Category: TX

Rockets 2026, Thursday, Site Set Up

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Realistically, this is a very tight launch sequence with little to no room for errors. As we know, errors can and do occasionally happen and can cause severe delays in the launch schedule and hinder time availability.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

There are five schools scheduled to launch six rockets. These include:

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

The current launch schedule is as follows:

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

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

  • Sunday, June 14th
  • Travel Day

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

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

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

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

WSMR Rockets 2026, Friday Launch Excitement

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Good luck tomorrow Fredericksburg!

Saturday’s schedule is the following:

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

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

Launches are to commence at 8:00 am. Saturday morning. All SystemsGo personnel and schools will be headed out to the range at 5:00 am.

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

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

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

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

The Texas Rocket Trail 2026 Southeast Texas/Smith Point Day 2, Friday, May 8 Recap

Friday marked the second day of the Texas Rocket Trail for Rockets 2026, here in Smith Point. Unfortunately, the weather was not cooperative today. We had a very low ceiling and light rain for most of the the day

The original schedule listed 17 rockets for testing. North Shore dropped due to their teacher being very ill. In leu of them, we added ACS which was supposed to have launched last weekend in Centrakl Texas, but their rocket which came from Abu Dahbi, got held up in customs and didn’t get to Fredericksburg, until this week. We actually brought it down to Anahuac to be assembled by one of their schools, this weekend. We had one Ball rocket from yesterday, that didn’t make the cut off yesterday evening so they also launched today.

The Ball  and ACS rockets and one Brazoswood rocket, were the only 3 that were lucky enough to launch today in the very small window we had at 2:40 this afternoon. As luck would have it, the hole in the clouds didn’t last long enough to get anymore off today.

We also had a little wind shortly before launches and my cameras took a dive twice and had to be picked up. Shortly after that and right as launches happened we ended up with a 360 view on the livestream which took me a while to figure out how to remedy and resulted in having to restart the whole livestream. For that I deeply appologize to those 3 launches, as we missed them on the stream. I do have it on good authority that Rebekah and some of the pad crew videoed them and will share them with the schools.

Rebekah Hyatt, Program Director awarded two  Captain Gene Garret scholarships today. One was to Paige Kirby, from Hardin-Jefferson and Mara Maldonado from Kingwood Park. This is the first year there has been a tie for this scholarship and since there was not a nominee form Jal, NM, SystemsGo was able to award two here at SETX.

Due to the wether not showing any chance of improvement, Rebekah, called launches at 4:40, only allowing Stages 1, 2 and 3 to finish up by 6:00 ckearing rockets so that we can launch them later in the weekend depending on weather.

The teams left the site shortly after 6:00 p.m. headed for the Oyster Bayoo Hunting Club for dinner.   Seafood was on the menu tonight, starting with raw oysters for an appetizer. Fried fish, fried shrimp, hush puppies, crawfish potatoes, spicey and regular cole slaw, and three flavors of cobblers for dessert. Amanda and her crew really feed us well. Thank you to them for the wonderful meals. She cooked for a large crew tonight as the regulars were there and we added Fogo’s class of kids to the group. It was a fun crew.

After dinner several left, and others went to bed. I am not sure whether the domino players will play their games for a few rounds before bed or not, because another early morning is on the schedule. We now have 14 ready from today to launch as soon as the skies clear in the morning, which predictions are around 10:00 a.m. So keep your fingers crossed, because that is what we need. The total for tomorrow is now 26 rockets in order to launch all rockets on the docket.

Per Rebekah all rockets must clear Stage 2 by 6:00 p.m. tomorrow. If they do not, they are done for the season. Stage 1 and 2 will not reopen if we go into contingency on Sunday. So students, be aware of this you must clear tomorrow.

Tommorrow, Saturday, May 9, boasts another 12 rockets tested by two schools. It will be the final day of the Texas Rocket Trail as long as the weather holds. As I have mentioned we will have today’s 14 unlaunched, cleared vehicles to launch as well.

