Category: Texas Highways

Rockets 2022 Arrived at White Sands Missile Range Today, T-1 Site Set Up and FRR’s on Tap for Friday

The SystemsGo team left Fredericksburg in two shifts. One at 4:00 pm. Wednesday afternoon, and the second, Thursday morning, at 7:40 am. headed to White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in New Mexico. The last group arrived at the El Paso, South Gate, of the base about 3:15 pm.

The early crew, Scott Netherland and Rebekah Hyatt, and George Burns, met with, Colonel Smart, Test Center Commander at 9:00 am Thursday morning for finalization of schedules, other information for the launches this weekend, and continued support for the program. The meeting went very favorably. Saturday and Sunday will continue to be our testing days as originally scheduled.

Schools and their personnel as well as student teams also traveled in today. The SystemsGo team met at the base hotel and grilled burgers and Bratts for supper and enjoyed some much needed down time and visiting before turning in early for the evening.

Fredericksburg High School’s group and Alamo Height’s group were just coming in to do some grilling of their own for supper as the SG team was retiring. It was a nice peaceful evening, with a few roaming thunderstorms in the area, which made for a cool breeze. Sure wish we could send some of those pop up heat storms to the Hill Country in Texas where we all know we need the rain.

Departure time from WSMR Route 21 is 7:00 am for all. Those staying on base will leave the hotel parking lot by 6:40 am. We will all proceed to ABC -1 launch site together via a range escort.

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. Be sure you have plenty of water. Heat and dehydration are serious issues on the range in this desert heat.

All documentation should have been completed and turned in to Rebekah Hyatt, Thursday evening upon arrival. Those staying in Los Cruces will need to provide all necessary paperwork when we meet in the morning.

  • UXO briefing registry
  • WSMR waiver
  • SystemsGo waiver

All schools are traveling together to the range. Stage 2 and pressure checks will take place on site. Union Grove and Fredericksburg are first up unless they cannot complete on time. We will load the first two rockets on the rails before we leave the range, Friday evening. We must leave the range before 5:00 pm.

  • Friday, June 24th
    1. Site Set up ABC-1 8:00- 8:30 a.m.
      1. Depart for site from WSMR Rout 21 gate by 7:00 a.m.
    2. Leave the site with Fredericksburg and Union Grove on the rails by 5:00 pm.

Friday will be a busy day in preparation for Saturday’s launches. Look for Friday’s update for Saturday’s schedule of launches.

Good luck to all schools on your rocket tests.

Event details will continue to be available here. I will provide more information each day as to how the schedule and other event details will progress for the upcoming day and how launches went for the schools testing that previous day, if applicable. 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.

#Rockets2022 #SystemsGo #RideTheSky #Texasrockettrail #WSMRRocket #Launch2022 #EyesOnTheSkies #Laundher01

White Sands Missile Range Hosts SystemsGo’s 2022 Goddard Level Rockets in 5 Days

White Sands Missile Range has been hosting the SystemsGo Rocket Program for over 20 years, and the tradition continues for the 2022 season. Changes have been made over the years, including moving from the original launch site which was West Center 50 (WC50) to alternate range ABC1. This change came about after the COVID shut down of 2020.  Back logged government contracts took precedence for the larger range, necessitating the program’s relocation for continued support at the base.

The move to the smaller range also required the altitude cap for the rockets to be adjusted. The smaller site meant less than the 20-mile radius the program previously had available for these test vehicles to travel and stay within their parameters. The original height cap was 100,000 feet. The new cap instituted last year is 50,000 feet. 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 change, parents are no longer allowed to come. In years past parents watched from the theater at Mission Control. Unfortunately, volunteer staffing of base personnel for this is no longer available.

Stage 1 and 2 will take place on the range this year. In years past with the exception of last year, this was normal progression. Last year the Alamogordo High School hosted this part of the event. Stage 1 and 2 will take place while the SG team sets up the pad, launch rails, fill and fire system and electronics trailers. Rockets need to be complete by the end of the day on Friday as there will be very little latitude between T times to complete work on the vehicles. We are to be Mission Complete by 5:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Sunday is a contingency day, but preferably it should not be no more than a site clean up day if needed that morning . Provided that we accomplish this early the remainder of the day’s activities will be decided at that time.

