Tag: Harleton High Scool

Rockets 2025, Thursday, May 1, Central Texas/Stonewall Launch Report

Rockets 2025, Central Texas/Stonewall Edition, began today. The original schedule listed 20 rockets for today launched by 6 schools. Of those, 19 were successfully tested today. All were good flights, some lacked deployment of chutes. Quite a few were successfully recovered, though some will need to be searched for tomorrow while retrieving new launches.

The site took on a new look this year as they moved the pad 90 degrees to face east andthe MC to face west toward it. This was oriented to attempt to keep more of the rockets on the Segner and Weinheimer ranches for easier and faster recovery. It also helped with the evening sun in Mission Control and the Media tents.

All rockets were tested by 6:40 and the site secured for the evening as storms are predicted for over night in the area. Eleven team members congregated at Campo Azul for dinner after launches and then headed home for much needed rest before staring tomorrow’s session.

The concesstion trailer is for this year’s CTX Rocket event is run by Toothless BBQ from Stonewall, Texas.

Their main menu included turkey legs, pulled pork sandwiches, sausage sandwiches, sausage on a stick, and loaded mac-n-cheese.

Tomorrow 23 rockets are on the schedule, built by 8 different schools.

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, Vogel Tractors and AMSAT Amateur Radio In Space.

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:

  • Friday, May 2, 2025
  • Launch Site: 2187 Double Horn Road, Stonewall, Texas 78671
  • Stage 1 & 2 at Stonewall Chamber of Commerce: 250 Peach Street, Stonewall, TX 78671
  • Central Texas-Stonewall 2025 Flight Schedule
  • Schools participating this year in Stonewall: Fredericksburg HS, Johnson HS, Hamilton HS, Kingwood HS, Roosevelt HS, Atascocita HS, Victoria East HS, Victoria West HS, Harleton HS, London HS, Alamo Heights HS, Union Grove HS, Canon City HS, Brazoswood HS, Future Ready Complex, Mustang HS
  • 11 more rockets are slated for testing on Saturday.
  • A Livestream for each launch is provided here:
  • CTX Stream May 2
  • 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 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 #Rockets2025 #EyesToTheSkies

Rockets 2025 Continues with Central Texas/Stonewall Launches Starting Tomorrow, Thursday, May 1-Saturday, May 3, 2025

The Central Texas Launches sail into the skies over Stonewall, Texas starting tomorrow, May 1, 2025. This is the third in the series for the Rockets 2025 and the second in the Texas Rocket Trail lineup.

The SystemsGo Team spent several days early this week setting up the launch site at the Sammy Segner Ranch on the Double Horn Road. This included construction of the Pad and Mission Control and testing of the rails. Stage 3 inside MC, Media, and Communications were also part of this set up.

Class A Event Rentals arrived to set up tents for Mission Control, Media and spectators. Duane Neffendorf again provided portable restrooms and wash stations to the site. We have a new food trailer providing concessions for the weekend. As of yet, I have not been able to ascertain their name or menu. I will try to get that in on tomorrow’s update. Later LCRA, Bee Creek Communications and Starlink provide support for IT,  Internet WiFi and Radio communications.

Stages 1 and 2 rocket check in stations were also established at the Stonewall Chamber of Commerce building. Student Team tables were numbered for evaluations and last-minute corrections to the vehicles.

The Stonewall site covers the Fredericksburg and Hill Country area schools. Some of our North and South Texas schools still participate here, but most are encouraged to use the sites closest to them.

Currently there are 54 rockets scheduled for launch by 16 schools at the Stonewall location for Rockets 2025. This schedule may be updated this week with the possibility of schools adding or dropping close to launch time. 

Spectators are welcomed again this year. Teachers are encouraged to bring pop-up tents for themselves and their students. Please remember sunscreen, chairs, umbrellas, extra snacks, drinks, and food. Downtime entertainment for the students to engage in between launches may also be helpful. Rockets are subject to winds, weather, and workmanship, all of which can stall a launch, and delay schedules.

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

Central Texas/Stonewall:

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

Rockets are subject to winds, weather, and workmanship, all of which can stall a launch. Please either join in the action on site or help cheer the students on while watching the  Livestream. The look on your students’ faces when their vehicle goes up and then is recovered is priceless. If they know you are watching and supporting them, then it is even more memorable. If you are not on site, then shoot them a text, letting them know you are watching online. 

A live feed for each launch will be provided here:

CTX Stream May 1

And the link is available at http://www.systemsgo.org on the Events page each day of the launch.

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

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

  • Thursday, May 1- Saturday, May 3, Weather Contingency Day-Sunday, May 4
  • Launch Site: 2187 Double Horn Road, Stonewall, Texas 78671
  • Stage 1 & 2 at Stonewall Chamber of Commerce: 250 Peach Street, Stonewall, TX 78671
  • Central Texas-Stonewall 2025 Flight Schedule
  • Schools participating: Fredericksburg HS, Kingwood HS,  Union Grove, Roosevelt HS, Harleton HS, Canyon City HS
  • 20 expected rockets for testing

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

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

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

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 #EyesOnThe Skies #EyesToTheSkies

April 24, 2025, Thursday, Opening Day of Rockets 2025 in North Texas

Rockets 2025 opened today at the North Texas launch site in Jack county. Four schools were slated to test a total of 21 vehicles. Of those, three were aborted, and one from Hollenstein High School was held over for tomorrow‘s launch due to late completion in Stage 3, but 17 were tested today here in North Texas.