There is  possible  tomorrow morning. Hopefully it will clear by mid morning so that we do not have to delay and go into contingency on Sunday.

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/SystemsGoNews

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

Festivities should be complete with all launches having been accomplished tomorrow, Saturday.

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 Southeast Texas/Smith Point launch date begins Friday. Livestream links and schools are also listed here for your convenience.

Southeast Texas Launches

  • Launch & All Stages: 19350 FM 562, Anahuac, TX 77514
    South of Anahuac, near Smith Point, Texas
  • Southeast Texas
  • SETX Check In / Stage 1 and 2
  • SETX Mission Control / Launch Site
  • Saturday, May 9, 2026
  • 2 Schools participating Saturday at Smith Point
  • 12 expected rockets for testing.
  • Plus the 14 left from today.
  • Watch the Livestream here: Rockets 2026 Live Stream
  • The sites will be open to admittance for students and teachers only at 6:00 a.m. Projected start time for launches is between 8:00 a.m. and 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.
  • New for this year, a recovery map link will be available for the schools to see pictures uploaded by recovery teams showing where and how their rockets were recovered. 2026 Recovered Rockets Data
  • Here is what SystemsGo requires for your attendance:
    1. Any member of the public wishing to attend a launch is required to register online and agree toLaunch Day Entry Form / Waiver
      Scan or Click Jotform Waiver QR Code
    2. There is no charge, but proof of registration is required before entering the site. You will be issued arm bands as proof and you must have them on at all times.

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,  links listed above,  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 you enjoyed this year’s launches!

#RideTheSkies #texasrockettrail #Rockets2026  #EyesToTheSkies

The Texas Rocket Trail 2026 Started in Southeast Texas/Smith Point Today, Thursday, May 7

Thursday marked the beginning  of the last leg of the Texas Rocket Trail for Rockets 2026, and the first day of launches in Smith Point.

Luckily, we had good weather for testing today, unlike last Friday in Central Texas. There was a significant delay due to cloud ceiling and rocket readiness. The first rocket didn’t launch until 1:58 this afternoon. Seventeen rockets out of 21 originally on the schedule.

One more made it to the rail, but had to return to Stage 3. It will get a chance to launch tomorrow.

Recovery had a good day and brought back about 15 of the  17 rockets launched. We had 5 teams plus a couple of floaters, so the area was well covered.  There were a few that mission control collected due to the close proximity of their landing.

Brazoswood graduate, Ava Andrews, and Gloria Burns, Fredericksburg graduate returned to help RSO at Stage 1 and 2. Austin Hodges, Anahuac graduate, and Navy retirey, returned to work the pad, along with Jaxon Fowler, Fredericksburg graaduate, also helped with the pad, media, recovery and what ever Mrs. Hyatt asked.

We had one local dignitary at the launches this year. Texas Housse of Representative District 23, Terri Leo Wilson, was present hoping to watch a few launches. Unfortunately we were in a waiting pattern and instead she talked to students and SystemsGo team members.

Dr. Sallie K. Janes from San Jacinto College was also onsite. She sat with the voice of rockets, Joyce Abbey, meetin students as they took pictures with their rockets and took them down to the pad.

The last volley of launches was ended at 7:05 p.m. The teams left the site at 7:40 p.m. headed for the Oyster Bayoo Hunting Club for dinner.   Chicken Florentine, Sauteed squash, garlic bread, salad, and spice cake for dessert was tonight’s menu.

After dinner several left, and others went to bed, while others visited and I worked on this blog. Then little by little they all headed to bed since tomotrrow is another early morning.

Tommorrow, Friday, May 8, boasts another 17 rockets, plus at least one from today. At some point in the weekend, ACS’s rocket will launch since they were unable to last weekend as their rocket got hung up in customs.

