Tag: Birdville CTAL

Rockets 2021 North Texas Launch Tuesday and Wednesday Set Up

The SystemsGo team and volunteers spent Tuesday and Wednesday at the venue in North Texas at Jack County. They were busy transforming the Brown  and Thornton family ranches into a rocket ready launch site, check in stations for Stages 1 and 2, and Event parking areas. After a few last minute tasks Thursday morning, all will be completed for the arrival of schools, students, and test vehicles for the Rockets 2021 launch line up.  Tomorrow, Thursday, is opening day for this Texas launch venue, as well as the Rockets 2021 season.

This year’s season is dedicated to former SystemsGo operative and friend, Dayni Alba. Dayni spent many years with the launch teams working the Fill and Fire box. This will the groups’ first season without her. A banner in her honor will fly at each launch this season. Ride the skies Dayni, you are loved and missed. IMG_0410 - Copy (2)

Excitement in anticipation for this event is high as the team worked hard for the return to rockets once again after a year off due to COVID. They are ready to accept all participants and their rockets promptly Thursday morning. The site will have six launch rails ready to keep everyone’s  #EyesOnTheSkies.

This is the event’s second active year 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 Mission Control and launching.

The Sid W. Richardson Foundation is once again the sponsor for SystemsGo for this event.

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

Jacksboro is the first Texas launch for the Rockets 2021 season. It will be followed by launches in Central Texas/Stonewall, and Southeast Texas/Smith Point. SystemsGo New Mexico will launch, in Jal, New Mexico, the week after the Smith Point launch.

North Texas/Jack County, is hosting 8 schools, slated to test 30 rockets Thursday and Friday.

More launch details are generally available at  http://www.systemsgo.org/events/ .

North Texas/Jack County:

  • Thursday, April 22-Friday, April 23
  • New Launch Site: FM 2210 W and Gowan Ranch Lane, Jacksboro, TX 76458
    Stage 1 & 2 are at the shuttle parking area, approximately 3 miles east of the launch site on FM 2210. Look for the signs, you will arrive there first.
  • North Texas-Jack County 2019 Flight Schedule
  • Schools participating: Buinger CTE Academy, Henrietta HS, Hollenstein CTC, Birdville CTE, Grapevine HS, Northstar HS, Petrolia HS, RL Turner HS
  • 30 expected rockets for testing
  • Watch the Livestream here: https://livestream.com/systemsgo/ntx-day1

The sites will be open to admittance for students and teachers only at 6:00 a.m. Projected start time for launches is 8:30 a.m. All is contingent on test vehicle readiness and ability to pass Stages 1 and 2. Mission Control will be ready for Stage 3 checks by 8:00 a.m.

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

If you follow this program and like to view the launches of Rockets 2021 watch for our Livestream links for the Central Texas/Fredericksburg launch site which will follow the next week after this launch. These launch from the Segner Ranch in Stonewall, Texas.  Two weeks from the launch in Jack County will be the Southeast Texas/Smith Point launches just south of Anahuac, Texas for schools in the Houston and Southeast Texas area. Look for more details on these coming up.

Watch for that Livestream link here,  www.systemsgo.org as each launch date arrives.

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

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

 

Rockets 2021 Blasts off Again at North Texas Launch Site, Launches Commence Next Week

The SystemsGo program begins next week in North Texas at Jack County for the Rockets 2021 launch line up.  This is the second operating year at this venue since the 2020 season was stonewalled by COVID. This is one of three Texas launch sites for the junior level rockets.   As the number of schools in the Texas program continues to increase, the need for another venue arose and so this venue was added in 2019 to deflect some of the load from the Central Texas and Southeast Texas launches. There are currently 48 schools participating in the three Texas launches, with a total this year of 142 rockets.

Totals are down just slightly for 2021 but considering this is following on the heels of a global pandemic, the number of schools that have managed the curriculum and completed their projects, is still remarkable. This achievement is a superior success for these students as they had to accomplish project completion while accommodating both in-person and online class schedules due to the past year’s COVID restrictions.  Rocket building is an in-person activity making this a difficult task while adhering to school, CDC and community guidelines that were put in place.

Here are how the Texas schools divide out for the three launches.

  • North Texas/Jack County– 8 schools – 30 rockets
  • Central Texas/Stonewall– 20 schools – 71 rockets
  • Southeast Texas/Smith Point– 20 schools – 41 rockets

The program also boasts a launch event in Jal, New Mexico, which will follow the three Texas launches this year. It has its own launch crews and facility and will test in mid-May.

