Tag: Facebook

The Texas Rocket Trail 2024 Started in Southeast Texas/Smith Point Today, Friday, May 10

Friday marked the beginning  of the last leg of the Texas Rocket Trail for Rockets 2024, and the first day of launches in Smith Point. Luckily, we had good weather for testing today, unlike last weekend in Central Texas . The original schedule listed 20 rockets for testing, but by day’s end 18 were tested and three of those took two attempts before successfully leaving the rail.

 In all it was a good day of steady launches. Of the 18 launched today, only 9 were recovered. Of those unrecovered, several were ballistic re-entries some only marked by sound no sight, one sunk in the bay, and a another landed in a gator nest. Some may yet be recovered as time allows tomorrow, but often ballistic landings are hard to locate unless their is a direct line of sight, which none of these had.

The Pad had a great day with a fairly steady stream of launches, and a lot of good help. Returning alumni, Austin Hodges from Anahuac, now active Navy, and Chelsea Burow Chadwick, from Fredericksburg, residing in Hewitt and working as a test technician for SpaceX were leads on the Pad. Both seemed to really enjoy their return to SystemsGo launches and helping train new recruits.

ALFASAR was unable to participate in recovery this year, but between new recruits Dusty and Jessica brought in and some 18 year olds Coach Moore recruited 6 teams were established. A gentleman volunteer from JPL (Jet Prorulsion Labs) manned the recovery coordination and mapping to help the teams locate rockets.

The last volley of launches was a little later than the team  had hoped for, starting around 7:00 p.m. The teams left the site at 7:41p.m. headed for the Crawfish Hideaway for dinner. It was packed but we had called ahead and they accommodated the group.

A few of us skippped out of dinner in lue of a shower. Mosquitos were horrible today and we had been bathing in OFF all day and wanted to remove the bug spray.

Tommorrow, Saturday, May 11, boasted another 19 rockets. Abu Dhabi is slated for testing again tomorrow. Last year they had a beautiful flight, but it nosed dived in a ballistic fashion into the pond to the right of Mission Control. They were originally on Friday’s roster but moved to Saturday. This year they have two rockets.

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 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 or can be found at http://www.systemsgo.org/events/ .

Southeast Texas Launches

  • Saturday, May 11, 2024
  • 5 are Schools participating Friday at Smith Point
  • 17 expected rockets for testing on Friday.
Saturday, May 11, 2024
School Name / Teacher 1/1 Trans
Anahuac HS                         Kirk Moore 1 1
Hargrave                        Karen Brasher-Hinds 2
Summer Creek            Melissa Young 2 1
North Shore                  Brian King 3 3
Ball HS                          Laurent Langevine 4
American Community School  Kevin Collins 2
Schools Launching                               6
Totals 14 5
Total Rockets 17
  • A Livestream for each launch will be provided and will be available at www.systemsgo.org/events as each launch date arrives. Friday’s is as follows:
  • Streaming Link May 11 SETX
  • 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.

More details will be available here each day. Reports featuring schedule links, school names, results, pictures, and editorial content will be posted during the events if information is available.

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

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

Hope you enjoyed this year’s launches!

#RideTheSkies #texasrockettrail #Rockets2024 #EyesontheSkies

Rockets 2024 Southeast Texas/Smith Point Launches Wednesday/Thursday Setup Recap and Friday Pregame – May 9

Southeast Texas Rockets started off Wednesday and Thursday with travel and set up days in Smith Point. After cloudy and rainy days in Central Texas that resulted in the rockets being tested without students on Monday and Tuesday, we are hoping for better weather this weekend.

Rain has inundated the area last week, and the site here in Smith Point already has more than it’s share of water standing around. Flood waters were present in all rivers and water ways on the trip down to Smith Point. The weather forecast was looking pretty good for the weekend at the beginning of the week, but warnings were already being issued for the state from the hill country through the east coast by this afternoon.  Light drizzle was falling at our courts in Oak Island by 8:00 this evening. We are still hopefull that tomorrow and the weekend will allow all rockets to fly before andy serious weather insues.