There is  a 70% probability of rain as early as 9:00 a.m. tomorrow. Hopefully it will hold out until after launches so that we do not have to delay and go into contingency on Sunday.

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/SystemsGoNews

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

Festivities continue with launches resuming Friday and Saturday.

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 Southeast Texas/Smith Point launch date begins Friday. Livestream links and schools are also listed here for your convenience or can be found at http://www.systemsgo.org .

Southeast Texas Launches

  • Friday, May 8, 2026
  • 4 Schools participating Friday at Smith Point
  • 17 expected rockets for testing on Friday.
  • Watch the Livestream here: Rockets 2026 Live Stream
  • The sites will be open to admittance for students and teachers only at 6:00 a.m. Projected start time for launches is between 8:00 a.m. and 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.
  • New for this year, a recovery map link will be available for the schools to see pictures uploaded by recovery teams showing where and how their rockets were recovered. 2026 Recovered Rockets Data
  • Here is what SystemsGo requires for your attendance:
    1. Any member of the public wishing to attend a launch is required to register online and agree toLaunch Day Entry Form / Waiver
      Scan or Click Jotform Waiver QR Code

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,  links listed above,  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 you enjoyed this year’s launches!

#RideTheSkies #texasrockettrail #Rockets2026 #EyesontheSkies #EyesToTheSkies

Rockets 2026, Friday, May 1, Central Texas/Stonewall Day 2 Rain Delay Report

Rockets 2026, Central Texas/Stonewall Edition, continued today. The original schedule listed 22 rockets for today. Unfortunately for the launces, rain settled in for the day and caused a stalemate for launching. Instead, the schools for today came in and presented their rockets for approval in Stages 1, 2 and 3. At completion they were all loaded into box trailers to be launched later in the weekend.

Tomorrow and Sunday, yes Sunday, we will be going into contingency due to the rain delay if we cannot get all 40 launched tomorrow. They hope is that we do. Our record is 44, so according to our illustrious Executive Director, Rebekah Hyatt, “this should be easy!”

I do believe she has issued us all a challenge! But it should be one we can meet, since tomorrow we have blue skies and no rain.

Tomorrow operations will resume as usual with schools arriving at Stage 1 and 2 for prechecks and approval to move on to Stage 3 and launching. The original schedule for tomorrow listed 15 rockets. Now we will add the 22 from today and the 7 left from Thursday. Obviously there must have been some no shows from today or cancelations of some tomorrow to get only 40 for tomorrow.

We will start with the trailered rockets while we wait on the schools coming in tomorrow to get through all the stages of prechecks and approval to launch. Any schools that are present from previous days to watch let us know you are still with us.

The crew and team members are to report at daybreak to begin launching all the hold overs from Thursday and Friday while Saturday’s get through their flight checks.

The media group streamed the Stage 1 and 2 activities today since there were no launches to stream. They will resume streaming launches tomorrow.

After the completion of this weekend’s launches on Sunday, the Texas Rocket Trail will move to Smith Point in Anahuac, down in the Houston area for the final leg of the season before the spring launches end for another year.

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.

Central Texas/Stonewall:

  • Saturday, May 1, 2026
  • 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
    CTX Check In / Stage 1 and 2
    CTX Mission Control / Launch Site
  • Schools participating this year in Stonewall: Fredericksburg HS, Union Grove, Roosevelt HS, Harleton HS, Canyon City HS CO, Fabens HS, Johnson HS, Bazoswood HS, Mustang HS OK, Victoria East HS, Future Ready Learning Complex, Atascosita HS, Victoria West HS, ACS, Alamo Heights HS, London HS, Hamilton HS, Hardin Jefferson HS, Odessa College
  • 11 rockets are slated for testing on Saturday, with an additional 13 from Friday.
  • Watch the Livestream here: Rockets 2026 Live Stream
  • New for this year, a recovery map link will be available for the schools to see pictures uploaded by recovery teams showing where and how their rockets were recovered. 2026 Recovered Rockets Data
  • 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 daylight. 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 7:30 a.m.