Due to higher prices for accommodations, the SG team and schools will stay at a hotel on the base.  Since we will be approaching from the Las Cruces side of the range instead of Tula Rosa, travel time will increase as speeds are slower, most are two lane roads, and range police are strict. Please check with your teachers if you need information about our accommodations, as I do not think it is appropriate to post it here since it is not outside the base. For those who are still staying off base, be sure to keep up with schedules and times as they group will need to move together with an escort through the base.

Launches are scheduled for June 25th with a contingency/cleanup day for June 26th. The team will travel out to WSMR on Wednesday, June 23rd, and back home again on the 27th.

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

  • Alamo Heights
  • Brazoswood
  • Fredericksburg
  • Union Grove

The current launch schedule is as follows:

  • Thursday, June 23rd
    1. Travel Day
  • Friday, June 24th
    1. Site Set up ABC-1 8:00- 8:30 a.m.
    2. Depart for site from Main gate by 7:00 a.m. start time.
    3. Leave the site with Fredericksburg and Union Grove on the rails.
  • Saturday, June 25th
    1. Launch Day (All Four Rockets, if possible, at 2-hour intervals.)
    2. Depart from Main gate by 5:00 a.m. for 6:30 a.m. arrival on site.
    3. Projected launch schedule:
      • T1 8:00 a.m. -Union Grove
      • T2 10:00 a.m. -Fredericksburg
      • T3 12:00 p.m. -Alamo Heights
      • T4 2:00 p.m. – Brazoswood
      • 5:00 p.m. – Range Time Ends
  • Sunday, June 26th
    1. Contingency Launch Day/Cleanup/Fun Day/ Travel (What happens depends with launches Saturday.)
  • Monday, June 27th
    1. Travel Day

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.

#Rockets2022 #SystemsGo #Launcher01 #RideTheSky #Texasrockettrail #EyesOnTheSkies

Texas Rocket Trail Ended Today, May 14, 2022

The Texas Rocket Trail ended today as the last five rockets left the rails here in Stonewall today. Only tree schools tested today, Alamo Heights, Hamilton, and London High Schools. Originally, they each had 2 rockets, but Hamilton only brought one.

The schedule may have been light, but as in the norm the last one up had issues that delayed completion by about two and half hours. The vehicle had a few minor glitches to correct, and the 98-degree heat caused issues with the Nitrous and the filling of the rocket. Ice and water corrected the cooling issue while a few good technicians corrected the rocket.

This final launch was completed at 3:40. The team had the site torn down and packed up by 5:45. Then we had a small R and R session and by 6:30 everyone was headed home for the evening, and the season.

The Central Texas/Stonewall launch Livestreams, as well as the Livestreams from the rest of the Texas Rocket Trail events can be found at http://www.systemsgo.org/events/ . They are available to view for several weeks.

Pictures from today’s launch 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

The senior groups are tentatively scheduled to launch their Goddard level rockets at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in New Mexico possibly 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. These will end the launch sequence and finalize the Rockets 2022 season.

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 #Rockets2022 #EyesontheSkies

Rockets 2022 Central Texas/Stonewall Launches continued today, Friday, May 13, 2022

Rockets 2022, Central Texas Edition, continued today, Friday the 13th! The original schedule listed 18 rockets for today. Two schools, Victoria East, and New Tech Odessa, checked in minus their projected numbers, so that brought the launch schedule down to 15.

Rockets were slow through Stage 1 and 2, and then the first few up had some minor issues on the pad that put them back in Stage 3 for repairs. All these factors meant that start time for the first launches moved back considerably. It was closer to noon before the first vehicles left the pad for the skies.

Once launches started, the schedule was accomplished in three volleys plus one single launch. It was a slow starting, but productive day. Tomorrow only has six rockets on the schedule. That does not mean it will be a short day. That is the hope, but it always remains to be seen. Test vehicles like these quite often push the time schedules, it could be a short day or a long one. The team is hoping to call it complete early. After tomorrow, the Texas Rocket Trail will be at an end for another season.

Pictures from the day’s events 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

Tomorrow’s launches will continue at the Sammy Segner Ranch on Double Horn Road with Stages 1 and 2 will be at the Stonewall Chamber of Commerce building.