  • Jal, New Mexico — 8 schools – 16 rockets

Unfortunately, this year all sites are closed to public viewing of launches. Only the teams and their teachers will be allowed due to COVID restrictions.  However, SystemsGo has secured permission from all three Texas host counties of Jack, Gillespie, and Chambers to allow the complete rocket team to participate at the event, which is different from previously announced. While they regret no public participation this year, the safety and health of the students and staff must be a priority for the launches to commence. Hopefully, next year will see a return to public involvement.

If you had planned to attend any of these launches, please watch for a Livestream link to be posted on the SystemsGo web page closer to your event. This link will be available here:  www.sytemsgo.org . Students and teachers are also encouraged to video with their own devices and share those videos with friends and family.

This first launch site is in the Jacksboro area, and while Stages 1 and 2 were at the Fire Department in nearby Perrin, in 2019, that location has been moved to accommodate COVID restrictions. This year these stages will be located on the property that was spectator parking in 2019. This location is approximately three miles east of the launch site and is where schools will take their teams and rockets FIRST. If you are traveling from Perrin, you will reach this site first. Look for the signs! Patience may be in order here, as changes to the prior system are accommodated and schools adjust to the parameters of the new location and COVID regulations. With that in mind, remember that masks are required and temperature checks will be administered on site.

Patience is a normal requirement with rockets, as they are test vehicles. They do not adhere to schedules well.  In fact, rockets are subject to winds, weather, and workmanship, all of which can stall a launch.

The sites will be open to admittance for students and teachers only at 6:00 a.m. Projected start time for launches is 8:30 a.m. Of course this 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.

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

More information is always available at http://www.systemsgo.org/events/ .

North Texas/Jack County:

  • Thursday, April 22-Friday, April 23
  • Launch Site: FM 2210 W and Gowan Ranch Lane, Jacksboro, TX 76458
    Stage 1 & 2 are at the shuttle parking area, approximately 3 miles east of the launch site on FM 2210. Look for the signs, you will arrive there first.
  • Schools participating: Buinger CTE Academy, Henrietta HS, Hollenstein CTC,  Birdville CTE, Grapevine HS, Northstar HS, Petrolia HS, RL Turner HS
  • 30 expected rockets for testing

If you follow this program and like to view the launches of Rockets 2021 watch for our Livestream links for the Central Texas/Fredericksburg launch site which will follow the next week after this launch. These launch from the Segner Ranch in Stonewall, Texas.  Two weeks from the launch in Jack County will be the Southeast Texas/Smith Point launches just south of Anahuac, Texas for schools in the Houston and Southeast Texas area. Look for more details on these coming up. 

Watch for that Livestream link here,  www.systemsgo.org as each launch date arrives.

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

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

 

Rockets 2019 New North Texas/Jacksboro Saturday Launch and Mission Complete

Saturday, Day 2 for North Texas Rockets 2019 launch series was a high flying success as we ended our stint in Jacksboro. The new crew sent 12 rockets skyward for 5 different schools. Recovery did an awesome job bringing them back to the schools. This was a brand new venue this year, and most staff and volunteers from the area were also new. They were all a wonderful group that learned fast and performed well.

It all went well without any serious mishaps. This new location and crew from the area has a lot to be happy about as they all helped SystemsGo create another fantastic launch event.

One of the best accomplishments aside from the launch itself is the exposure to new parents and communities as to what these students and classes are really doing. This has brought new enthusiasm to the event and a new host of possible support staff for the future of the event as they have actually been able to see the excitement their students have  for the program, as well as what they are learning. Also they now see first hand what it takes to put on these events so that the students can test these vehicles. At the end of the day, support and enthusiasm for the program was high. This is a great thing for the future of the event here in North Texas.

Afterwards the SystemsGo team and volunteers dismantled the site, sending bunkers and other equipment to storage for next year’s launch season. Instead of finishing the launch series at around 8:30 like last night, we were all going to our rooms for much-needed rest after a wonderful dinner together. We ended the event well and now march on to the next one.

A whole-hearted thanks is extended to all who helped make this launch possible.

Pictures are 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

North Texas was the second launch in the 2019 series, preceded by the Jal, New Mexico launch, and followed  next by  Central Texas/Stonewall and Southeast Texas/Smith Point.

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

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

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

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!

 

 

 

Rockets 2019 New North Texas Launch Site, Friday Launches

Today was the first day for  the new venue in North Texas  at Jack County as part of the SystemsGo Rockets 2019 program.  Seven schools attempted 22 rockets of which all rockets left the pad  successfully. A few of the later day Transonics took a couple of attempts but did accomplish lift off. It was a great first launch day in Jack County.