Here are a couple of things that SystemsGo requires for your attendance:

  1. Any member of the public wishing to attend a launch is required to register online and agree toLaunch Day Entry Form / Waiver
    Scan or Click      Jotform Waiver QR Code
  2. There is no charge, but proof of registration is required before entering the site. You will be issued arm bands as proof and you must have them on at all times.

All information can be found https://www.systemsgo.org

More details will be available here each day. Reports featuring schedules, school names, 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. Your students’ futures will benefit.

Hope to see you at the launches!

#RideTheSkies #TexasRocketTrail #Rockets2026 #EyesToTheSkies

Rockets 2026, Thursday, April 30, Central Texas/Stonewall Day 1 Launch Report

Rockets 2026, Central Texas/Stonewall Edition, began today. The original schedule listed 20 rockets for today launched by 6 schools.

Of those, 13 were successfully tested today. All were good flights, although some had stability issues in flight , and several lacked deployment of chutes. Quite a few were successfully recovered, though some will need to be searched for tomorrow while retrieving new launches. We have 7 hold overs from today that will launch tomorrow or another day later in the weekend depending on the weather. Launches had to be called by around 7:30 pm due to bad weather. We had already had to shelter in place orders around 1:00 pm and 6:00 pm. A new thunderstorom was moving in as we all left the range for the day. Tomorrow’s forcast calls for rain for most of the day. We are currently all on standby for tomorrow pending weather. But do not fear will resume on Saturday, if we cannot launch tomorrow and also have Sunday as a contingency day to complete all our volley’s.

All rockets were tested by 7:40 pm and the site secured for the evening as storms are predicted for over night in the area. Six team members congregated at La Tequila Jalisco for dinner after launches and then headed home for much needed rest before staring tomorrow’s session.

Class A Event Rentals arrived to set up tents for Mission Control, Media and spectators. The FHS “Grub Uber Alles” Culinary Arts Trailer set up shop and provided concessions for the weekend. Later LCRA and Bee Creek Communications brought in equipment to provide Internet WiFi and Radio communications.

Tomorrow 22 rockets are on the schedule, built by 7 different schools. The seven left from today will be added to that provided we launch.

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 available at the launch site. They are provided again this year by Duane Neffendorf and Hill Country Pump Service.

Some of this year’s sponsors at CTX Rockets are Adam R. Scripps,

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Stroeher and Olfers, Inc.

and AMSAT Amateur Radio In Space.

AMSAT is hand radio operators group. They broadcast out all over the world on old style hand radios. They began sending out their signal and stories about the rocket launches earlier this week. They have reached over 30,000 people even as far away as Africa and Indonesia. As they seek to bring attention to the rocket program and provide listeners and conversation about the program, they also hope to further promote the use of hand radios across the world and across age groups in order to keep an original art alive.

New for this launch, the media group, Fredericksburg/Billies Live is operating the Livestream this week at the Stonewall launch. Page Findley seeks to involve present and former students in this venture in order to promote media at local events. Today we have three participants from the group including Conner a homeschool grad student, who started out working for a church doing similar duties, and then sought out an advance in career in order to learn more about audio/video and so joined the group. Sergio, a Fredericksburg High grad, and Yocelyn a current FHS student. They are just one group working for the media program. They can do as many as four events in a day when called upon.

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:

Screenshot
  • Schools participating this year in Stonewall: Brazoswood HS, Mustang HS OK, Victoria East HS, Future Ready Learning Complex, Atascosita HS, Victoria West HS, American Communnity Schools Abu Dhabi
  • 15 more rockets are slated for testing on Saturday.
  • A Livestream for each launch is provided here:
  • Rockets 2026 Live Stream
  • And will be available at www.systemsgo.org on the Events page each day.
  • New for this year, a recovery map link will be available for the schools to see pictures uploaded by recovery teams showing where and how their rockets were recovered. 2026 Recovered Rockets Data

Here are a couple of things that SystemsGo requires for your attendance:

  1. Any member of the public wishing to attend a launch is required to register online and agree toLaunch Day Entry Form / Waiver
    Scan or Click Jotform Waiver QR Code
     There is no charge, but proof of registration is required before entering the site. You will be issued arm bands as proof and you must have them on at all times.