Restrooms and wash stations will be provided at the launch site. Spectators are welcomed this year. Teachers are asked to bring pop up tents for themselves and their students. Please remember sunscreen, chairs, umbrellas, extra snacks, drinks, and food. Downtime entertainment for the students to engage in between launches may also be helpful.

The look on your students’ faces when their vehicle goes up and then is recovered is priceless. If they know you are watching and supporting them, then it is even more memorable. If you are not on site, then shoot them a text, letting them know you are watching online.

The Central Texas/Stonewall launch dates, 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 14, 2022
  • Launch Site: 2187 Double Horn Road, Stonewall, Texas 78671
  • Stage 1 & 2 at Stonewall Chamber of Commerce: 250 Peach Street, Stonewall, TX 78671
  • Central Texas-Stonewall 2022 Flight Schedule for Saturday
  • Schools participating: Fabens HS, Fredericksburg HS, Johnson HS, Hamilton HS, Kingwood HS, Marble Falls HS, Gary HS, Roosevelt HS, Georgetown HS, Atascocita HS, Pasadena Memorial HS, Hamilton HS, Victoria East HS, Harleton HS, London HS, New Tech Odessa HS, Alamo Heights HS
  • 6 expected rockets for testing on Saturday
  • A Livestream for each launch will be provided and will be available at www.systemsgo.org on the Events page each day.

The sites will be open to admittance for students and teachers only at 6:00 a.m. Projected start time for launches is 8:00 a.m. All is contingent on test vehicle readiness and ability to pass Stages 1 and 2. Mission Control will be ready for Stage 3 checks by 8:00 a.m.

More details will be available here each day. Reports featuring schedule links, school names, results, pictures, and 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 these events.

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

Hope to see you at the launches! #RideTheSkies #TexasRocketTrail #Rockets2022

May 12, 2022, Rockets 2022 Central Texas/Stonewall Thursday Evening Launch Report

Today was the first day of launches for the Central Texas Launch Event here in Stonewall, Texas. The schedule boasted 23 rockets for testing. At the end of the day 22 were launched, and one aborted. Recovery retrieved all but three and returned them to the students.

Today’s launches were an interesting kaleidoscope of flips, turns, tailspins, dives, and self-destruction as many left the rail, but their post rail performance was challenging. These launches were at least, easier to locate.

The array of rockets launching today had creativity not only in the vehicle design, but in their names, and even the cases they built and decorated to transport them in. While visiting Stage 1 and 2 earlier this morning, six these masterpieces stood out.

Maverick Engineering from Pasadena Memorial High School had Velocity Raptor, Team Aero, The Big ONE, and Uno, all whose cases were as eye catching as their rocket. Two of my favorite’s just for their rocket’s colors were Khaptic from Kingwood High School, for their bright multicolored vehicle with Greek lettering of their name, and Donatello from Roosevelt High School, which was dark purple, my personal favorite color.

Monique Flickinger, from the American Community School in Abu Daube, was on site again today, shadowing Rebekah Hyatt to learn more about the program. The school plans to implement the Curriculum this coming year.

A presentation of the 2022 Brett Williams Scholarship was done on site today as well. Recipient, Angela Marler, and her parents took photos for the presentation with Scott Netherland and Rebekah Hyatt.

Pictures from the above mentioned events, and rockets as well as 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 beautiful, but hot weather keeps all systems Go for launches.

Launches will continue at the Sammy Segner Ranch on Double Horn Road and Stages 1 and 2 will be at the Stonewall Chamber of Commerce building.

Restrooms and wash stations will be provided at the launch site. Spectators are welcomed this year. Teachers are asked to bring pop up tents for themselves and their students. Please remember sunscreen, chairs, umbrellas, extra snacks, drinks, and food. Downtime entertainment for the students to engage in between launches may also be helpful.

The look on your students’ faces when their vehicle goes up and then is recovered is priceless. If they know you are watching and supporting them, then it is even more memorable. If you are not on site, then shoot them a text, letting them know you are watching online.

