Saturday marked the end of the Rockets 2025 Season with the second and final day of launches in Smith Point. The weather was partly cloudy, with a strong cool wind. Saturday morning we had a lag as the rockets were coming in one at a time, hours apart. By 3:36 we had only launched 3 successfuly and attempted a 4th which prematruely popped on the rail and had to be taken back to Stage 3 for a reset and new charges. Rockets were extremely slow coming out of Stage 2.
The original schedule listed 18 rockets for testing and by day’s end the number the number tested was still 18 with the final rocket failing on the rail and mission complete having been called becuase our window of oppotunity had closed with the setting sun.
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 for launches. Most were recovered. In the early part of the day it was super slow getting them out of Stage 2 so they could pass through Stage through loaded and ready to fly. Late in the afternoon everyting shifted and the last volleys were full ones with rockets floowoing in quick succession.
Steve helped under the tent again this year, spotting for recovery, carrying rockets to the pad, and whatever else was needed. Bert manned the media tent. Bert ran the cameras and streaming. In the early part of the day he had student volunteers but due to the slow progress they decided to go to Stage 2 and see if they coule lend a hand. After that I did a few student interviews, took photos, helped spot rockets and attempted to make sure rockets were signed off on when they were returned. Late in the afternoon Chelsea arrived and helped at the pad and did some rocket surgery along the way.
Luckily tests were done and mission complete by 8:00 pm, we closed down to a beautiful sunset and all headed for dinner at the Crawfish Place!
It was another good year of launches, with great weather except for Friday evening in Central Texas and good help to make everything go smoothly.
Spring launches are complete for 2025. The summer launches at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico are next up on the schedule June 13-15, with travel days on either side.
- Schools participating this weekend are were: North Shore HS, Brazoswood HS, Friendswood HS, Hargrave HS, American Community Schools Abu Dhahi, Summer Creek HS, Kingwood Park HS, Anahuac HS, Hardin Jefferson HS, Fredericksburg HS, Elsik HS, and Ball HS.
- A recording of the live feed for each launch in the spring series is still 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! See you again next spring!
#RideTheSkies #texasrockettrail #Rockets2025 #EyesontheSkies #EyesToTheSkies
On the Wings of Angels 