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.

After the completion of this weekend’s launches, Saturday, the Texas Rocket Trail will move to Smith Point in Anahuac, down in the Houston area for the final leg of the season before the spring launches end for another year.

More details will be available here each day. Reports featuring schedules, school names, 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. Your students’ futures will benefit.

Hope to see you at the launches!

#RideTheSkies #TexasRocketTrail #Rockets2026 #EyesToTheSkies

April 25, 2026, Rockets 2026 North Texas/Jacksboro Saturday’s Final Launch Day Update

Saturday, Day 2, the final day for North Texas Rockets 2026 launch series was mission complete by this evening, with all rockets launched by 4:47p.m. Twenty rockets from four different schools left the rails today. These schools included Hollenstein HS, Petrolia HS, Gary HS and Ranchview HS.

Weather for Friday started out with heavy fog but it burned off by 9:00 a.m. The rest of the day had minimal clouds, bright sunshine and a nice breeze that kept the bugs away unlike yesterday. A threat of severe storms with tornadoes and hail roamed the area during the evening as we finished the last launch and packed up the site. We managed to skirt them as we hurried to Mineral Wells.

First launches blasted off shortly after 9:00 a.m. this morning. After the first volley of five, the pad kept the rockets flying in a continuous set each time the rails were full. The only lag times were waiting for later rockets to clear Stages 2 and 3 and successfully make it to the pad.

A significant event for the day was the awarding of the Captain Gene Garret Scholarship of $500 to Hollenstein student, Isabella Prefontaine. Executive Director, Rebekah Hyatt made the presentation of the award after handing Isabella and her team the aft end of their recovered ballistic rocket. Isabella was unaware before the presentation that she had been selected to recieve the award, so she was quite surprised and pleased, hugging both of her teachers and Ms. Hyatt.

Out of 20 rockets launched, only 5 were not recovered. All the rockets left the rails and had good flights, but many did not open and come down under chute.

A few spiraled before blowing apart and landing scattered over the range. There were a few lawn darts as well. This made it a bit challenging for recovery teams to locate, but they did an amazing job. Half of today’s test vehicles were transonic of which one was a Mach 1.2. These faster rockets always present issues for recovery. One was located on a ranch past our blanket of approved landowners for us to search, so unfortunately, we were unable to retrieve it today.

All the teams were a lot of fun to work with, interview and have as participants. Some were quite entertaining. All had high marks for the program and suggested that upcoming students would benefit by being in the class. Patience, teamwork, and getting to know their collogues were among some of the most repeated comments about take aways from the program.

Most also cited issues with body tubes, altimeters, fins, sanding, and time constraints as there most difficult hurdle to overcome, one team had a very unique problem. Gary High School’s rocket # 50, named “Fraulein” was fashioned after the old war planes and followed suit with a pin up girl and the nose. This was their most challenging hurdle, to find one the teacher, and principal would approve as appropriate enough to ride their rocket into the sky. They said they went through several before getting approval.

Hollenstein’s rocket # 44, 3D printed a foam-lined container for an egg to see if they could have it survive the flight, landing and recovery. It was fully intact and still raw. They cracked it to see if flight had changed the contents.

Another Hollenstein rocket #46 had strain gauges as their payload. Unfortunately, when the rocket separated for chute the gages separated and were lost. The students said they were every they were, they were still working as confirmed by a tracking app for them on one of the students’ phones.

Other interesting payloads of the day were a “flux capacitor,” playdough, and Chips Ahoy Chocolate cookies. All survived and were recovered. The kids ate the cookies on camera which they said were really hot.