It was a long day. the first rocket didn’t launch until 11:30 and the last was 8:30. The crew was really beat but proud to say they got them all off the rails. University High School with started the flights with 6 of their 7 vehicles completing the whole first volley. Buinger and Hollenstein High Schools ended the day with their Transonics.

Tomorrow the schedule shows 6 schools and 16 rockets. There may be 17 as a late school may have been added.

All  the vehicles except about 8 were recovered for the day. Hopefully these will be found along with tomorrow’s line up. Team 1 is proud to report that we found six ourselves. Admittedly though they were a lot further and required a lot more hiking than  we had planned.

George Burns provided a shuttle service from the spectator parking to the site today and will again tomorrow. He brought up one of his 290 Wine Tours buses to transport people back and forth.

Pictures are 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 concessions will be provided at the launch site. A spectator tent will also be available. Please remember sunscreen, chairs, umbrellas, extra snacks and drinks,

The launch site is in Jacksboro area, while Stages 1 and 2 are at the Fire Department in nearby Perrin.

Patience is a normal requirement with test vehicles, as they don’t adhere to schedules well.  In fact, rockets are subject to winds, weather and workmanship, all of which can stall a launch.

Admittance for public viewing  begins at 8:00 a.m. and launches will commence at 8:30 a.m. if all goes right. Today didn’t follow that schedule pre-set schedule well at all. Come join in the action and cheer on these students. Admission is free, but the look on your students’ faces when their vehicle goes up and then is recovered, is far from priceless.

If you plan to attend these launches please register for your attendance ticket ahead of time or obtain them at the gate. These are free but required for admittance to each site as they also include a waiver for access to the site. that must be signed. Reserving them ahead at the website is preferred to obtaining them at the gate because the latter slows entrance to the site and may result in you missing the viewing of your intended launch. The link is listed in the information above or can be found at www.sytemsgo.org .

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

North Texas/Jack County:

If you follow this program join us again tomorrow for Rockets 2019 Day 2 in Jacksboro.

A link for the live feed for this launch is available at www.systemsgo.org  for each day.

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!

 

 

 

Rockets 2019 New North Texas Launch Site, Wednesday/Thursday Set Up

The SystemsGo team and volunteers spent Wednesday evening and all day Thursday at the brand new venue in North Texas at Jack County. They were readying both the launch site in the Jacksboro area and check out stations for stages 1 and 2, at the Fire Department in nearby Perrin, to be complete for the arrival of schools, students, and test vehicles for the Rockets 2019 launch line up.  Tomorrow, Friday,  is opening day for  this new Texas launch site for the junior level rockets.

Excitement is high as the team worked hard to be sure everything would be ready to accept all participants and their rockets promptly tomorrow morning. The new site will have six launch rails ready to send Rockets out to #RideTheSkies.

The team and volunteers have worked hard and had a lot of fun getting ready to host the students. A special thanks is extended to Mr. Buck Brown and his family for the use of their ranches this weekend. A few of us were able to meet him and his brother, Barry Brown,  this evening, while installing signs at the public parking area.

Names as pictured: Buck Brown, Scott Netherland, and Barry Brown(in truck).

Another thank you is extended to the Sid W. Richardson Foundation that is SystemsGo’s sponsor in this endeavor. We hope to meet a representative of them tomorrow at the launches.

Pictures are 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 concessions will be provided at the launch site. A spectator tent will also be available. Please remember sunscreen, chairs, umbrellas, extra snacks and drinks, and downtime entertainment.

Patience may be in order if you plan to view launches here, since occasionally there can be small kinks to work out at a new location.  Patience is a normal requirement with test vehicles, as they don’t adhere to schedules well.  In fact, rockets are subject to winds, weather and workmanship, all of which can stall a launch.

Mr. Brett Williams, the program’s originator, used to say that it took a million things to go right to get these rockets to launch, and only one thing going wrong to prevent them from launching.

Jacksboro is the first Texas launch for the Rockets 2019 season. It will be followed by launches in  Central Texas/Stonewall, and Southeast Texas/Smith Point, Texas. It follows the SystemsGo New Mexico launch, which was last week in Jal, New Mexico.

North Texas/Jack County, is hosting 12 schools, slated to test 39 rockets Friday and Saturday. In past years many of these schools launched at the Central Texas launch, formerly held in Willow City, north of Fredericksburg. This new venue gives them a launch site much closer to their schools.

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

North Texas/Jack County:

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

The site will be open for admittance and public viewing at 8:00 a.m. and launches will commence at 8:30 a.m.  all things willing. Come join in the action and cheer on these students. Admission is free, but the look on your students’ faces when their vehicle goes up and then is recovered, is far from priceless.

