-posting.

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.

#Rockets2018 #SystemsGo #FredricksburgSTEMAcademy #Launcher01 #RideTheSky

Rockets 2018-Recap of Sunday, Day 3 and The Last Day of Houston Rockets

Today, Sunday, was the last day of launches at the Smith Point site for  the SystemsGo team. They had four more schools and eleven more rockets on the schedule. It was a successful day as all eleven left the rail.

Unfortunately, rocket # 138 for Anahuac was the last launch, and just as they were fixing to load, and interviewing the students on that team, the Livestream went down and did not return. It was a little glitchy all day, so not surprising that this happened just unfortunate for the students and their viewers at home. I know SystemsGo regrets when these things happen, but technology doesn’t always cooperate the way we would prefer. Just keeping a WiFi connection down where they were was very difficult. They didn’t even have service for their cell phones.Therefore, this was an unavoidable mishap of technical difficulties.

With that being said, at least the rest of the day and the launches all went well. All vehicles had completed launches by 1800 as best as I could tell without the final feeds.

The site was shut down, cleaned up and the Fredericksburg SystemsGo team members were headed back home by 20000(8:00pm).

Pictures  will be available in Facebook albums for you to view, but I will post a s few of my favorite screen grabs below. Phil will have several from throughout the day and weekend on the SystemsGo Facebook page as well. Links to both our Facebook pages are below.

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

https://www.facebook.com/SystemsGoEducation/

Here is the link to the live stream again. It will still be available as videos of the past event days to watch for about a month.  https://livestream.com/systemsgo 

We have come to the end of another great year of rockets. Here are today’s faves before I go and the rest will be on Facebook. Thanks to all that make these events possible.

I do have one question though, Phil what was up with ketchup pakcet?

If you follow this program Rockets 2018  will continue with the senior/graduate groups which are tentatively scheduled to launch their Goddard level rockets at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in New Mexico in late June.  These are not available for public viewing or Livestream due to being tested on a military facility, but blog and SystemsGo updates will be posted online as available during that week.

More event details will be available here as the event gets closer. Daily reports featuring schedules, school names, results, pictures and some editorial content will be posted during the event.

www.systemsgo.org as always is the place for more information on this program. You may also email them at info@systemsgo.org . Take the time to get your school involved, the future of your students will be greatly benefited.

#RideTheSky! #Launcher01 #ItISrocketScience #Rockets2018