Rockets 2022 Continues with Central Texas/Stonewall Launch Starting Tomorrow, Thursday, May 12-Saturday, May 14, 2022

The Central Texas Launches sail into the skies over Stonewall, Texas starting tomorrow, May 12, 2022. This is last in the series for the Tsiolkovsky and Oberth level vehicles of the Rockets 2022 season. This site is in its third active year at the Sammy Segner Ranch in Stonewall, Texas. The Central Texas Launch is the longest running venue of the #TexasRocketTrail, with 20 plus years and in four locations over that time.

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 closer to them.

Currently there are 47 rockets scheduled for launch by 18 schools at the Stonewall location for Rockets 2022. This schedule may be updated this week with the possibility of schools adding or dropping close to launch time. 

Stages 1 and 2 will be at the Stonewall Chamber of Commerce building. Stage 3 and Mission Control will be located on the Sammy Segner Ranch off Double Horn Road.

Restrooms and wash stations will be provided at the launch site. Concessions and a spectator tent will be available. Spectators are welcomed back 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.

Excitement for the Central Texas event is high as SystemsGo team and volunteers are ready to greet students and their rockets promptly Thursday morning. Stages 1 and 2 will open for students and teachers at 6:00 am.

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 and the link is available at 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 12- Saturday, May 14, Weather Contingency Day-Sunday, May 15
  • 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 2021 Flight Schedule
  •  
  • Schools participating: Fabens HS, Fredericksburg HS, Johnson HS, Hamilton HS, Kingwood HS, Marble Falls HS, Gary HS, Roosevelt HS, Georgetown HS, Atascocita HS, Pasadena Memorial HS, Hamilton HS, Victoria East HS, Harleton HS, London HS, New Tech Odessa HS, Alamo Heights HS
  • 47 expected rockets for testing

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

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

The senior groups are tentatively scheduled to launch their Goddard level rockets at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in New Mexico possibly 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. These will end the launch sequence and finalize the Rockets 2022 season.

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

May 2, 2022, Rockets 2022 Continues Today in Colorado!!!

The Rockets 2022 season transitioned to Colorado today. This is a brand new launch venue for SystemsGo. Canon City HS joined the SystemsGo program in 2021 and came to Stonewall for their first launch that same year.  They had one Tsiolkovsky level rocket.

The featured picture for this article is the class from this high school from last year’s launch.

The current roster for this new venue still only boasts Canon City with four rockets this year. Two Tsiolkovsky and two Oberth.

They are opening this launch to other Colorado schools to come and view the program up close. Hopefully this will add numbers in both schools and rockets  for future participation allowing the program to grow in the Colorado area.

This new launch site is at the U.S. Army Fort Carson Colorado, Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site. It is a one day launch, today, Monday, May 2, 2022.

The site is open to public viewing of the launches.  Unfortunately this launch will not have live streaming.

All  launch information is listed at http://www.systemsgo.org/events/ .

The sites will be open for admittance at 6:00 a.m. and launches will commence there after.

Please watch the SystemsGo website, SystemsGo Facebook page,  SystemsGo Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/SystemsGoNews  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 #texasrockettrail #Rockets2022 #EyesontheSkies #SystemsGoRocketTrail

April 29, 2022, Rockets 2022 North Texas/Jacksboro Friday Launch

Friday, Day 2, and the final day for North Texas Rockets 2022 launch series was mission complete by 3:54 this afternoon, with all rockets launched. 18 rockets from five different schools left the rails today. These schools included Buinger HS, Petrolia HS, University HS, Birdville HS, and RL Turner HS.

Recovery dropped from three teams to two today, but they still managed to recovery 15 of today’s 19 launches. Team 2 also picked up Rocket # 52 from Thursday’s launches. Only five of the weekend’s 41 test vehicles were not recovered. Rocket #62 left the rail twice with it’s first test ending just past the rail. Students retrieved it still whole and intact and repaired it for a second test, at which point flew quite well and landed several pastures to the NE where it was recovered.