After Mission Complete, we finished site cleanup by 8:00 p.m. and the Team left the site to find a dinner tonight at Chili’s in Mineral Wells, after which most went to Best Western to crash for the night. Except me, I did not crash yet. I am still writing this article and will still post pictures to Facebook when I am done with this.

In the morning, the crew will meet for breakfast at 7:30 a.m. in the hotel lobby. Afterwards all will head home and call it a wrap for NTX until next year. Then we will begin preparations for the next sequence at the Central Texas/Stonewall launches this coming week, April 30th through the 2nd. A contingency day is built into Sunday, May 3rd if needed.

Well, I survived my first two days and first launch event as the media coordinator. I had a great intermittent helper, in Jaxon. He was a real trooper, adjusting cameras for me in between helping recovery and pad.

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

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

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

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

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

North Texas was the second launch in the 2026 series and is followed by launches in Central Texas/Stonewall and Southeast Texas/Smith Point. 

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

A live feed for each launch is available at www.systemsgo.org , or at the following link: Rockets 2026 Live Stream

 

 

New for this year, a recovery map link will be available for the schools to see pictures uploaded by recovery teams showing where and how their rockets were recovered. 2026 Recovered Rockets Data

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

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

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

Hope to see you at the launches!

#RidetheSkies, #EyesontheSkies #ItisRocketscience #SystemsGoRocketTrail #TexasRocketTrail#Rockets2026 #EyesToTheSkies

 

April 24, 2026, Friday, Opening Day of Rockets 2026 in North Texas

Rockets 2026 opened today at the North Texas launch site in Jack county. Three schools were slated to test a total of 23 vehicles. Three schools attended but only 17 rockets arrived for testing.

Temperatures topped out at 86 today with bright sunshine and very little clouds. The day started with a substantial breeze but by late afternoon it stopped completely allowing the heat to really settle in.

They day started a little rough as the very first rocket launched found its way down on top of a spectator’s pickup causing some significant damage. This very same vehicle had just successfully pulled a school bus out of the mud behind Mission Control.

Of all the rockets that made it to the rails today, all left and flew well. Unfortunately this was not a good recovery system day. Most failed to deploy coming down ballistic or opened bur free tumbling. Only a few came back under chute. Of those, Northstar Rocket #28 was one that had the ideal flight. They attempted a transonic launch and had a very successful run. All preliminary data suggests that not only did they fly well, have a successful recovery deployment, achieve Mach 1, and come back fully intact, but they may have just qualified for a banner. After final analysis of their data that determination will be made.

Joyce Abbey and I had a very busy day in the Media department, taking pictures and interviewing students about their rockets before and after launches. The character and intelligence of these student teams was truly amazing. The excitement the exhibited as they spoke about their rockets, what their jobs were on the team, what they learned, the challenges they faced, and how they grew as a team, brought a genuine smile.

Payloads were an interestin topic with the students today. There were a host of different things used to make that one pound requirement. Some admitted that their original object didn’t make the weight so additional things were added to bring it up. There were water bottles, glitter bombs, batteries, orbies, cameras, bb’s and coffee beans, water, oil, bath bombs, a giger counter, and an honorary picture of a school janiter that had recently passed.

Our three recovery teams had a good day, as they were able to recover 15 out 17 rockets, or at least a substantial part of them. Some pieces will be brought in tomorrow to complete rockets that only retrieved the body or chute and nose cone. Fortunately, that was only a few, most came back intact.

Tomorrow’s original schedule shows 4 schools and 21 rockets.

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

Restrooms and wash stations are available at the launch site, provided by Mobile Thrones. Teachers, spectators and students are encouraged to bring pop up tents (10×10) for extra shelter during the day. Please remember sunscreen, chairs, umbrellas, food, extra snacks, and drinks for your group . Concessions are not availble this year.

Please be courteous and clean up after yourselves and the members of your group. 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.