Kirk Moore and his crew were able to set up tents and mark the pad on Monday. SystemsGo Team members began arriving Wednesday and finishing set up for Stage 1, 2, 3, Mission Control and the Pad. They were unable to test the pad so that will be done in the morning. Communications will be established tomorrow as well. Phil Houseal is unable to come to this launch so Bert Mikosh will be manning the operations with help from students and other team members.

The drawbacks at the site so far have been standing water, alligators and mostly mosquitos! Bring the OFF, you will need it. Bring rubber boots, you will need them as well.

The team is once again trying out new accommodations here in Anahuac, as the Oak Island Resort and Hurricane Tita’s Bar and Grill closed down. So we moved farther down the water way closer to Trinity Bay into Oak Island Lodge. Community bathrooms for the group are a new experience, but we will survive. It has a great view of the water though the moquitos are swarming here as well.

We tried a new place this year for supper as a group. Tony’s Bar-Be-Que was pretty good. Some had BBQ, others had fish, shrimp, alligator bites, zucchini fries, fried pickles, fries, and stuffed jalepenos.

The original schedule listed 10 schools and 37 rockets slated for testing this weekend in Smith Point. Due to weather issues in other sites there may be some additions/subtractions to the schedule as some may travel here to attempt launching. There may also be schools that add or drop the number they are testing that were already listed as part of the schedule. Due to this, the schedules posted here are now an estimate as changes are not always published.

Twenty +/- rockets are scheduled for Friday, as festivities begin.

Pictures from the above-mentioned events, and rockets as well as progress at the site to this point are on SystemsGo Facebook page, as well as my Facebook page. They can be found here:

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

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

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/events/ .

Southeast Texas Launches

  • Friday, May 10, 2024
  • 5 are Schools participating Friday at Smith Point
  • 20 expected rockets for testing on Friday.
  • Friday, May 10, 2024
    School Name / Teacher 1/1 Trans
    American Community School Kevin Collins 2
    Brazoswood HS             Chris McLeod 4
    Friendswood HS               Jim Foreman 4
    Harden Jefferson            Mike Fogo 2 2
    Kingwood Park               Glenn Taylor 4 2
    Schools Launching                      5
    Totals 16 4
    Total Rockets                          20
  • A Livestream for each launch will be provided and will be available at www.systemsgo.org/events as each launch date arrives. Friday’s is as follows:
  • Streaming Link May 10 SETX

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.

More details will be available here each day. Reports featuring schedule links, school names, results, pictures, and editorial content will be posted during the events if information is available.

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

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

Hope to see you at the launches!

#RideTheSkies2024 #TexasRocketTrail #Rockets2024 #EyesToTheSkies

Rockets 2024, Thursday, April 25th North Texas Launch Site Prep Day

The SystemsGo team and volunteers spent Wednesday and Thursday at the site 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 2024 NTX launch.  Friday morning, marks opening day for this Texas launch venue, as schools, students, and test vehicles arrive for the Rockets 2024 launch line up.

This is the event’s fifth 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 Stage 3, Mission Control and launching.

This year’s event is sponsored by Lockheed Martin as well as Tellus of Stephenville who supplied the ATV’s used by recovery. Bert Mikosh of CredenceIO Technologies was instrumental in installing Starlink WIFI  to support our technology and communications. And The Sid W. Richardson Foundation is the original founding sponsor for SystemsGo for this 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!

Concessions for this year’s launch event in Jacksboro, were to be provided by Brazos Volunteer Fire Department .  Unfortunately due the predictions of inclement weather possible in the area, they had to cancel in order to be able to provide timely support around their community in the event weather hazards arise. Due to this we ask that all teachers, etc. bring food, drinks, and snacks for your students and other members in your party.

Restrooms and wash stations will be 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 becomes available, 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 2024 season but the second launch in the SystemsGo launch line up for the 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 8 schools, slated to test 44 rockets  Friday and Saturday. Sunday is set as a contingency day in case of inclement weather. Storms are possible due to a cold front moving through the area with the highest possibilities being Saturday and Sunday. Due to this watch for possible weather delays and schedule changes. Hopefully they will not be necessary, but the possibility looms.