Weather for Friday was partly cloudy in the morning and mostly clear by afternoon with highs in the 80’s looks good. High winds still kept most of the rockets flying to the northern end of the range with many landing right around Team 2 again. 

First launches blasted off about 10:30 this morning. This was considerably earlier than on Thursday. That might be a group record, 19 rockets in just under 5.5 hours. 

Today’s Livestream link will open for a few days to view if you did not catch it live. You can find that link at SystemsGo on the Events page. Phil had interviews with dignitaries from a school in Abu Dhabi who are considering bring the SystemsGo program to their school in the United Arab Emirates. Representatives from a group in Jacksboro, called, Back to Space, were on site today as well. They are building and immersive destination experience designed to help further interest in space and the moon, called The Lunar Landscape Experience. To find out what it is all about, go to their website at backtospace.com .

Afterward launch complete the SystemsGo team and volunteers dismantled the site, sending bunkers and other equipment to storage for next year’s launch season, loading necessary items to leave for Colorado tomorrow for their launch at Pinon Canyon, and ending the rest of the group back to Fredericksburg.

Following the Colorado launch, the team will be heading to launch in Smith Point for the SETX Rockets. The following week they will all return for the Central Texas launches in Stonewall.

After a two year hiatus due to COVID, Captain Gene Garrett and wife Beth, were in from their new home in North Carolina. They joined the team for the NTX rocket launch and then will also help at the SETX launches before heading back East again. It was sure nice to have them here again.

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

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

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

North Texas was the second launch in the 2022 series, and is followed by launches in Pinon Canyon, CO, Southeast Texas/Smith Point, and Central Texas/Stonewall. The rest of the schedule is as follows:

The launch dates, locations, and schools are always listed for your convenience 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.

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

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

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

Hope to see you at the launches! #RidetheSkies, #EyesontheSkies #ItisRocketscience #SystemsGoRocketTrail #TexasRocketTrail

 

 

 

April 28, 2022, Thursday, Opening Day of Rockets 2022 in North Texas

Rockets 2022 opened today at the North Texas launch site in Jack county. Four schools were slated to test a total of 21 rockets, originally, but ended the day with 22 rockets launched. Carroll HS aborted one and Henrietta HS brought their two today instead of tomorrow, creating the difference in the schedule.

It was a long day, as intermissions were also long with a lot of down time early on. The first launch was at 1:15 instead of 9:00 as projected. Morning launch start times are generally hopeful estimates, contingent on clearances from Stage 1 and 2. Today the cloud ceiling kept launches at bay as well. The day ran long with the final launches completing just within our allowed window of daylight.

Temperatures climbed slowly from 60s to 80s with strong, winds. Light jackets were comfortable until mid afternoon and then were quickly discarded. By late afternoon it was full sun with only spotty clouds, a total difference from the heavy cloud ceiling of the morning.

Recovery had a good day with 20 out of 22 vehicles recovered. This is a great tally too, especially when you consider we only have three teams this year. Team 2 had the majority of the recoveries for the day, but the winds played a huge roll in this record, dumping most of them within 200 yards of their spot. One landed directly next to their Gator, bouncing off the front fender. Captain always told us that if we see one coming straight for us, step to the side. Definitely put that into practice today.

Their was a small number of perfect flights today, but all except one, left the rails. Many were short flights that quickly went off projection coming down again shortly. It was definitely an entertaining day of launches. One blew the engine out of the bottom and hung up on the rail instead of lifting off.

Early tomorrow morning, recovery will try to locate the two still in the field.

Tomorrow’s original schedule shows 6 schools and 23 rockets. Since Henrietta HS launched today, that adjusts tomorrow’s schedule to 5 schools and 21 rockets.

Tomorrow’s weather predicts to be almost the same as today. Temperatures will start in the 70’s headed to the mid 80’s with partly cloudy conditions until late afternoon again. Hopefully the winds won’t be quite as strong, and the ceiling less thick.