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

Central Texas/Stonewall:

  • Friday, May 12, 2022
  •  Launch Site: 2187 Double Horn Road, Stonewall, Texas 78671
  • Stage 1 & 2 at Stonewall Chamber of Commerce: 250 Peach Street, Stonewall, TX 78671
  • Central Texas-Stonewall 2022 Flight Schedule for Friday
  • D37AFF14-13AA-4299-A13F-8F2B60DE299D
  •  Schools participating: Fabens HS, Fredericksburg HS, Johnson HS, Hamilton HS, Kingwood HS, Marble Falls HS, Gary HS, Roosevelt HS, Georgetown HS, Atascocita HS, Pasadena Memorial HS, Hamilton HS, Victoria East HS, Harleton HS, London HS, New Tech Odessa HS, Alamo Heights HS
  • 18 expected rockets for testing on Friday
  • A Livestream for each launch will be provided and will be available at www.systemsgo.org as each launch date arrives. Friday’s is as follows:

The sites will be open to admittance for students and teachers only at 6:00 a.m. Projected start time for launches is 8:00 a.m. All is contingent on test vehicle readiness and ability to pass Stages 1 and 2. Mission Control will be ready for Stage 3 checks by 8:00 a.m.

More details will be available here each day. Reports featuring schedule links, school names, results, pictures, and 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 these events.

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

Rockets 2022 Continues with Central Texas/Stonewall Launch Starting Tomorrow, Thursday, May 12-Saturday, May 14, 2022

The Central Texas Launches sail into the skies over Stonewall, Texas starting tomorrow, May 12, 2022. This is last in the series for the Tsiolkovsky and Oberth level vehicles of the Rockets 2022 season. This site is in its third active year at the Sammy Segner Ranch in Stonewall, Texas. The Central Texas Launch is the longest running venue of the #TexasRocketTrail, with 20 plus years and in four locations over that time.

The Stonewall site covers the Fredericksburg and Hill Country area schools. Some of our North and South Texas schools still participate here, but most are encouraged to use the sites closer to them.

Currently there are 47 rockets scheduled for launch by 18 schools at the Stonewall location for Rockets 2022. This schedule may be updated this week with the possibility of schools adding or dropping close to launch time. 

Stages 1 and 2 will be at the Stonewall Chamber of Commerce building. Stage 3 and Mission Control will be located on the Sammy Segner Ranch off Double Horn Road.

Restrooms and wash stations will be provided at the launch site. Concessions and a spectator tent will be available. Spectators are welcomed back again this year. Teachers are encouraged to bring pop up tents for themselves and their students. Please remember sunscreen, chairs, umbrellas, extra snacks, drinks, and food. Downtime entertainment for the students to engage in between launches may also be helpful. Rockets are subject to winds, weather, and workmanship, all of which can stall a launch, and delay schedules.

Excitement for the Central Texas event is high as SystemsGo team and volunteers are ready to greet students and their rockets promptly Thursday morning. Stages 1 and 2 will open for students and teachers at 6:00 am.

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

Central Texas/Stonewall:

The sites will be open to admittance for students and teachers only at 6:00 a.m. Projected start time for launches is 9:00 a.m. All is contingent on test vehicle readiness and ability to pass Stages 1 and 2. Mission Control will be ready for Stage 3 checks by 8:00 a.m.

Rockets are subject to winds, weather, and workmanship, all of which can stall a launch. Please either join in the action on site or help cheer the students on while watching the  Livestream. The look on your students’ faces when their vehicle goes up and then is recovered is priceless. If they know you are watching and supporting them, then it is even more memorable. If you are not on site, then shoot them a text, letting them know you are watching online. 

A live feed for each launch will be provided and the link is available at www.systemsgo.org on the Events page each day of the launch.

Daily reports featuring schedule links, school names, results, pictures, and editorial content will be posted during the events if information is available.

Pictures from each day are on SystemsGo Facebook page, as well as my Facebook page. They can be found here:

  • Thursday, May 12- Saturday, May 14, Weather Contingency Day-Sunday, May 15
  • Launch Site: 2187 Double Horn Road, Stonewall, Texas 78671
  • Stage 1 & 2 at Stonewall Chamber of Commerce: 250 Peach Street, Stonewall, TX 78671
  • Central Texas-Stonewall 2021 Flight Schedule
  •  
  • Schools participating: Fabens HS, Fredericksburg HS, Johnson HS, Hamilton HS, Kingwood HS, Marble Falls HS, Gary HS, Roosevelt HS, Georgetown HS, Atascocita HS, Pasadena Memorial HS, Hamilton HS, Victoria East HS, Harleton HS, London HS, New Tech Odessa HS, Alamo Heights HS
  • 47 expected rockets for testing

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

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

The senior groups are tentatively scheduled to launch their Goddard level rockets at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in New Mexico possibly 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. These will end the launch sequence and finalize the Rockets 2022 season.