Tomorrow’s basic launch details including 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 (Contingency Day, Sunday, April 28.)
  • 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-Jack County 2023 Flight Schedules may be downloaded from the SystemsGo/Events page.
  • Schools participating:  BCTAL, Hollenstein CTC,  Carroll HS
  • 44  expected rockets for testing.
  • Watch the Livestream here: Streaming Link April 26 NTX
  • 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.

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 SystemsGo Terms and Conditions 2024. There is no charge, but proof of registration is required before entering the site.
  2. Ticket Links can be found https://www.systemsgo.org/events/ listed under each individual venue.

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

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/Event 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 on the Vimeo Live Stream.

The Livestream is a perfect way to follow SystemsGo’s upcoming launches in Central Texas/Stonewall and Southeast Texas/Smith Point. Be sure to check the SystemsGo/Event page for the link to each event.

You can follow along on the SystemsGo Recovery Portal to see the status of you or your students’ rocket. See whether the rocket is ready for launch, has launched, whether it has been recovered and the status of the vehicle at recovery, or if it was lost and unable to be recovered.

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 nice dinner at JR’s Chop House B&B, 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, #EyesontheSkies #ItisRocketscience #Rockets2024 #SystemsGoRocketTrail #TexasRocketTrail

 

The Texas Rocket Trail 2023 Ended in Southeast Texas/Smith Point Friday

Friday marked the end of the Texas Rocket Trail for Rockets 2023, as the second and final day of launches in Smith Point boasted good weather and a steady line of rockets coming for testing. The original schedule listed 22 rockets for testing, but by day’s end one carryover from Thursday added and 5 vehicles dropped off the docket, leaving only 18 to launch which still creates a full day.

Most rockets left the rail on their first try, with only 4 having to make extra attempts after minor adjustments. In all it was a good day of steady launches. Of the 18 launched today, all but three were recovered. Of those three, one ballistic re-entry was only marked by sound no sight, one sunk in the bay, and a third land in a gator pond. The last might yet be recoverable with the use of an air boat in the next few days. Only time will tell if the students get it back, or if the gators will get to keep their new rocket.

Mission Complete was called at 6:40 and the sight was packed up by 7:45. The team had a final meal together for the spring season at Tita’s Hurricane Seafood Restaurant in Oak Island, visiting for a while and then heading to bed or home for the evening. It was another good year of launches, with great weather and good help to make everything go smoothly.

Spring launches are complete for 2023. The summer launches at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico are next up on the schedule in late June.

  • Schools participating on Friday were: Atascosita HS, North Shore HS, Brazoswood HS, Friendswood HS, Hargrave HS
  • A live feed for each launch in the spring series will be available for viewing at www.systemsgo.org/events  

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 members 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.

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 #Rockets2023 #EyesontheSkies

Rockets 2023 Southeast Texas/Smith Point Launches Thursday Recap

Southeast Texas Rockets started off Thursday in Smith Point. After a rainy and stormy set up day on Wednesday, we enjoyed partly cloudy skies, and a breeze for most of the day. It was humid and steamy, and puddles riddled the site, but it was still a manageable weather situation for the launches.

The drawbacks for the day were that we started off with the Internet and the port-a-potties still MIA to start the day. The Internet arrived for set up at 10:15, a good four hours into the day. Potties were closer to 11:00 leaving the spectators and workers alike waiting uncomfortably for their arrival. Both providers cited miscommunications on the timeline for the event.

Rockets started arriving in Stage 3 around 11:00, but the first full volley of launches was not until 1:22. One rocket came down pegging the top a volunteer’s car, denting the roof. That was the only hazard for the day. Our new school from the American Community Schools of Abudhabi, launched later in the afternoon. It was a beautiful launch, but the parachute system failed to deploy, and it came down as a ballistic lawn dart about 150 yards from Mission Control and was lost in a marshy bog. It was both a thrill and a disappointment for a group of students the traveled so far to participate.

19 rockets arrived for testing today. Of those, 17 were launched and left the rail, 1 had to abort at the end of the day, unable to complete their vehicle, and one though reworked several times had to push off until tomorrow for another chance at the rail. Five were left unrecovered, with the hope they may show up tomorrow. Mission Complete was called at 7:42 for the evening.

