Rocket Launch a big success

By John Earp

The 2024 Jal Rocket Launch Event took off this past Monday and Tuesday out on the Woolworth Ranch, with schools from across the region converging at the launch site and staying throughout the day. Mr. Nathan Richard, who heads up the Rocketry Program at Jal High School, said there are a total of 16 students in the program this year, with two one-pound rocket teams, both of which attained their goal of reaching a mile high for their rockets. Jal was one of three participating schools, and the only New Mexico team, to also have a transonic team. The JHS transonic rocket launch was also successful, with all four JHS rockets launched being recovered, with data recovered on three of the four rockets. The one-pound rocket exceeded the goal of one mile, reaching 4235 ft. in altitude. The transonic rocket team set a speed record for SystemsGo New Mexico at Mach 1.1. “Unfortunately, it sheared a couple of fins early in flight and didn’t achieve the goal of Mach 1.25,” Richard said.