Below the site information, including map links, schools, flight schedule, livestream link and recovery map link are listed for your convenience.

North Texas/Jack County:

Saturday’s Schedule.

  • Schools participating: Northstar HS, BCTAL, Buinger HS, Hollenstein HS, Petrolia HS, Gary HS, and Ranchview HS
  • 14 rockets expected for testing.
  • Livestream link at available at www.systemsgo.org for each day.
  • Rockets 2026 Live Stream
  • New for this year, a recovery map link will be available for the schools to see pictures uploaded by recovery teams showing where and how their rockets were recovered. 2026 Recovered Rockets Data

Here are a couple of things that SystemsGo requires for your attendance:

  1. Any member of the public wishing to attend a launch is required to register online and agree to Launch Day Entry Form / Waiver
    Scan or Click
    Jotform Waiver QR Code
     There is no charge, but proof of registration is required before entering the site. You will be issued arm bands as proof and you must have them on at all times.
  2. All information can be found https://www.systemsgo.org

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

If you follow the rocket program join us again tomorrow for Rockets 2026, Day 2 in Jacksboro.

If you cannot attend in person, join in the action and cheer on your students on the Livestream. The link is provided above and on the SystemsGo  home page. The look on your students’ faces when their vehicle goes up and then is recovered, is beyond priceless. If they know you are watching and supporting them, that makes it mean so much more.  Shoot them a text, or iMessage letting them know you are watching online. You can also join in on the live chat next to the Live Stream feed on YouTube. The upcoming launches in Central Texas/Stonewall and Southeast Texas/Smith Point may also be followed and viewed on this same Livestream link. 

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

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

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

Hope to see you at the launches!

#RidetheSkies, #EyesontheSkies #ItisRocketscience #Rockets2026 #SystemsGoRocketTrail #TexasRocketTrail #EyesToTheSkies

Rockets 2026, Thursday, April 23rd North Texas Launch Site Prep Day

The SystemsGo team and volunteers began arriving at the site Tuesday. They spent Tuesday through today onsite in North Texas, near Jacksboro in Jack County,  transforming the Brown  and Thornton family ranches into a launch site,  once again for this year’s 2026 NTX launch. The crew spent a busy day assembling Mission Control,  Media, the Pad, Stages 1,2 and 3, setting fences and hanging signs.

Friday morning, marks opening day for this Texas launch venue, as schools, students, and test vehicles arrive for the Rockets 2026 flight line up. This season’s venue will be a Friday and Saturday launch event, with a weather contingency day of Sunday, only if needed.

2026 marks seven active years in this location. The ranches used here in Jack county are courtesy of the Brown family for Stage 1, 2 and Event Parking, and the Thornton family for Stage 3, Mission Control and launching.

This year’s event is sponsored by Herbert Easley Power Sports in Henriettta who supplied some of the ATV’s used by recovery, as well as Stroeher and Olfers, Inc of Fredericksburg for supplying one of the ATV’s.  Lastly, The Sid W. Richardson Foundation is the original founding sponsor for this SystemsGo event.

Pictures from the progress of the launches at this site are shared on SystemsGo Facebook page, as well as my Facebook page. They can be found here:

https://www.facebook.com/SystemsGoNews

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

The featured picture at the head of this article, shows a little about the range land this particular launch event calls home. The signage shows the sense of irony and humor our group has. After all, placement is everything! It is actual a picture from previous years, but I just love it so it tends to stay. At the time we left for the evening not all the signs were finished, and this one was not hung yet. I am not sure if it was an oversite, or if someone decided to do something new. I guess we will know by tomorrow.

Unfortunately SystemsGo was unable to procure a vendor for concessions for this year’s launch event in Jacksboro. Therefore all schools are responsible for bringing food, snacks and drinks for their students, parents and volunteers. This is a remote location. The nearest town with available food is  30+ miles either direction, ie Mineral Wells and Jacksboro.

