Tag: Victoria West High School

Rockets 2021 North Texas/Jacksboro Friday Launch Postponed for Storms

Friday, Day 2 for North Texas Rockets 2021 launch series was postponed due to storms in the area. The crew stayed at the site until around 3:00 p.m. with the hope for a window around 4:00 p.m. that might allow a few hours to send up at least part of the schedule, but it continued the conditions continued to deteriorate.

Recovery Team 1 spent the time adventuring around the area and managed to dig up a third rocket from 2019. The day was called and all rockets were packed for safety until the tomorrow morning.

Weather for Saturday looks good. The hope is to test all vehicles,  those left from Thursday and Friday. Some schools are returning to watch and receive their vehicles. Others have left and will watch on the Livestream and collect their vehicles at a later date.

First launches are slated for 7:00a.m. Saturday morning. There are 21 rockets on the schedule. Today’s Livestream link will open for the launch tomorrow. Here is where to look: Livestream.

Afterwards the SystemsGo team and volunteers will be dismantling the site, sending bunkers and other equipment to storage for next year’s launch season, and heading home to begin setup for the Central Texas launches in Stonewall, the following weekend.

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. Due to COVID restrictions, no concessions or spectator tent will be available. 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.

North Texas was the first launch in the 2021 series, and is followed by launches in Central Texas/Stonewall and Southeast Texas/Smith Point, and the Jal, New Mexico launch. The rest of the schedule is as follows:

  • Central Texas (Stonewall) — April 29-May 1,  weather contingency day on May 2nd
  • Southeast Texas (Anahuac/Smith Point) — May 6-8,  weather contingency day May 9th
  • New Mexico (Jal) — May 11-13th
  • WSMR – TBD

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.

Later in the summer, several Texas schools  White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, completing the fifth launch and finalizing the season.

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

 

Thursday, Opening Day of Rockets 2021 in North Texas

Rockets 2021 opened today at the North Texas launch site in Jack county. It was a welcomed return to the skies after the 2019 season was furloughed for COVID. Four shools were slated to test a total of 19 rockets, originally. Eighteen vehicles actually arrived at the sight, but only 6 rockets were tested and left the pad  successfully.

It was a long day, as intermissions were also long with a lot of down time. The team launched a rocket built by program director, Rebekah Hyatt. It was built for and used three years ago for Brett Williams retirement party. This was a fun way to start the day and test equipment while waiting on schools to arrive. Three years ago this vehicle had a perfect flight and recovery. Today it wasn’t quite as lucky. The fight went well, but deployment failed resulting in a ballistic re-entry between the pad and Mission Control. Needless to say it won’t have a third flight.

The first rocket didn’t launch until 1:30 p.m. as rockets were slow acquiring clearances from Stage 1 and 2. The day was called short at 6:30 p.m. due to a low cloud ceiling preventing further launches.

The crew was really beat after dealing with temperatures in the 50’s all day and strong, biting winds. Layers were the survival order of the day. Throughout the day, most seemed to gain layers in order to stay comfortable.

Joyce Abby and Sky Bleu.

Tomorrow’s original schedule shows 4 schools and 11 rockets. Twelve more from today will be added to that schedule.

Storms are expected tomorrow leaving the team with a narrow window for launching, between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Due to this there is a strong possibility some vehicles will be held over to Saturday, to complete the mission. If the weather conditions improve, this could also change.

All  the vehicles from today’s volley’s were recovered for the day. Two from the 2019 season were also recovered, including one called “The Black Night.” If this vehicle’s name sounds familiar it might belong to your school. It was in fairly good condition but missing the nose cone.

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. Due to COVID restrictions, no concessions or spectator tent will be available. 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.

The launch dates, locations, 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 23
  • Launch Site: FM 2210 W and Gowan Ranch Lane, Jacksboro, TX 76458
    Stage 1 & 2 are at the shuttle parking area, approximately 3 miles east of the launch site on FM 2210. Look for the signs, you will arrive there first.
  • North Texas-Jack County 2021 Flight Schedule (Original schedule before today’s delays and postponements. Currently I do not have a revised schedule.)
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  • Schools participating: Buinger CTE Academy, Henrietta HS, Hollenstein CTC, Birdville CTE, Grapevine HS, Northstar HS, Petrolia HS, RL Turner HS
  • 29 rockets expected for testing.
  • Livestream link here, or also at available at www.systemsgo.org  for each day.

If you follow this program join us again tomorrow for Rockets 2021 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

Rockets 2021 Blasts off Again at North Texas Launch Site, Launches Commence Next Week

The SystemsGo program begins next week in North Texas at Jack County for the Rockets 2021 launch line up.  This is the second operating year at this venue since the 2020 season was stonewalled by COVID. This is one of three Texas launch sites for the junior level rockets.   As the number of schools in the Texas program continues to increase, the need for another venue arose and so this venue was added in 2019 to deflect some of the load from the Central Texas and Southeast Texas launches. There are currently 48 schools participating in the three Texas launches, with a total this year of 142 rockets.