Recovery will be down one team from today, as Tyler Olson will not be able to help again. Hopefully a new team will show to take his place.

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 wash stations will be provided at the launch site. A spectator tent will be available. Spectators are allowed this year. 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 since there are no concessions onsite this year.  Please be courteous and clean up after yourselves and the members of your group. Downtime entertainment for the students to engage in between launches may also be helpful. Rockets are subject to winds, weather and workmanship, all of which can stall a launch, and delay schedules.

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:

  • Friday, April 29
  • 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 2022 Flight Schedule (Original schedule before Henrietta HS switched to today. Currently I do not have a revised schedule, but at this point the only change I am aware of is no HHS for Friday.)
  • Schools participating: Buinger CTE Academy, Henrietta HS, Birdville HS, University HS, Petrolia HS, RL Turner HS
  • 21 rockets expected for testing.
  • Livestream link at available at www.systemsgo.org  for each day.

If you are follow this program join us again tomorrow for Rockets 2022 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 #Rockets2022 #SystemsGoRocketTrail #TexasRocketTrail

Rockets 2022 Rides the Skies Again at the North Texas Launch Site in Jacksboro, Launches Commence Thursday

The SystemsGo program continues this week in North Texas at Jack County for the Rockets 2022 launch line up.  This is the third operating year at this venue. Jacksboro is the first of three Texas launch sites for the junior level rockets. 

There are currently 42 schools participating in the three Texas launches, with a total this year of 127 rockets. New Mexico and Colorado have joined the lineup of junior level rocket adding another 13 schools and 34 rockets bringing the 2022 lineup totals to 65 schools and 161 rockets. Schools and numbers are steadily climbing gain after pandemic shutdowns in 2020. It is all a very welcomed sight.

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

  • North Texas/Jack County– 10 schools – 44 rockets
  • Southeast Texas/Smith Point– 13 schools – 34 rockets
  • Central Texas/Stonewall– 19 schools – 49 rockets

The program also boasts a launch event in Jal, New Mexico, which preceded the three Texas launches this year.  And new this year is Pinon Canyon, CO which will be on May 2. 

  • Jal, New Mexico — 12 schools – 30 rockets
  • Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, CO — 1 school – 4 rockets

Fortunately, this year all sites are again opened to public viewing of launches.

If you plan to attend any of these launches, please be sure to register online for tickets and agree to the SystemsGo Terms and Conditions, which are available at the SytemsGo Events Page.

If you cannot attend in person a Livestream link to the event will be posted on the SystemsGo web page closer to the launch start. The 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, family and social media.

This is the event’s third 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.

More precise information on locations, mapping and parking will be in a subsequent update.

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 9:00 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.

Whether you come in person or watch online, 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/ .

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 #Rockets2022 #SystemsGoRocketTrail #TexasRocketTrail #RideTheSkies

North Texas Launch Site Rockets 2022 Wednesday Set Up

The SystemsGo team and volunteers spent Wednesday traveling to the site in North Texas, near Jacksboro in Jack County, and then transforming the Brown  and Thornton family ranches into a launch site, Stages 1 and 2 check in stations, and Event parking areas once again for this year’s 2022 NTX launch. Most preparations were completed today. Only a few last minute tasks are left for Thursday morning, and then all will be completed for the arrival of schools, students, and test vehicles for the Rockets 2022 launch line up.  Tomorrow, Thursday, marks opening day for this Texas launch venue.

Six launch rails are ready to keep everyone’s  #EyesOnTheSkies, as participants test their vehicles, to either send a payload a mile in the sky or break the speed of sound.

This is the event’s third 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.

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.