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

If you follow this program and like to view the launches, Rockets 2019  will continue with two  more launches in May. The Central Texas/Fredericksburg launch site  will be third in the line up this year. It has moved from Willow City to the Sammy Segner Ranch in Stonewall, Texas.  Look for more details on that  coming up. The last of the junior level launches will be held in Smith Point just south of Anahuac, Texas for schools in the Houston  and Southeast Texas area.

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

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

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

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

Hope to see you at the launches!

 

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A live feed for each of these three launches will be available at www.systemsgo.org as each launch date arrives.

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

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

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

Hope to see you at the launches! #RideThe Skies!

 

 

 

Rockets 2019 Expands Again Adding the New North Texas Launch Site, Launches Commence Next Week

The SystemsGo program added a brand new venue in North Texas  at Jack County to the  Rockets 2019 launch line up.  This is now the third Texas launch site for the junior level rockets.   As the number of schools in Texas is increasing over the years, this venue was added to deflect some of the load from the Central Texas and Southeast Texas launches. There are currently 51 schools participating in the three Texas launches, with a total this year of 145 rockets.

Having this new site has allowed the load to be distributed by region to a more manageable number for each. This year that division is as follows:

  • North Texas/Jack County– 12 schools – 39 rockets
  • Central Texas/Stonewall– 22 schools – 49 rockets
  • Southeast Texas/Smith Point– 17 schools – 57 rockets

North Texas is the second launch in the 2019 series, preceded by the Jal, New Mexico launch, and followed  next by  Central Texas/Stonewall and Southeast Texas/Smith Point.

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

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

This new launch site is in Jacksboro area, while Stages 1 and 2 are at the Fire Department in nearby Perrin. Patience may be in order if you plan to view launches here, since occasionally there can be small kinks to work out at a new location.  Patience is a normal requirement with test vehicles, as they don’t adhere to schedules well.  In fact, rockets are subject to winds, weather and workmanship, all of which can stall a launch.

The sites will be open for admittance at 8:00 a.m. and launches will commence at 8:30 a.m. Come join in the action and cheer on these students. Admission is free, but the look on your students’ faces when their vehicle goes up and then is recovered, is far from priceless.

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

North Texas/Jack County:

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

If you follow this program and like to view the launches, Rockets 2019  will continue with two  more launches in May. The Central Texas/Fredericksburg launch site  will be third in the line up this year. It has moved from Willow City to the Sammy Segner Ranch in Stonewall, Texas.  Look for more details on that  coming up. The last of the junior level launches will be held in Smith Point just south of Anahuac, Texas for schools in the Houston  and Southeast Texas area.

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

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

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!

 

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jal, New Mexico:

North Texas/Jack County:

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

Central Texas/Stonewall:

Southeast Texas/Smith Point

The sites will be open for admittance at 8:00 a.m. and launches will commence at 8:30 a.m.  Of course rockets are subject to winds, weather and workmanship, all of which can stall a launch. Come join in the action and cheer on these students. Admission is free, but the look on your students’ faces when their vehicle goes up and then is recovered, is far from priceless.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hope to see you at the launches!

 

 

 

Rockets 2018-Friday Day 2 Report and Saturday Schedule

Friday had a slow start for rockets. A combination of  the lack of rocket readiness and a cloudy sky delayed our start until about 11:30 when the first vehicle lifted off. SystemsGo was able to load 24 out of 25 rockets listed on the schedule onto the rails and launched all 24. The 25th was an abort by one of the schools.

The schedule boasted an array of interesting vehicle designs and colors. All 24 left the rail, some with picture perfect flights and a few with rather short flights landing quickly again in the field around the launch  pad. These at least were easy for Recovery to locate and bring in for the students.

A Gifted and Talented class from Fredericksburg Junior High came out to get a tour and view the launches for a while this morning.

Embry Riddle University had a representative there with a booth of information, hoping to encourage students to pursue engineering education through them.

There was one particular rocket with a very different fin configuration today. Unfortunately I cannot remember the rocket’s actual name, but we all nicknamed it the Windmill. It was designed by Marble Falls High school and sported two sets of fins the larger of which gave it the appearance of a windmill fan. We were all quite interested in the launch of this vehicle since we hadn’t seen fins like this before, and were curious as to how they would perform. Below is the vehicle in stage 3.

The next sequence is from their launch. Shortly after lift off the large fins sheared off, raining down around the Pad, but the smaller fins carried the vehicle to a significant height before it nosed over and headed back down. Chute did deploy but the body separated from the chute and landed just inside the fence of the launch field, and the nose cone and chute landed on the ground across the fence about 50 yards. It really wasn’t a bad launch for the unusual rocket.