Totals are down just slightly for 2021 but considering this is following on the heels of a global pandemic, the number of schools that have managed the curriculum and completed their projects, is still remarkable. This achievement is a superior success for these students as they had to accomplish project completion while accommodating both in-person and online class schedules due to the past year’s COVID restrictions.  Rocket building is an in-person activity making this a difficult task while adhering to school, CDC and community guidelines that were put in place.

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

  • North Texas/Jack County– 8 schools – 30 rockets
  • Central Texas/Stonewall– 20 schools – 71 rockets
  • Southeast Texas/Smith Point– 20 schools – 41 rockets

The program also boasts a launch event in Jal, New Mexico, which will follow the three Texas launches this year. It has its own launch crews and facility and will test in mid-May.

  • Jal, New Mexico — 8 schools – 16 rockets

Unfortunately, this year all sites are closed to public viewing of launches. Only the teams and their teachers will be allowed due to COVID restrictions.  However, SystemsGo has secured permission from all three Texas host counties of Jack, Gillespie, and Chambers to allow the complete rocket team to participate at the event, which is different from previously announced. While they regret no public participation this year, the safety and health of the students and staff must be a priority for the launches to commence. Hopefully, next year will see a return to public involvement.

If you had planned to attend any of these launches, please watch for a Livestream link to be posted on the SystemsGo web page closer to your event. This 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 and family.

This first launch site is in the Jacksboro area, and while Stages 1 and 2 were at the Fire Department in nearby Perrin, in 2019, that location has been moved to accommodate COVID restrictions. This year these stages will be located on the property that was spectator parking in 2019. This location is approximately three miles east of the launch site and is where schools will take their teams and rockets FIRST. If you are traveling from Perrin, you will reach this site first. Look for the signs! Patience may be in order here, as changes to the prior system are accommodated and schools adjust to the parameters of the new location and COVID regulations. With that in mind, remember that masks are required and temperature checks will be administered on site.

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 8:30 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.

As for the rest of you, join in the action and cheer on these students on the Livestream. 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/ .

North Texas/Jack County:

  • Thursday, April 22-Friday, April 23
  • Launch Site: FM 2210 W and Gowan Ranch Lane, Jacksboro, TX 76458
    Stage 1 & 2 are at the shuttle parking area, approximately 3 miles east of the launch site on FM 2210. Look for the signs, you will arrive there first.
  • Schools participating: Buinger CTE Academy, Henrietta HS, Hollenstein CTC,  Birdville CTE, Grapevine HS, Northstar HS, Petrolia HS, RL Turner HS
  • 30 expected rockets for testing

If you follow this program and like to view the launches of Rockets 2021 watch for our Livestream links for the Central Texas/Fredericksburg launch site which will follow the next week after this launch. These launch from the Segner Ranch in Stonewall, Texas.  Two weeks from the launch in Jack County will be the Southeast Texas/Smith Point launches just south of Anahuac, Texas for schools in the Houston and Southeast Texas area. 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

 

SystemsGo Team Travels to Smith Point for an Early Start to Houston Rockets 2017-Friday’s Launch Schedule Included

The StsytemsGo team left today, Thursday, headed to Smith Point, near Anahuac, Texas down near Houston. This is a new location for this year. They arrived there early today,  setting up the launch site, and readying everything for an early start, as launches begin Friday afternoon. This is new for this year.

Launches will continue all day Saturday, and  half a day on Sunday with 17 schools launching a total of 39 vehicles.

The current launch schedule for Friday is shown below and may also be downloaded from SystemsGo website at the following address:  http://www.systemsgo.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Flight-Schedule-Rockets-2017-Houston-4-4-17-.2.pdf

 

Friday, May 12, 2017
School
Name		 # 1st Level
Tsiolkovsky		 # 2nd Level
Oberth
Anahuac High School
Kirk Moore		 1 1
Dickinson High School
Sara Malloy		 1
Eisenhower High School
Jacob Arriaga		 1
Pasadena Memorial High School
Katherin Melton		 1
Pasadena Memorial High School
Kyle Jurek		 1
South Houston High School
Kevin Herron		 4
Victoria East High School
Adam Wertman		 2
Victoria West High School
Cheryl Clark		 1
Schools Launching    8
Totals 12 1
May 21st Total Rockets 13

This new launch site, will allow public access this year. A map to the location as well as directions are available at the SystemsGo Events page found here:

 http://www.systemsgo.org/events/

Phil Houseal  and Zach Pooser will be on site providing the Livestream up-link again this year so friends and family can watch the action online. Here is the link to the live stream for the Houston launches.

http://livestream.com/systemsgo

Zach and Phil provide a great experience for both viewers at home and the students and team on site while helping to bolster the STEM program. Allowing the public to share in the action and see what these students are accomplishing as they apply all they have learned in class, and continue to learn from their launch results, helps SystemsGo to grow interest in the future of the STEM program and the hands on approach to learning.

Please remember that since there is pubic access to this event this year,  there are tickets for order and those may be found on the SystemsGo website as well at this link: https://www.greateventseats.com/events.php

Just a note, the tickets are free of charge but are required for entrance. They are available on site at the gate as well but the preferred method is online at the link above.

Event details will be available here each day of the event. Daily reports featuring schedules, school names, results, pictures if available, and some editorial content will also be posted.

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.