It was a long day. Final launches just barely made the daylight thresh hold before the final mission complete was called for the day. Storms impeded progress early in the morning from 6:00 a.m. until around 8:30 a.m. and again after lunch from about 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Temperatures bewteen 60s during and right after the storms to 80s in the late afternoon. Light jackets were quickly discarded by late afternoon when rain was replaced with full sun with only spotty clouds.

Our three recovery had a good day recovering a substantial number from today and a few old ones from past years.

Tomorrow’s original schedule shows 4 schools and 19 rockets. One of Hollenstein’s rockets is returning tomorrow which ups the number to 20 for the day.

It was a good day in spite of short handedness in Mission Control. Randy was covering Fill and Fire, Data Entry and Recovery coordination. Later in the day Jaque came in from Stage 2 and helped with Fill and Fire. And early on Joyce helped cover data entry to upload to Josephine so stats could be seen on the Livestream.

Tomorrow, recovery will be down one team from today, but another is coming in to help.

Tomorrow’s weather predicts rain possible with a 20-35% chance around 11:00 a.m. This could present a problem with completing all the launches for tomorrow. Hopefully this will not be the case, and we will not have to run into our contingency day on Saturday.

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 still provided by the Jacksboro Stomp organization.

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.

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

North Texas/Jack County:

If you are follow this program join us again tomorrow for Rockets 2025 Day 2 in Jacksboro.

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 #Rockets2025 #SystemsGoRocketTrail #TexasRocketTrail #EyesToTheSkies

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, Friday, May 3, Central Texas/Stonewall Weather Weary Launch Report

Rockets 2024, Central Texas/Stonewall Edition, continued today. The original schedule listed 27 rockets for today. 23 were left from yesterday that were unable to launch due to weather. The plan had been to try to get some of yesterday’s off the rails while waiting for today’s to move through from Stage 1 to Stage 3. The weather again did not cooperate so when a launch opportunity finally opened up at 2:20 this afternoon we started with those who were present and ready from today’s docket.

The first volley consisted of 3 successful launches and recoveries. The next volley of 4 involved three from today and one, #68 from yesterday. All had beautiful flights, but unfortunately went unrecovered as 2 are believed to be on the Iron Game Ranch and 2 more on the Klein property across the road. We did not have permission to enter those properties today, but will later in the weekend and they may be recovered at that time.

Tomorrow only 7 rockets are on the schedule, but we still have 22 left from Thursday, and 17 left from today. That sets the grand total still to be launched to 46. Once again if we get better weather and an opening in the clouds before those 7 for tomorrow are ready, we will fill in the time with some of our holdovers from yesterday and today. If our 7 are ready when the sky is ready, then they are up first. Either way we will try to launch as many as weather permits tomorrow.

Program Director, Rebekah Hyatt has already made plans with teachers, volunteers(as available) and land owners to launch on Monday and Tuesday to try to get all vehicles tested if weather permits. Hopefully it does not come to that, but unfortunately the current weather reports are not in our favor. After tuesday the team has to transition to Anahuac/Smith Point for the SETX launches.

Test vehicles like these often push the time schedules all on their own. Vent hoses, o rings, altimeter switches, and a host of other issues can send a rocket on numerous trips from pad back to Stage 3 and back again. Weather, as we have all seen again this year effects the schedule as well. We have been under Severe weather watches all weekend, and the possibility is still there. It has not been on our side so far this weekend, let us hope tomorrow shows us a brighter day, will hold off the rain and lift the cloud ceiling until we are done. The team would like to call it complete and not go into one or maybe more days of contingency.

After the completion of this weekend’s launches be it tomorrow or later, 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/events/ .

Central Texas/Stonewall:

  • Saturday, May 4, 2024
  • Launch Site: 2187 Double Horn Road, Stonewall, Texas 78671
  • Stage 1 & 2 at Stonewall Chamber of Commerce: 250 Peach Street, Stonewall, TX 78671
  • Central Texas-Stonewall 2024 Flight Schedule
  • Saturday, May 4, 2024
  • School Name / Teacher 1/1 Trans
  • London                            
  • Toni Castle 1 2
  • Alamo Heights          
  • Colin Lang 2 2                        
  • 2   Schools Launching
  • Totals 3 4
  • Total Rockets 7
  • Schools participating this year in Stonewall: Fabens HS, Fredericksburg HS, Johnson HS, Hamilton HS, Kingwood HS, Marble Falls HS, Roosevelt HS, Georgetown HS, Atascocita HS, Victoria East HS, Harleton HS, London HS, New Tech Odessa HS, Alamo Heights HS, Union Grove HS, McGregor HS, Canon City HS
  • 15 rockets slated for testing on Saturday.
  • A Livestream for each launch will be provided and will be available at www.systemsgo.org on the Events page each day.

