Hello Rocket Fans, are you ready to #RideTheSky, cheering on your innovative, creative, intelligent students?! Well, tomorrow is the day! Rockets will be headed into the heavens in Jal, New Mexico. This is the second year for the SystemsGo New Mexico group and they are ready and up to the challenge, as they add Transonic vehicles to their launches for the first time at this venue. Last year they only attempted 1 pound/1 mile rockets so it will be another new learning curve for the students and volunteers at the site. No worries though, they have been training for this and the group has it all in hand.
Stage 1 and Stage 2 rocket check ins start at 1:00 today and run through 5:00 p.m. at Jal Elementary School. If your school’s rocket clears stage 2 today, Friday, it must remain at the elementary school overnight. Pick up time starts at 7:00 a.m. for these rockets.
Check out the new welcome sign at the site. That is pretty amazing!
The launch site at Phillips Hill Road will open for Stage 3 for rockets cleared on Friday evening only, at 7:30 a.m. All others report to the elementary school for Stage 1 and 2 checks and clearing. Do not bring your rocket to the launch site unless it has been cleared at Stage 2.
Please note, schools that were here last year, both the Stage 1 & 2 facility and the launch site are in different places from last year. Be sure you have correct directions and the new map link: http://www.bringonthescience.com
Recovery teams you will have a briefing at the launch site at 7:30 a.m.
General admission to the launch site begins at 8:00 a.m. Rockets are scheduled to begin launching at 8:30 but no sooner. Of course, as I mentioned yesterday, they are subject to wind, weather and workmanship all of which can delay a launch. Better put in the immortal words of Mr. Brett Williams, “A hundred things have to go right for a successful launch, but it only takes one thing going wrong to prevent it.” With that being said, take a seat, have patience, and just have fun. Be sure to bring some sideline entertainment. Books, cards, dominoes, and games are always good, or you can join in Rocket Trivia with Joyce Bk Abbey,
the voice of rockets, who will be there to MC the event.
An important reminder to the day’s events is that you DO need admittance tickets. You can pre-register for these at the following link: https://www.greateventseats.com/SystemsGo . When you register for these, you are also signing a waiver for entrance to the launch site. These are required to get in. You can obtain them at the gate, but it is discouraged as it slows down entrance for you and anyone behind you to the site and may result in you and anyone behind you missing your intended launch. Pre-registration is preferred.
Concessions will be available for purchase at the launch site. Portable bathrooms will also be set up. As spectators though, remember your chairs, card tables, umbrellas, sun screen, jackets, blankets, and entertainment for down time between launches.
The current schedule of launches is shown below and is available here: http://www.systemsgo.org/events/ .
| Saturday, April 21, 2018 | ||
| School Name / Teacher | 1/1 | Transonic |
| Hagerman HS Andrew Rodriguez |
1 | |
| Hobbs HS Shawna Carter |
5 | |
| Jal HS Nathan Richard |
1 | 1 |
| Lake Arthur HS Steve Goluska |
1 | 1 |
| Loving HS David Janzen |
2 | 1 |
| Lovington HS Michael Dodson |
2 | 1 |
| New Tech Odessa HS Richard Lindner |
2 | |
| 7 Schools Launching | ||
| Totals | 14 | 4 |
| Total Rockets | 18 | |
Don’t forget, all volunteers, teachers, teams and admins are invited to Jal Country Club for a hamburger and hot dog cook out from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Dave Willden is your gracious host for this event.
Current weather conditions for Saturday show a bit of a warm up. 40 is the predicted low and 71 is the high. That is not too bad for the desert in April. Dress is layers, you may need a light jacket in the morning.
Good luck to the seven schools participating in this year’s New Mexico event. No matter the outcome of your launch, you have successfully designed, built and delivered a rocket to the pad for testing. In doing just that, you have learned more and will take with you more than some achieve in a life time.
Parents and spectators be sure you are ready with the cameras to catch the expressions on your students’ faces for two different events. The first is when their vehicle leaves the pad headed into the sky, and the second is when Recovery hands it back to them after launch and recovery. These are the faces of joy, excitement, and fulfillment you want to see as much as you do that rocket soaring into the blue.
SystemsGo New Mexico has a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SystemsGoNM/ , and also a twitter feed: https://twitter.com/SystemsGoNM . These are a good source of information. Joyce Bk Abbey will be manning both and posting pictures and updates throughout the day in leu of Livestream which will not be available at this particular launch this year.
SystemsGo New Mexico is headed up by David Willden.
Please watch the SystemsGo website, SystemsGo Facebook page, SystemsGo Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/SystemsGoNews and this blog for upcoming information on these events.
After completion another report will be posted here, featuring results, pictures and some editorial content cataloging the success of the event.
http://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! #ItISRocketScience #RideTheSky #Launcher01
On the Wings of Angels 