The SystemsGo program added a brand new venue in North Texas at Jack County to the Rockets 2019 launch line up. This is now the third Texas launch site for the junior level rockets. As the number of schools in Texas is increasing over the years, this venue was added to deflect some of the load from the Central Texas and Southeast Texas launches. There are currently 51 schools participating in the three Texas launches, with a total this year of 145 rockets.
Having this new site has allowed the load to be distributed by region to a more manageable number for each. This year that division is as follows:
- North Texas/Jack County– 12 schools – 39 rockets
- Central Texas/Stonewall– 22 schools – 49 rockets
- Southeast Texas/Smith Point– 17 schools – 57 rockets
North Texas is the second launch in the 2019 series, preceded by the Jal, New Mexico launch, and followed next by Central Texas/Stonewall and Southeast Texas/Smith Point.
Later in the summer, eight Texas schools are currently on the roster to attempt a possible 10 rockets at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, completing the fifth launch and finalizing the season.
All sites will be open to public viewing of launches except White Sands Missile Range. However, if you plan to attend any of these launches please register for your attendance ticket ahead of time or obtain them at the gate. These are free but required for admittance to each site as they also include a waiver for access to the site. Reserving them ahead at the website is preferred to obtaining them at the gate because the latter slows entrance to the site and may result in you missing the viewing of your intended launch. The link is listed in the information above or can be found at www.sytemsgo.org .
This new launch site is in Jacksboro area, while Stages 1 and 2 are at the Fire Department in nearby Perrin. Patience may be in order if you plan to view launches here, since occasionally there can be small kinks to work out at a new location. Patience is a normal requirement with test vehicles, as they don’t 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 for admittance at 8:00 a.m. and launches will commence at 8:30 a.m. Come join in the action and cheer on these students. Admission is free, but the look on your students’ faces when their vehicle goes up and then is recovered, is far from priceless.
The launch dates, locations, map links, ticket links, and 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
- New Launch Site: FM 2210 W and Gowan Ranch Lane, Jacksboro, TX 76458
Stage 1 & 2 at Perrin VFD: 2210 W Hackley Street, Perrin, TX 76486 - https://www.greateventseats.com/NthTexas
- North Texas-Jack County 2019 Flight Schedule
- Map to Sites (PDF)
- Schools participating: Buinger CTE Academy, Carroll HS, Henrietta HS, Hollenstein CTC, Scurry-Rosser HS, University HS, Birdville CTAL, Grapevine HS, Maypearl HS, Northwest HS, Petrolia HS, RL Turner HS
- 39 expected rockets for testing
If you follow this program and like to view the launches, Rockets 2019 will continue with two more launches in May. The Central Texas/Fredericksburg launch site will be third in the line up this year. It has moved from Willow City to the Sammy Segner Ranch in Stonewall, Texas. Look for more details on that coming up. The last of the junior level launches will be held in Smith Point just south of Anahuac, Texas for schools in the Houston and Southeast Texas area.
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.
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!




