Texas Hill Country – Page 3 – On the Wings of Angels

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

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 13^th! 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.

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 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
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:

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.

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

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

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

Oberth Teacher Training At SystemsGo This Past Weekend

Regional Coordinator, Doug Underwood conducted Oberth trainings, this past weekend, July 31- August 1 here in Fredericksburg. Hollenstein, Georgetown and McGregor High Schools attended. This level teaches students in their Senior year about Transonic rockets, which are designed to break the speed of sound.

I sat in on their class for about an hour and a half on Saturday morning. Since Oberth rockets aim to break the speed of sound, that was a criteria talking point. When I was there, they were discussing an experiment meant to simulate the flight of the rocket in order to determine needed calculations. The actual exercise is the flight and descent of a ball. Literally tossing it in the air and watching it land again in a prescribed bucket of water. Figuring out what is needed to accomplish this seemingly ordinary action, helps the students get a basis of what is needed to begin to understand what they need for their rocket.

They started with a list of Givens that needed to be determined. These are all things that the students can either measure or look up in order to find the value. A few examples are mass, diameter, density, altitude, velocity, thrust, etc. This is just the short version of the list they created. I watched and listened as they began figuring answers to the listed items.

It was interesting to watch and see how quickly they answered some of the items. Others were answered, but then only created more questions to be determined. What is fascinating is that the teacher is more of a coach or director. He never directly answers the questions for them, but only lightly directs them by asking other questions. This is exactly how these teachers will have to react with their future students.

Doug Underwood put it this way, when answering one of these teachers questions, “Don’t limit your students. They are capable, if given the opportunity, of much more than you might believe.”

An important issue that arose was what measuring system to use, metric or imperial? It was suggested to actually do work in both forms, because it may be necessary to calculate something back from one standard or another.

Note taking was also a highlighted subject. Notes in this curriculum are essential and begin the basis for which each student will work down the line. This is important from the very beginning of this program on. Each year builds on the next, therefore notes from the prior year will still be needed and added to the following year.

At this point, Phil Houseal, came in to get a photo and I took the opportunity to do the samae. Discussions about where everyone was from, got the group off track for a bit. A young lady in the class told us about where she was from in South Carolina and the deep south atmosphere the small town still projected. It was a very interesting and enlightening discussion, but one for her to share. It was time for the class to get back on track. Phil and I both excused ourselves.

Unfortunately I didn’t get back to the class again, but I did take a lot away from it. And that is true for every one of the classes I sat in on the past few weeks. This is a truly amazing learning opportunity that is available to students of any school that enrolls in the SystemsGo program. The wealth of knowledge that is afforded them through this program, as well as the numerous array of career paths available afterwards is more than worth the time invested.

If your students do not have this program at their school yet. It is time to look into it and encourage your school administrators to get involved. Your students will be greatly benefited. I have followed many students from this program into their future endeavors. No matter where they end up, STEM field, FDIC banking manager, or family business, each one cites this program as having giving them a basis for where they are today. What they learn in SystemsGo transfers greatly to the outside world and future careers.

Thank you to Regional Director, Doug Underwood, student teachers, Jonathan Whatley, McGregor HS, Nicole Bolen, Georgetown HS, and Dan Strickland, Hollenstein HS for allowing me to observe again. It has been fun getting to know them and other teachers these past few weeks. I will look forward to seeing them in the spring at the launches.

If you are still not dreaming of rockets, you obviously do need to hang out with this crew more! Come check it out!

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

#RideTheSky! #Rockets2022 RocketSeason!

Tsiolkovsky Teacher Training in Fredericksburg, Day 5-end Game

Tsiolkovsky training closed just after noon today. The group spent the morning addressing questions that arose on the PDR. After which they produced a rocket with a 1lb payload capable of 1 mile of altitude above ground level using RockSim.

FRRs were done on their simulated vehicle as well as on the three rockets Rbekah had there as examples. Jabberwocky the door sentinel was one of these.

Time priorities were discussed and stressed. Teaching the students to have their vehicle completed a few weeks prior to launch so that they are ready when they arrive at the range to launch is essential. That was a wrap for the class.

students expressed great enjoyment and vast learning from this class.

Regional Coordinator, Doug Underwood, will conduct Oberth trainings. July 31- August 1 here in Fredericksburg.. Hollenstein, Georgetown and McGregor High Schools will be in attendance. This level teaches students in their Senior year about Transonic rockets, which are designed to break the speed of sound.

Until tomorrow, if you are not dreaming of rockets, you obviously have not hung out with this crew enough! Do you think maybe you should? Encourage the schools in your area to join the 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 greatly benefited.

#RideTheSky! #Rockets2022 RocketSeason!