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

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

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

Rockets 2022 Southeast Texas/Smith Point Launches Start Tomorrow, Thursday,

The 2022 Texas Rocket Trail continues its series of junior launches with the Southeast Texas/Smith Point testing site. Currently 31 vehicles are scheduled for testing by 13 schools at this site. Testing begins this week, May 5th and 6th  with a weather contingency day to be used only if needed on May 7th.

SystemsGo team and volunteer crews have been hard at work earlier this week preparing the site. Kirk Moore heads up a vast group of individuals that make sure all parts of the operation are ready for launches.

The Southeast Texas/Smith Point launch dates, locations, and schools are also listed here for your convenience or can be found at http://www.systemsgo.org/events/ .

Southeast Texas/Smith Point

  • Thursday, May 5 – Friday, May 6
  • Launch & All Stages: 19350 FM 562, Anahuac, TX 77514
    South of Anahuac, near Smith Point, Texas
  • Southeast Texas-Smith Point 2022 Flight Schedule
  • Schools participating: North Shore HS, Hardin-Jefferson HS, Hargrave HS, Northstar HS,  Anahuac HS, Booker T Washington HS, Friendswood HS, Harleton HS, Brazoswood HS, Kingwood Park HS,  Channelview HS,  Summer Creek HS
  • 31 expected rockets for testing
  • A Livestream for each launch is provided and available at www.systemsgo.org 

The sites will be open to admittance for students and teachers only at 6:00 a.m. Projected start time for launches is 9:00 a.m. All is contingent on test vehicle readiness and ability to pass Stages 1 and 2. Mission Control will be ready for Stage 3 checks by 8:00 a.m.

Restrooms and wash stations will be provided at the launch site. Concessions and a  spectator tent will be available available again this year. Teachers are asked to bring pop up tents for themselves and their students. Please remember sunscreen, chairs, umbrellas, extra snacks, drinks, and food.  Downtime entertainment for the students to engage in between launches may also be helpful. Rockets are subject to winds, weather and workmanship, all of which can stall a launch, and delay schedules.

If you follow this program and like viewing the launches, there is one more available to view for Rockets 2022. Central Texas/Stonewall will be launching May 12-14.

A live feed for each launch 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • UXO briefing registry
  • WSMR waiver
  • SystemsGo waiver

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

  • Brazoswood
  • Union Grove
  • Booker T Washington
  • Alamo Heights

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

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

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

#Rockets2021 #SystemsGo #RideTheSky #Texasrockettrail #Rockets2021

Rockets 2021 Central Texas/Stonewall Ended Today, Sunday, With a Weather Makeup Day

The Central Texas/Stonewall launch hit its final day in this series for the Rockets 2021 season, today. This day was not originally on the schedule but added due to inclement weather on Thursday and Friday to allow schools another launch option if they could not complete theirs due to the bad weather. Only one school, Georgetown High School chose this option. They had four rockets to test today. Three 1 pound/1 mile and 1 Transonic.

All four vehicles were tested and launched, 3 beautifully, and the fourth only made about fifty feet, before tumbling back down near the pad. Even so, all were tested and all recovered.

There was some added interest in this school for the Segner and Spies families, as they had a couple of relatives that recently began working for this school that joined the rocket group at the ranch to watch the launches.

Thanks so much to Sammy Segner, Troy, Jennifer, and Reed Spies, and Richard Koone for the use of their properties and for joining in the hunt for rockets as recovery teams. They made the weekend very enjoyable for everyone involved. It was a great first year at the new location and everyone is looking forward to being there again next season.

There were a total of 71 rockets tested by 20 schools at the Stonewall location for Rockets 2021. The recovery teams did a wonderful job of hunting them and returning them to the students. There were only 2 that were not recovered.

Thanks is also in order for the Stonewall Chamber of Commerce for hosting Stage 1 and 2 at their building.

