WSMR holds 2024 SystemsGo high school rocket launches
WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M. (July 30, 2024) On June 15, White Sands Test Center hosted SystemsGo and its participating high school teams for their annual rocket launches on White Sands Missile Range. SystemsGo is an innovative high school rocketry and aeroscience program that uses project-based learning to teach science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The program is certified by The Space Foundation and is implemented in high schools across Texas, New Mexico, Oregon and Colorado. Graduates that come from this program often move on to work in leadership positions at NASA, SpaceX, Boeing, and other prestigious organizations and schools across the country. Students learn to develop professional and leadership skills and are supported in pursuing careers in engineering industries. Schools participating in the WSMR launches this year included Alamo Heights High School, Brazoswood High School and Union Grove High School.
“Through the SystemsGo program and launching at WSMR, I have learned way more than what a traditional classroom could ever teach me. Preparation day and launch day proceeded in a timely manner with no major delays. Even though our launch did not go as we hoped, I know that the outcome of a launch does not nullify the extent to which our team learned about engineering, teamwork, and professional communication,” said Kellen Schuster, Brazoswood High School Goddard Rocketry Lead Engineer of the Daedalus 1 rocket. “I believe that everyone on my team is prepared to enter college or the workforce as an individual who is knowledgeable and is able to effectively communicate their ideas.”
SystemsGo allows each school to shape the program around their individual goals and needs. Schools can attempt new rocket build missions every year or they can create projects that are years in the making.
“This is the combination of thousands of hours of work. Over those hours I have been consistently impressed by how well the students have taken to the task. It’s a unique experience they will have for the rest of their lives. All of this is in the name of educating these students so they can go on to be the next generation moving this country forward. If the students are any indicator, we have a bright future. I am so thankful to WSMR and all its staff for providing this opportunity to these amazing students, we couldn’t do it without the military’s support,” said Charles Wilson, Alamo Heights High School Instructor.
“Our team launched Daedalus 1 at WSMR, and although we did not have the outcome we anticipated, we knew as a team, this launch was much more than just seeing it go up. As a team, we learned so much about working together, positive collaboration, and developing skills useful to a professional environment. The SystemsGo program and WSMR were such a huge help in making this launch possible and helping us achieve such a big project. With that being said, I am forever grateful for the amount of work and dedication from the various professionals to make this possible for all the students who participated, so thank you!” said Sarah Dodd, Brazoswood High Shchool Goddard Rocketry Team Manager.
On average students commit 15 hours a week during the school year to this project and over 30 hours a week during the summer including late nights and weekends to prepare for launch day on WSMR.
“This launch event at WSMR is the culminating event of our high school rocket engineering curriculum. Students have spent nine months researching, designing, reviewing, fabricating, and ground testing their rocket system. It takes an incredible amount of teamwork and dedication to complete a rocket of this magnitude and get it to WSMR complete and ready to fly. Thank you to the U.S. Army, support staff, SystemsGo, and our local support for all your help in making today happen. Believing in the work of these students is believing in the future of our country,” said Chris McLeod, Rocket Engineering Instructor at Brazoswood High School.
Union Grove High School approaches their SystemsGo program by investing two to three years into each rocket mission.
“I have been involved with Systems Go as a parent for five years. Both my boys went through the program. The chance to visit WSMR and be able to launch a rocket from there is an experience I encourage every student to take. The WSMR staff are absolutely wonderful with the students, regardless of how the launch proceeds. It is one of the best things my sons have been involved in,” said Rhonda Baker, Union Grove High School Support Instructor.
“Failure is the greatest teacher. So much knowledge is gained when things do not go according to expectations. I have brought 10 groups to WSMR to test their Goddard vehicle. Launch or fail, each year was a success for those students. Completing the vehicle and getting to WSMR was an accomplishment itself. I have never had a student express disappointment only excitement from the experience,” said Greg Park, Union Grove High School Instructor.
“It was a once in a lifetime learning opportunity that very few students get to have,” said Addi Smith, Senior at Union Grove High School.
“These are real life experiences that we could not get anywhere else. It will not be forgotten,” said Rowdy Williams, Senior at Union Grove High School.
For more information on SystemsGo, including learning how to start a program, please visit: www.systemsgo.org