Tsiolkovsky Teacher Training in Fredericksburg, Day 4

Today the class began learning the Design and Development Loop, and its application this process to rocketry. They first developed a Problem Statement, which identified the initial task, build a rocket.

As seen here on the board, their problem statement is:

With a budget of $900 and launch date of May 1st a recoverable and reusable rocket must be built, designed, and launched. The rocket must carry a one pound scientific payload to an altitude of one mile AGL(above ground level).

Next they used a brainstorming session to develop a list of components needed to create and launch this rocket:

fire wadding
proof of altitude
timeline/budget
body tube
nosecone
launch lugs
engine
ignition
rail
fins
motor mount
recovery system
payload
launch area
components
rail

This was the beginning point they used to narrow down specific component groups they believed were related and should be grouped together. Next they identified individual team members to work that specific group :

ignition/engine/motor mount–Mel/Amy
recovery–Dan/Brian
fins/lugs/body/nosecone/(fire wadding)/compartments–Derek/Johnathan
payload/proof of altitude–Bryant/Nicole

Each team set out with their component and began research. They were given 2 hours to go on an in depth fact finding mission. Here are just a few of the many problems before them to address:

What are their options for each component?
What materials are available to them?
Is the chosen material within their budget?
Does a particular option make a difference in over all success over another option?
What kind of Impulse will it take to get the rocket to a mile high?

These were just starting points. They began with reasonable assumptions of what they believed they needed, and then began to hone in on actualities through research, further brainstorming, and generating alternative solutions.

The teams were allowed and encouraged to discuss options and ideas in order to determine how each team’s component would work with the rest. The idea was to design a vehicle together so that it would not fail.

By 4:00 p.m. each team would have to present their idea and be able to prove why they chose this option. Their idea would have to pass a Preliminary Design Review(PDR), in order to establish the operational effectiveness of their chosen system.

During the short time I was there and able to listen in on their brainstorming, I heard questions about phenolic resin, fiber carbon bodies(quickly pitched due to expense), nose cone shape and sizing, chute deployment ideas, and payload weights and options. At the time that I left, the payload had been determined to be chocolate ice cream with the stipulation that Rebekah and I would get to share it if it survived.

These teachers have not actually built these vehicles before, so they are in the same place their future students will be. They are expected to do everything the way they will be instructing their students to do, only the students will actually build the physical rocket and will have a semester in which to do it, instead of a day.

It is a very in depth learning experience. The program is designed to enable the students to think through the process themselves in order to figure out what has to be done and accomplish it.

Until tomorrow, if you are not dreaming of rockets, you obviously have not hung out with this crew enough! And it is time you do!

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

#RideTheSky! #Rockets2022 RocketSeason!

Tsiolkovsky Teacher Training Generation 3 on Day 3

Today was the culmination of the first semester training for the class. They were introduced to modeling using Rock Sim and given a challenge to design and build a rocket. They had a Stability Margin of 1-2 and an altitude goal of 1500′ to 2200′ depending on the motor size they chose.

Motor C was designed for the 2200′ goal, and motor B for the 1500′ goal. Each teacher was asked to design a rocket based on the location and demographics of their school. This includes actual open space for a launch and recovery radius and encompasses surrounding entities like airports, neighborhoods, and businesses that would need to be avoided in these projections. Determining these factors would help each teacher decide which motor and height requirement would be viable for their school’s location.

Once they have clarified these requirements, they design their rocket using RockSim. This program helps them determine the rocket’s height and speed possibilities. When their design and development is complete they print out their schematics and build their rocket.

At completion a Flight Readiness Review is done. The goal is to build and test the vehicle in one day. This meant launching by 5:00 pm.

Most of the class had started the building stage when I arrived. A few were still designing on the computer. Any manner of tools and adhesives were in continuous use around the room passing from one person to the next. Dremel tools with grinder wheels and filing tips created a constant buzz.

One observation about these new vehicles was their size. In the past days the rockets lengths had ranged from about 6 to 12 inches, give or take a little. These Generation 3 rockets were more of the 3 to 6 inch range.

In the two days prior the teachers seemed more laid back and quiet as they constructed their rockets. Today, the room buzzed and their was a sense of urgency and even slight elation as they worked.

They stayed busy, but still found time to make comments about their own or a friends current design.

One student asked if his nose cone had to be symmetrical? This received many looks and comments from his colleagues. This same student was questioned repeatedly about how he was planning on his nose cone deploying since it was heavily taped in at the time. He planned to remove most of the tape prior to launch, stating that it was only there until everything was set.

Another discussion about a unit of measurement called a slug caused great trepidation for a couple of the gentlemen in the class. One of them commented that a person would have to be an engineer to understand that unit of measurement. The gentleman with the nose cone question, “I am an engineer.”