           Unfortunately I don’t seem to have gotten a picture of the body tube after recovery. It was a fascinating launch, that we were all waiting to see, so I thought I would share it here as well.

That concludes the fun for Friday. Join us at the launch site again tomorrow for more action. Saturday will be our last day this year. There are no Sunday launches.

Below is the launch schedule for tomorrow, Saturday. There are 7 schools launching a total of 22 rockets tomorrow.

School Name / Teacher 1/1 Trans
Akins HS
John Sayce		 3 4
Alamo Heights HS
Colin Lang		 4
Birdville CTAL
Conner Gorman		 3
London HS
Toni Castle		 1
Manor HS
Will Davis		 1 1
Northwest HS
Elizabeth Mitias		 2 1
RL Turner HS
Brian Morrill		 2
Schools Launching                7
Totals 12 10
Total Rockets                22

The following is a link to the album of pictures from today’s launch. Have a look you and your school rocket just might be in there.

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

Good luck to all the schools launching on Saturday. I will update the blog after we complete our day again tomorrow. Here is the link to the live stream again.

http://livestream.com/systemsgo

Please remember that although there is no charge for the event, and these launches are open to public viewing, parking and seating is limited due to safety requirements. For this reason, SystemsGo has a provided a link for you to pre-order tickets for those in your party. This also provides SystemsGo with a way to monitor the number of people in attendance each year. This is in no way meant to discourage your attendance, but is instead to help them provide a great experience for students and spectators, while doing all possible to monitor safety issues and attendance numbers at any one time during the launches.

http://www.systemsgo.org/events/

Event details will be available here each day of the event. Daily reports featuring schedules, school names, results, pictures and some editorial content will also be posted.

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.

#SystemsGo #Rockets2017 #FredericksburgSTEMAcademy #Launcher01 #SystemsGoNewMexico

Fredericksburg Rockets 2017-Thursday Day 1 Report – Friday Schedule

Thursday went well. It started off a little slow due to clouds and a low ceiling. Fortunately, it burned off in the afternoon and launches started lining up with only intermittent delays. it was basically a warm, humid, and windy day, but turned out well in the end for rockets. Recovery went fairly well with only a few Transonics still in the field at the end of the day.  Hopefully they will still be recovered before the end of the weekend.

Original Fredericksburg High School STEM teacher and SystemsGo originator and program developer was on site today. He visited with folks, observed how things were working and even worked the Pad until around lunch. It was a nice treat having him on site a while again. He even said he might drop by again before the weekend is over.

We also had working guests from the new SystemsGo New Mexico. Director David Willden was helping a mission control as well as one recovery team that was from his group too.  #SystemsGoNewMexico

The original schedule listed 22 rockets, but the final total launched was 19.

Below is the launch schedule for tomorrow, Friday. There are 7 schools launching a total of 25 rockets tomorrow.

Friday, May 19, 2017
School
Name		 # 1st Level
Tsiolkovsky		 # 2nd Level
Oberth
Buinger CTE Academy
Michael Skrzynski		 2 3
Hamilton High School
Seaborn Achby		 1 1
Marble Falls High School
Leslie Alexander		 2 1
RL Turner High School
Bill Richardson		 2
Tom Moore (Ingram) High School
David Bunch		 4
Union Grove High School
Greg Park		 2 1
University High School
Dennis Oubre		 4 2
7
Schools Launching
Totals 17 8
May 13th Total Rockets 25

The following is a link to the album of pictures from today’s launch. Have a look you and your school rocket just might be in there.

https://www.facebook.com/ginger.burow/media_set?set=a.1476991132322013.1073741888.100000334203350&type=3&uploaded=143

Good luck to all the schools launching on Friday. If I get a chance to do some updates during the day tomorrow , then I will but don’t count on it. It will probably just be one at the end of day. Here is the link to the live stream again.

http://livestream.com/systemsgo

Please remember that although there is no charge for the event, and these launches are open to public viewing, parking and seating is limited due to safety requirements. For this reason, SystemsGo has a provided a link for you to pre-order registration tickets for those in your party. This also provides SystemsGo with a way to monitor the number of people in attendance each year. This is in no way meant to discourage your attendance, but is instead to help them provide a great experience for students and spectators, while doing all possible to monitor safety issues and attendance numbers at any one time during the launches. These  tickets are FREE. They can be found on the SystemsGo Events page. Look for the little ticket icon that says, “Admit One”.

Event details will be available here each day of the event. Daily reports featuring schedules, school names, results, pictures and some editorial content will also be posted.

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.

#SystemsGo #Rockets2017 #FredericksburgSTEMAcademy #Launcher01 #SystemsGoNewMexico