Restrooms and wash stations are provided by Mobile Thrones  again this year, both at the launch site and the Stage 1 and 2, Event parking site.

A spectator tent will NOT be available on site this year. Teachers and Spectators are encouraged to bring 10×10 pop up tents for themselves and their students for extra shelter. 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. Sunday is our built in weather contingency day should we need to delay launches. All rockets and students should proceed through Stages 1, 2, and 3 at their assigned times each day so that each vehicle can be completed and be ready for launch if possible. If delays happen the completed rockets will be stored in a trailer until the next available, safe launch spot either that day, or subsequent days as circumstances allow.

Parents are asked to ride with their students in the school buses from Stage 1 and 2. Other spectators will have provided parking, watch for signage marking that area and instructions on how you will be brought in  from there. We will not be shuttling spectators to the launch site this year.

Jacksboro is the first Texas launch for the Rockets 2026 season but the second launch in the SystemsGo launch line up for the 2026 Spring Rocket trail. SystemsGo New Mexico held the first launch, in Jal, New Mexico, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. North Texas will be followed by launches in  Central Texas/Stonewall and Southeast Texas/Smith Point.

North Texas/Jack County, is hosting 7 schools, slated to test 44 rockets  Friday and Saturday. Sunday is set as a contingency day in case of inclement weather. At this point no storms are predicted, but strong winds are a possibility. They can cause delays and inhibit finding and recovering rockets as they cause excessive drift.

Tomorrow’s basic launch details including schools are also listed here for your convenience or can be found at http://www.systemsgo.org .

North Texas/Jack County:

  • Friday, April 24-Saturday, April 25 (Contingency Day, Sunday, April 26.)
  • Launch Site: FM 2210 W and Gowan Ranch Lane, Jacksboro, TX 76458
    Stage 1 & 2 are at the bus parking area. Look for the signs, you will arrive there first.
  • North Texas
    NTX Check In / Stage 1 and 2
    NTX Mission Control / Launch Site
  • Friday’s Schedule.
  • Schools participating:  BCTAL, Buinger HS, Hollenstein CTC,  Northstar HS, Gary HS, Petrolia, and Ranchview HS.
  • 23 rockets are scheduled for tomorrow.
  • 44  total rockets expected for testing over the weekend.
  • Watch the Livestream here: Rockets 2026 Live Stream
  • 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. Note there is a big difference between projected and actual. Actual is quite often much later that projected, but miracles do happen. 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.
  • New for this year, a recovery map link will be available for the schools to see pictures uploaded by recovery teams showing where and how their rockets were recovered. 2026 Recovered Rockets Data

Here are a couple of things that SystemsGo requires for your attendance:

  1. Any member of the public wishing to attend a launch is required to register online and agree toLaunch Day Entry Form / Waiver
    Scan or Click
    Jotform Waiver QR Code    There is no charge, but proof of registration is required before entering the site. You will be issued arm bands as proof and you must have them on at all times.
  2. All information can be found https://www.systemsgo.org

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

If you cannot attend in person, join in the action to cheer on your students on the Livestream. The link is provided above and on the SystemsGo  home page. The look on your students’ faces when their vehicle goes up and then is recovered, is beyond priceless. If they know you are watching and supporting them, that makes it mean so much more.  Shoot them a text, or iMessage letting them know you are watching online. You can also join in on the live chat next to the Live Stream feed on YouTube. The upcoming launches in Central Texas/Stonewall and Southeast Texas/Smith Point may also be followed and viewed on this same Livestream link.

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

Our day is now done. We had a late dinner at Mesquite Pit, and it is time for bed, because it will be early to rise tomorrow, with all #EyesToTheSkies. See you at the launch!

Please watch the SystemsGo website, SystemsGo Facebook page,  SystemsGo X (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, #EyesToTheSkies #ItisRocketscience #Rockets2026 #SystemsGoRocketTrail #TexasRocketTrail