However, our friend, Nicole, from yesterday, was smiling. She was energetically working on her new rocket. She had a renewed sense of confidence in her abilities today, after her successful launch yesterday.

The group was far from complete and launches were quite a ways out yet when my visit for the day came to an end. They did launch close to 5:00 that afternoon. When I drove by after work, they were just heading back to the shop.

Tomorrow and then until around 1:00pm on Friday, they will be delving into the second semester of the Tsiolkovsky class. Among the criteria will be designing a 1lb/1 mile rocket.

Until tomorrow, if you are not dreaming of rockets, you obviously have not hung out with this crew enough!

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

#RideTheSky! #Rockets2022 RocketSeason!

Tsiolkovsky Training Continues Day 2 at FHS

Tuesday morning the class spent converting their Generation 1 Rockets into Generation 2 Rockets. Stability was a primary component of the redesign. Once the vehicle was cut and only the bottom half returned to work with, new development began. Students had to take into account weight, thrust, impulse momentum, drag and lift.

They also had to create flight profile predictions based on their design and calculations, and a flight readiness review of their vehicle.

Here are some of their Generation 2 rockets:

When I arrived at class, they were not all back from lunch. One student, Cole Bolen, was waiting outside the door. I asked her how things were going so far? She expressed great disappointment in her own Gen 1 and now Gen 2 rockets. She said that she was good at math, the calculations, and scribing her ideas down on paper, but her hands on application was in her words, “a disaster.”

“In every group I have ever been in, whether school or college, I am always the scribe. I can do the calculations and put it beautifully on paper. People I worked with learned quickly that what ever I touch falls apart. Even at home, my husband makes me the gopher while he does the heavy work,” she lamented.

“When building my Gen 1 I focused too much on making it “look” like a rocket, instead of the functionality of the rocket. When I was done it looked great, but the flight was terrible,” she said. “It barely left the rail, turned sideways, headed for the group and luckily crashed into the ground. I don’t want to be that person that gets someone injured because my project blew up!” Cole sighed.

As we talked, I told her it was alright, at least it got off the rail. Her students would see that as a success, and then they would learn more while analyzing and determining what went wrong, just as she was now doing. She agreed and said that was one of her concerns about one day conveying these principles to her students.

“I guess I know that if it had been an automatic success, then I wouldn’t have learned much. This way I am determined to fix it for the next one,” she said.

Today, when having to take what she described as the bottom half of a charred and dirty mess, and once again create a rocket that was supposed to be functional and fly, she found it a very daunting task. She said she had done great at drawing it all out, but just couldn’t get it to stay together. She was concerned that it would once again blow apart leaving the rail.

I expressed to her that I was sure it would be better today than she thought. I told her that in this program a failed launched is still a successful learning opportunity. To quote a friend, “In order for a rocket to fly, 1000 things must go right, but it only takes one for it to fail.” It is in determining what caused the failure that a new success is born as well as a new chance to do better.

The rest of the class returned about this time and each gathered their rockets and we headed out to the launch field. All the rockets flew, except one. That one still left the rail after an interesting spinning episode and it landed just a few feet from the rail.

Cole’s flew beautifully. The chute deployed and all was recovered. Her only mishap was that it came down in two sections that were not connected. She proved to herself that she could do this.

In the grand scheme of things, that is what this program is all about. Both the teachers, and their future students, learning all the STEM applications of the program, and then designing, developing, discerning, attaining, applying and presenting all they have learned in a workable completed project. Once the project is complete, it is the massive amount of take away that goes with each of them and helps develop their futures that matters the most.

Yes each one wants their rocket to be a success in terms of flight. That is the goal, but here success is really measured in the inspired hope and plans of each student as they head out to do something great in their future.

Congratulations, Cole! Now on to Generation 3 with new confidence in what you are learning, what you can do, and what you will be able to teach your students in the future. You already have a head start on problem solving. Thank you for sharing your experience with me and my readers.

Below is a Facebook link to the videos I attempted to take of the launches. Please excuse my videoing. With the bright sun I did not do too well at keeping the camera in the right place.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=ginger.burow&set=a.4409145962439834

After the launches, the class headed back in to pour over their Flight Readiness Reviews for both their Gen 2 rockets and their upcoming Gen 3’s. They will be discussing impulse, drag and lift, and resistance along with a focus on problem solving.

Rebekah, referred to the upcoming section as the Gen 3 Challenge. Generation 3 will be a whole new build. I will leave it at that for now, so as to not give away any new things that will be part of this challenge, in case they have not been introduced yet. Tomorrow should be another interesting, challenging and fun day.

Until tomorrow, if you are not dreaming of rockets, you obviously have not hung out with this crew enough!

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

#RideTheSky! #Rockets2022 RocketSeason!

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