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

Pictures from the progress of the launches at the site will be 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. Concession vendors unfortunately could not be secured for this launch site, so everyone is encouraged to bring food for their groups. A spectator tent will be available as SystemsGo welcomes spectators back again this year. Teachers and Spectators are still encouraged to bring 10×10 pop up tents for themselves and their students for extra shelter, as there is only one large spectator tent available. 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 2022 season but the second launch in the SystemsGo launch line up for the spring rocket trail. It will be followed by launches in U.S. Army Fort Carson Colorado/Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site,  Southeast Texas/Smith Point and Central Texas/Stonewall . SystemsGo New Mexico held the first launch, in Jal, New Mexico, earlier this week.

North Texas/Jack County, is hosting 10 schools, slated to test 44 rockets Thursday and Friday.

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

North Texas/Jack County:

  • Thursday, April 28-Friday, April 29
  • 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 2022 Flight Schedule

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  • Schools participating: Buinger CTE Academy, Henrietta HS, Hollenstein CTC, Birdville CTE, Grapevine HS, University HS, Petrolia HS, RL Turner HS, New Diana HS, Carroll HS
  • 21 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 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.

If you cannot attend in person, join in the action and cheer on your students on the Livestream. The look on your students’ faces when their vehicle goes up and then is recovered, is beyond priceless. If they knowing 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.

If you follow this program and like to view the launches of Rockets 2022 watch for our Livestream links for the other two Texas launches. Next is the Southeast Texas/Smith Point launch just south of Anahuac, Texas for schools in the Houston and Southeast Texas area. This launch  will follow the next week after this  North Texas launch. Two weeks from the launch in Jack County will be the Central Texas/Stonewall launch,  at the Sammy Segner Ranch in Stonewall, Texas.  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 #Rockets2022 #SystemsGoRocketTrail #TexasRocketTrail

 

Rockets 2021 Continues Today in Jal, New Mexico!!!

The Rockets 2021 season transitioned to New Mexico this week after three weekends on the Texas Rocket Trail.  New Mexico launches are the fourth for the Tsiolkovsky and Oberth levels.

The current rosters list 8 schools participating in the Jal, New Mexico launch,  where they will be testing 16 rockets. This is the fourth active year for this venue.

Their numbers in both schools and rockets are down in New Mexico since the 2019 season, just as they were in Texas, due to schools navigating COVID parameters.

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 are closed to public viewing of launches this year.  However, the launches will se broadcast on Livestream here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG5OUV944GQ

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

Jal, New Mexico:

  • Tuesday, May  11 – Thursday, May 13
  • Returning to the launch site on Phillips Hill Road near Jal.
  • Schools participating: Fort Sumner HS, Grady HS, Hagerman HS, Jal HS, Lovington HS, Alamogordo HS, Dora HS, Portales HS
  • 16 expected rockets for testing
  • Tuesday, May 11, 2021
  • 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at Jal High School
  • 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Alamogordo High School
  • 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Dora High School
  • Wednesday, May 12th, 2021
  • 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at Lovington High School
  • 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Ft. Sumner High School
  • 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Portales High School
  • Thursday, May 13th, 2021
  • 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Hagerman High School
  • 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Grady High School

The sites will be open for admittance at 6:00 a.m. and launches will commence there after.

I am not sure exactly how the time frame on these launches will actually work. The block form of the schedule is a little different than the Texas schedules were. I know in Texas it depended on which schools’ rockets made it through Stages 1, 2, and 3 as to when and what order they launched.  In Jal they have a block 3 hour time frame for each school. I don’t really know how all the Stages factor in so it should be interesting to watch how the launches progress through the day.

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 on the Livsestream. Even though spectators and family cannot be there in person, just knowing you are watching them and cheering them on will boost their morale and bolster their success for their vehicles launch. Besides then you still get to see the look on your students’ faces when their vehicle goes up and then is recovered. That alone, is from priceless.

A live feed for the Jal, New Mexico, launches will be provided at www.systemsgo.org .

The senior groups are tentatively scheduled to launch their Goddard level rockets at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in New Mexico in late June. Right now these are still very tentative.  News on this may be available in the next few weeks.  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,  SystemsGo Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/SystemsGoNews  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 #texasrockettrail #Rockets2021 #EyesontheSkies

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