Pictures from the progress at the site to this weekend 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

If you follow this program and like to view the launches, Rockets 2021 will continue with one more launch next week, May 6-8, with a possible weather make up day again on Sunday. There are some weather predictions for next week that might necessitate using Sunday just as we did this week. 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 Smith Point sites will be open to admittance for students and teachers only at 6:00 a.m. Projected start time for launches is 8:30 a.m. All is contingent on test vehicle readiness and ability to pass Stages 1 and 2. Mission Control will be ready for Stage 3 checks by 8:00 a.m.

Of course rockets are subject to winds, weather and workmanship, all of which can stall a launch.

Restrooms and wash stations will be provided at the launch site. Due to COVID restrictions, no concessions or spectator tent will be available, because no spectators are allowed this year. Teachers are asked to bring pop up tents for themselves and their students. Please remember sunscreen, chairs, umbrellas, extra snacks, drinks, and food.  Downtime entertainment for the students to engage in between launches may also be helpful. Rockets are subject to winds, weather and workmanship, all of which can stall a launch, and delay schedules.

You can still be prepared to join in the action and cheer on these students on the Livestream. The look on your students’ faces when their vehicle goes up and then is recovered, and knowing you are watching and supporting them, is far from priceless.  Shoot them a text, letting them know you are watching online.

A Livestream 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.

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.

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 2021 Central Texas/Stonewall Soggy Saturday Evening Launch Report

Today was the third day of launches at Stonewall for Central Texas Rockets 2021. Weather was again the issue of the day. Rain delayed the start again for the second day. Stages 1 and 2 which were able to continue getting all the rockets through checks.

Unfortunately the same could not be said for Stage 3 checks as they were stalled several times for weather. Because of this some teams did not leave their rockets when asked to go for shelter and so those will  still have to pass Stage 3 tomorrow. All those that did leave their rockets have been checked.

The storms kept everything stalled until 4:30 this afternoon when a short window between storms allowed one volley resulting in three off the rail and two misfires. An attempt was made for a second volley but to no avail. Instead it was a race to secure the rockets and equipment to safety and retreat from the site before next line of storms.

That leaves a massive docket of vehicles for testing on Sunday. 51 if all of today’s are actually present.  It will be a busy Sunday if all goes well! Should be interesting to see how many the crew can put up in one day!

Some of the volunteers passed the time playing dominoes during rain storms while no rocket teams were there for checks. The rest of us passed the time visiting and watching the radar. Luckily tomorrow’s forecast looks much better than  the past couple of days.

Livestream should be back up to cover the festivities which will start extra early tomorrow. First rockets up by daybreak as long as we can reach the site after flooding rains this evening.

It’s 11:30 p.m. now and I’m still waiting to cross the Palo Alto  Creek slab and go home along with five other cars of neighbors and B/B guests.

Today was originally scheduled to be the last day of Central Texas Rockets here in Stonewall, but due to weather on Thursday and Friday we are still launching tomorrow. 

Restrooms and wash stations will be provided at the launch site. Due to COVID restrictions, no concessions or spectator tent will be available, because no spectators are allowed this year. Teachers are asked to bring pop up tents for themselves and their students. Please remember sunscreen, chairs, umbrellas, extra snacks, drinks, and food.  Downtime entertainment for the students to engage in between launches may also be helpful. Rockets are subject to winds, weather and workmanship, all of which can stall a launch, and delay schedules.

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

Central Texas/Stonewall:

  • Sunday,  May 2-Weather Contingency Day
  • Launch Site: 2187 Double Horn Road, Stonewall, Texas 78671
    Stage 1 & 2 at Stonewall Chamber of Commerce: 250 Peach Street, Stonewall, TX 78671
  • Schedule for Sunday: All or as close to that as possible!
  • Schools participating: Georgetown HS, Kermit HS, London HS, Carroll HS, New Diana, Kingwood, Hamilton, Roosevelt, Fabens, Harleton, Marble Falls, Union Grove, Victoria East, Victoria West, McGregor, Fredericksburg, Alamo Heights, Ingram, and Canon City.
  • 71 expected rockets for testing
  • A Livestream 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 2- Day 4

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 #Rockets2021 #EyesontheSkies