Saturday marked the end of the Rockets 2026 Season with the third and final day of launches in Smith Point. The weather was cloudy and foggy to start the day. It finally burn off by 11:00, but then to love bugs came out and the hi humidity definitely stayed. Saturday morning we had a back log of rockets from Friday to start the day with while we waited for today’s to make it through Stage 1 and 2. Once we started we kept a pretty steady stream of rockets flowing to and off of the pad.
The original schedule listed 12 rockets for testing and we added 14 from yesterday bringing the total to 26, but only 10 showed up for today, so we actually launched 24 rockets by day’s end.
Most rockets left the rail on their first try, with only three making an extra attempt after minor adjustments. In all it was a good day for launches. Seventeen were recovered. The last volleys had small sets as we waited for the rockets for the day slowly cleared Stage 1 and 2. The last rocket left the rail at 7:06 p.m.
Steve helped under the tent again this year, spotting for recovery, carrying rockets to the pad, and whatever else was needed. I manned the media tent and ran the cameras and streaming. I did rocket team interviews, took photos, helped spot rockets and attempted to make sure rockets were signed off on when they were returned.
Luckily tests were done and mission complete by 8:00 pm, we drove back to the lodge to a beautiful sunset and all had dinner at the Oyster Bayou Hunting Club, courtesy of Amanda! Tonight’s menu was beef tips in mushroom gravy, white rice. brazed carrots, broccoli with chees, and Texas Tiramisu for dessert.
Today we had guests from Wings Over Texas. WC “Dub” Davis and Terri Vourganas, both Airshow staff members, came to support, talk to staff, watch and video launches.
It was another good year of launches, with great weather except for Friday evening in both Central Texas and Southeast Texas . Of course, good help to make everything go smoothly.
Spring launches are complete for 2026. The summer launches at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico are next up on the schedule June 10-14, with travel days on either side.
- Schools participating this weekend are were: Brazoswood HS, Friendswood HS, Hargrave HS, Summer Creek HS, Kingwood Park HS, Anahuac HS, Hardin-Jefferson HS, Harleton HS, Dobie HS, and Ball HS.
- A recording of the live feed for each launch in the spring series is still available for viewing online at Youtube at SGSocial.
- Thank you for joining us for launch season, and for supporting the schools and youth that participate in the SystemsGo curriculum. Most of the team members that travel with SystemsGo are volunteer based. We support them to ensure the program continues. We have all seen first hand the impact this STEM education program has had on family members and community member students, and the futures it has afforded those who participated in it and went on to college and beyond, applying what they learned.
Please watch the SystemsGo website, SystemsGo Facebook page, SystemsGo Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/SystemsGoNews and this blog for upcoming information on these events.
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
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! See you again next spring!
#RideTheSkies #texasrockettrail #Rockets2026 #EyesToTheSkies
On the Wings of Angels 