Systems Go! Rocket Program Ready for Launch
Tuesday evening, instructor Chris McLeod and his Goddard team at Brazoswood High School revealed their 2023 Goddard Rocket, Phoenix 1. They will leave Thursday and take their 21.9 foot, 260lb hybrid Goddard Rocket to the National Competition in White Sands, New Mexico.
The program has large shoes to fill behind the 2022 Horizon 1 Rocket. Just one year ago this month the Horizon 1 soared to an altitude of 45,482 feet setting a new world record for High School SRAD (Student Researched and Designed) Hybrid Rockets.
This year, the team aims to break that record, setting their sights on a new world record. All systems are GO for this rocket with a capability of reaching 50,000 feet. The team will leave for White Sands Missile Range on Thursday. Friday, they will perform flight checks and readiness reviews. Saturday the launch window opens, and Brazoswood will be third on the rail to launch after fellow Goddard programs from Alamo Heights and Union Grove.
Brazoswood is a part of SystemsGo, a project-based engineering program that has extended its rocket program into over 70 schools across multiple states. This unique open-ended curriculum puts the research, design, and fabrication of these impressive rockets into the hands of the students. The program opens doors to collaboration with NASA and many other aerospace and engineering companies.
Mr. McLeod said, “These students never fail to impress me. The scope of this project is hard to fully realize, but for those who have visited our students, been to reviews, or been involved in the program, you know the effort and dedication it takes to reach this point.”
The project has a huge level of community support. Thank you to our contributing sponsors, including:
- BASF
- NASA
- MMI
- Dow
- Swagelok
- SystemsGo
- Olin
- DaVinci Maker Labs
- SE Customs
- Kroger