Twenty-two more rockets are scheduled for Friday.

Pictures from the above-mentioned events, and rockets as well as progress at the site to this point are on SystemsGo Facebook page, as well as my Facebook page. They can be found here:

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

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

Festivities continue with launches resuming tomorrow, Friday.

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 continues Friday. Livestream links and schools are also listed here for your convenience or can be found at http://www.systemsgo.org/events/ .

Southeast Texas Launches

  • Friday, May 12, 2023
  • 12 are Schools participating this year in Smith Point
  • 22 expected rockets for testing on Friday.
  • A Livestream for each launch will be provided and will be available at www.systemsgo.org/events as each launch date arrives. Friday’s is as follows:

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

More details will be available here each day. Reports featuring schedule links, school names, results, pictures, and editorial content will be posted during the events if information is available.

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

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

Hope to see you at the launches!

#RideTheSkies2023 #TexasRocketTrail #Rockets2023 #EyesToTheSkies

Rockets 2023 Southeast Texas/Smith Point Launches This Thursday

The 2023 Texas Rocket Trail season is on it’s last leg of the junior series launches with the Southeast Texas/Smith Point testing site. Currently 38 vehicles are scheduled for testing by 12 schools at this site. Testing begins this week, May 11-12, with a weather contingency day to be used only if needed on May 13.

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

Southeast Texas/Smith Point

  • Thursday, May 11 – Saturday, May 8
  • Launch & All Stages: 19350 FM 562, Anahuac, TX 77514
    South of Anahuac, near Smith Point, Texas
  • Schools participating: Gary HS, Hardin-Jefferson HS, Hargrave HS, North Shore HS,  Anahuac HS, Booker T Washington HS, Brazoswood HS, Kingwood Park HS, Milby HS,  Summer Creek HS, Odyssey HS, Friendswood HS
  • 38 expected rockets for testing
  • A Livestream for each launch is provided and available at www.systemsgo.org/events

The sites will be open to admittance for students and teachers only at 6:00 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. First launch as soon as we have some cleared to the pad.

Restrooms and wash stations will be provided at the launch site. Concessions will be provided on site. 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.

Locals report that mosquito spray is a MUST.

Spectators are asked to register online for a ticket and sign a waiver before entering the event site. The registration link can be found on the Events page at SystemsGo.org .

Daily reports featuring schedules, school names, results, pictures and some editorial content will be posted during the event if information is available.

Daily picture uploads can be found on my Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/ginger.burow/

Or the SystemsGo Facebook page at:

SystemsGo Facebook page,

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

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

Hope to see you at the launches!

#RideTheSkies #texasrockettrail #Rockets2023 #EyesontheSkies #gettothepoint

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

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

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

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

Southeast Texas/Smith Point

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rockets 2021 Southeast Texas/Smith Point Launches Saturday

Saturday was a super slow day for launching. Only two had been tested by 11:30. And they were still the only two by 4:11.  There were still 5 and one possible relaunch trying to qualify through Stages 1 and 2.

The evening became longer yet. At 4:16 the rocket #123 rework/relaunch  was the first to return to Stage 3. Others were very slow to follow.
At 6:15 #123A finally went for its relaunch followed by three more in fairly quick succession. The final one for the day made it to the rail but then developed issues which the pad crew worked diligently to overcome. Launch was attempted and failed and another attempt was made to correct some minor problems. As the crew worked the vehicle began to lose integrity and show signs of coming apart on the rail. The unfortunate call was eventually made to abort the launch and it was returned to the students. This ended testing for the Southeast Texas/Smith Point launch weekend.

More information on these launches can be found at http://www.systemsgo.org/events/ .

If you follow this program and like viewing the launches, there is one more available to view for Rockets 2021. Jal, New Mexico will be launching May 11-13.
 Picture uploads from The Texas Rocket Trail of Rockets 2021 can be found on my Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/ginger.burow/

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

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

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

Rockets 2021 Southeast Texas/Smith Point Launches Friday Update

Friday morning was an early one. Chita Craft and her Channel 11 News crew covered an early launch while reporting the weather from the site. Students from Anahuac were interviewed before launching Rocket 100, which they had built.