The sites will be open to admittance for students and teachers only at 6:00 a.m. Projected start time for launches is 10:00 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 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 #Rockets2024 #EyesToTheSkies

April 26, 2024, Friday, Opening Day of Rockets 2024 in North Texas

Rockets 2024 opened today at the North Texas launch site in Jack county. Three schools were slated to test a total of 26. Of those, two aborted, one from each Birdville (BCTAL) and Carroll High School and 21 were tested today here in North Texas.

It was a long day. Final launches just barely made the daylight thresh hold before the final mission complete was called for the day. Storms loomed in the area all day with warnings of severe weather rang out in areas near by, but the site stayed clear with beautiful temperatures and weather. Wind was the only real issue to contend with and though gusty at times, not enough to disturb the launches.

Temperatures climbed slowly from 60s to 80s . Extra shirts and jackets were quickly discarded. By late afternoon it was full sun with only spotty clouds, but storms could be seen rolling by in the distance.

Recovery had a good day. Twenty-one rockets were tested, and though exact numbers are not in yet, preliminary estimates are that only 4 were unrecovered. Once again this year we only have three recovery teams. Recoveries for the day, were spread among the teams and what Pad recovered in their area. Twelve were recovered and another four failed to leave the rail. Of the 24 available for testing today, there were 3 that were unable to test doe to lack of readiness by the time deadline. Two of those are returning tomorrow to attempt launching.

Tomorrow’s original schedule shows 5 schools and 18 rockets. Dexter Learning has moved to the Central Texas launch, and two of Hollenstein rockets returning tomorrow it ups the number to 19 for the day.

It was a good day in spite of short handedness in Mission Control and the Pad. Recovery will be down one team tomorrow. At this point no word on if another team will be coming to replace this team.

Tomorrow’s weather predicts rain and possible storms starting around 4:00 p.m. This could present a problem with completing all the launches for tomorrow. Hopefully this will not be the case, and we will not have to run into our contingency day on Sunday.

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. 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 . No concessions are available on site this year, so everyone is responsible for ,their own food, drinks and snacks.

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.

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

North Texas/Jack County:

  • Saturday, April 27
  • Launch Site: FM 2210 W and Gowan Ranch Lane, Jacksboro, TX 76458
    Look for the signs, for Stages 1 and 2, and Event parking.
  • North Texas-Jack County 2023 Flight Schedule shown below.
  • Schools participating: University HS, RL Turner HS, Petrolia HS, Northstar HS, Dexter Learning
  • 91 rockets expected for testing.
  • Livestream link at available at www.systemsgo.org for each day.
  • Saturday, April 27, 2024
This is the original schedule. Changes mentioned in this article are not reflected here.

If you are follow this program join us again tomorrow for Rockets 2024 Day 2 in Jacksboro.

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 #Rockets2024 #SystemsGoRocketTrail #TexasRocketTrail

Rockets 2024 and The Texas Rocket Trail Ended in Southeast Texas/Smith Point Saturday, May 11

Saturday marked the end of the Rockets 2024 Season with the second and final day of launches in Smith Point. The weather was cloudy, windy and a little cooler than Friday. We had rockets loaded on the rails for testing by 10:35 Saturday morning and we stayed steady until later in the day. At that point we had a lag as the last few were slow coming out of Stage 2. Luckily tests were done and mission complete by 8:00 pm and we were headed for dinner at the Crawfish Place!

The original schedule listed 17 rockets for testing, but by day’s end some carryovers from NTX Rockets, and CTX Rockets coupled with schools that dropped the number they had actually brought, only adjusted the number to 18 as the final number to launch which still meant a full day.

Most rockets left the rail on their first try, with only a few having to make extra attempts after minor adjustments. In all it was a good day of steady launches. Of the 18 launched only 9 were recovered. High upper winds carried the floaters and the Transonics away. Several splashed into or very near the bay. Coach Kirk will enlist the help of air boats later this week to try to locate them. One was believed to have landed in a gator nest. They just might have their own new toy, since not too many takers stepped up to retrieve it.

Steve helped under the tent again this year, spotting for recovery, carrying rockets to the pad, repairing rockets and whatever else was needed. Bert and I manned the media tent. Bert ran the cameras and streaming. I did student interviews, took photos, helped spot rockets and anything else that was needed. Chelsea ran the pad and did some rocket surgery along the way.

It was another good year of launches, with great weather except in Central and good help to make everything go smoothly.

Spring launches are complete for 2024. The summer launches at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico are next up on the schedule in mid June.

  • Schools participating this weekend are were: Atascosita HS, North Shore HS, Brazoswood HS, Friendswood HS, Hargrave HS, American Community Schools Abu Dhahi, Summer Creek HS, Dexter Learning, Kingwood Park HS, Anahuac HS, and Hardin Jefferson HS
  • A recording of the live feed for each launch in the spring series isstill available for viewing online 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 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.

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

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