It was a successful launch, although the chute did not deploy, and it landed ballistic about 150 feet from Recovery Team 4, (Steve and Myself). It was completely dug into the ground with only about one foot and the fins still visible.

Chita Craft, came out to the landing site and took pictures as the teams retrieved it from the ground. Afterwards, the recovery teams took a photo opp with Ms. Craft.

Today’s schedule boasts four schools and 19 rockets. As of 5:00 this afternoon, ten had launched and another 8 were accounted for and expected to launch. Another long evening was rolling on as everyone awaited final checks in Stage 3 so that rockets could load the pad.

The goal was not to have any hold overs to tomorrow so that a hopefully short schedule could be maintained. As this week has shown though even short schedules can become long. Clearing vehicles through the stages is a little longer process this year as students have had to navigate all the COVID issues with school this last year, and that has made work on these vehicles hard to accomplish. This has left some arriving here not as prepared as they both thought they were, or as they would normally have been. Patience has been long, hard and required for all aspects of this year’s launches.

By evening’s end 20 had left the rail. This included the Anahuac display for the news.
Thus ended another long day of launching.

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

Southeast Texas/Smith Point

  • Saturday, May 8
  • Launch & All Stages: 19350 FM 562, Anahuac, TX 77514
    South of Anahuac, near Smith Point, Texas
  • Southeast Texas-Smith Point 2019 Flight Schedule
  • -Schools participating: Booker T Washington HS, Liberty HS, , Milby HS, Summer Creek HS, Liberty HS
  • 57 expected rockets for testing
  • A live feed for each launch will be provided and will be available at www.systemsgo.org as each launch date arrives.
  • May 8- Day 3

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.

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

If you follow this program and like viewing the launches, there is one more available to view for Rockets 2021. Jal, New Mexico will be launching May 11-13.

Daily reports featuring schedules, school names, pictures and some editorial content will be posted during the event 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 #texasrockettrail #Rockets2021 #EyesontheSkies #gettothepoint

Rockets 2021 Southeast Texas/Smith Point Launches Thursday Recap

The Southeast Texas/Smith Point testing site had it’s first day of launches today. Originally 41 vehicles were scheduled for testing by 20 schools at this site.  Testing days are May 6-8, with a rain contingency day to be used only if needed on May 9.

The schedule for today slated five schools launching 12 rockets. This quickly dropped to four schools and 5 rockets for today. Their is a seventh one for Anahuac, which will launch at 6:45 tomorrow morning. Of the original five schools scheduled to launch today, Sunnyvale High School aborted, a few other schools did not bring the full numbers they had originally quoted, and one do not qualify and returned home.

Launches were very slow even though numbers were low. Only two vehicles had been tested by 2:30. The other four still had not passed through to Stage 3. What should have been a short day, became long day of waiting. The last rocket finally launched at 7:00 p.m. was recovered and the crew headed fir food.    .

Teacher, Kirk Moore arranged for Channel 11  News to broadcast live tomorrow, Friday at the launch site. Since our sites are closed to public participation this year, this is a wonderful opportunity for the students. He is planning a launch at 6:45 a.m. He state that he is, ” Pumped that we are finally getting chance to show what our kids do.”

He also has Chita Craft doing live weather from the launch site. If weather cooperates, Mr. Moore commented that, ” It’s going to be an early morning, but well worth it!”

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

Southeast Texas/Smith Point

  • Friday, May 7
  • Launch & All Stages: 19350 FM 562, Anahuac, TX 77514
    South of Anahuac, near Smith Point, Texas
  • Southeast Texas-Smith Point 2021 Flight Schedule (Not including Anahuac’s 6:45 a.m. TV launch.)
  • Schools participating: Pasadena Memorial HS, Brazoswood HS, Kingwood HS, Anahuac HS
  • 35  expected rockets for testing
  • A Livestream for each launch will be provided and will be available at www.systemsgo.org as each launch date arrives.
  • May 7- Day 2
  • 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

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.

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

If you follow this program and like viewing the launches, there is one more available to view for Rockets 2021 after this one. Jal, New Mexico launches next week, May 11-13.

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

Daily picture uploads can also be found on my Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/ginger.burow/

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

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

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