Rocket man

Posted: Friday, May 02, 2008 4:45 PM by Sam Singal

By Tom Costello, NBC News correspondent

Ever had a teacher who truly made a difference in your life? Someone who set you on a course that you really didn't expect?

Well, the students at Fredericksburg High School in Texas have just such a teacher, and he's turned a whole lot of kids on to subjects many of them had no interest in.

The hard ones: Math, Science and Physics!

In 1996, Brett Williams had an idea. To get kids really excited about science and physics, he needed to step away from the classroom to help make those subjects come alive.

He decided on a hands-on project that takes dedication, focus and commitment....and above all else, is really cool: Rockets!

That was the beginning of the Redbird Rocket Program at FHS. That first year, they managed to send one rocket up one mile, carrying one pound.

They've since become the first high school to break the sound barrier, even soaring to 100,000 feet.

Today, they are preparing to send a 500 pound rocket up to the edge of space, carrying a payload from Stanford University graduate students.

Fredericksburg High School's Aerospace program is turning into a model for the entire state.

Dozens of high schools now participate in the annual rocket launch. But only FHS has developed a program so sophisticated, the air force gets involved - launching its biggest rocket every year from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

Now, there's a movement to take the program that Brett Williams started, and spread it across the country.

This is not the Estes Rockets of old!

Tonight on Nightly News, we'll go along as the students in Fredericksburg see if their hard work paid off.

Also, check out a Web Extra video of Brett Williams explaining his dedication to his kids and his approach to teaching.

You'll see why they call him the Rocket Man.

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Comments

I noticed that students were doing some heavy lifting with the larger rocket. With all the cutbacks in some areas of the military there must be some surplus equipment available for school use. One thing that comes to mind is the carts used by the USAF for wing mounted weapons.

John Snow, West Wareham,MA (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 7:10 PM)

Brian-Your remark about this being your kind of story, reminded me of an event at the beginning of my career. We were committed to going to the Moon. The Saturn V booster had been designed and test fired in a horizontal position. Next, unmanned launch - at 10K ft. KA-BOOM! X2!! I worked for a small Co. which got a crash contract to make an optical interferometer to mount on the rocket for exhaust analysis. It found an element just before explosion which was in the throttle valve. Changing that valve made Saturn V very reliable.

John Tisdale, Woburn, Mass. (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 7:38 PM)

Hi I gradutated from Fort Stockton High School in Fort Stockton, Texas in 2005. In 2003, Brett Williams brought his program to our high school (which is located about 200 or so miles from Fredricksburg, TX). We were the first students outside of the Fredericksburg school district to participate in this program. I can honestly say that Mr. Williams, and my teachers involved directly in Fort Stockton, changed my life. The opportunity to participate in the program and build rockets influenced my decision to major in engineering...and now 3 years after graduating, hear I sit studying for my engineering finals. This was a great opportunity that changed my life for the better.

Drew Mitchell, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 9:47 PM)

Hi this is the kind of news i like good job!!!! I build rc craft for 30yrs started with model rockets!!!! now i buid 1-4 scale craft!!!

robert weinmann (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 10:19 PM)

Hi this is the kind of news i like good job!!!! I build rc craft for 30yrs started with model rockets!!!! now i buid 1-4 scale craft!!!

robert weinmann (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 10:19 PM)

Great story about the rockets. A similar story that might be a candidate for Nightly News is FIRST robotics (http://www.usfirst.org/). High school students across the country are building robots to compete in contests. You just missed the national competition that took place in Atlanta in mid April. Maybe you can cover that story next year.

As FIRST robotics founder Dean Kamen says, we are in a race between knowledge and catastrophe.

bjr, Rochester, Michigan (Sent Saturday, May 03, 2008 8:37 AM)

I'm not impressed. Palestinians have been teaching young people to build and fire rockets at Israel for decades.

Doug Liming (Sent Saturday, May 03, 2008 9:11 AM)

Great story! Gives me great flash-backs to when I was a kid building estes rockets with bugs (lol) as my payload and watching our dream to the moon. What happened to that spirit of national unity? Its nice to see some of it still exist. Thanks for airing this story.

Mark Jones, Reno, Nevada (Sent Saturday, May 03, 2008 10:53 AM)

it is greate that students sending rocket into low space and they are americans but what if they might have been from some third world country ????

Sardar inam ul haq inam (Sent Saturday, May 03, 2008 2:18 PM)

When I was in engineering school many years ago one of the biggest complaints I had was taking the theory learned in the classroom and applying it to real world problems and applications. I think that is great that these kids in Texas have a chance in high school to learn and understand the engineering and mathematics that goes behind rockets. I think that the USA was once the world leader in science and engineering but now the focus has become more on the financial side of business and getting to Wall Street. I also truly believe that in order for this country to regain the title of science and technology leader more programs like this need to be created and sponsored by industry and government to inspire kids at an early age.

Erik Larson, Norwood MA (Sent Saturday, May 03, 2008 4:17 PM)

When is NBC going to cover the scandal of all the networks using military analysts who still have ties directly or indirectly to the Pentagon? Have you, like Tony Blair, become Bush's poodle?

Charles Blaine (Sent Saturday, May 03, 2008 6:50 PM)

I live in Fredericksburg, teach at the elementary school, and have seen the awe and wonder of our younger students as they watch these older students' successes. There are no better teenage role models around. They make most of today's pop stars look very superficial. Thanks to Brett and all his students.

Teri Becker, Fredericksburg, Texas (Sent Monday, May 05, 2008 4:33 AM)

I am the president of Ignite Education, the educational non-profit organization that received funding to put Brett Williams' program in other high schools. High Schools may receive free teacher training, curriculum, and support from us if they are interested in putting this in their high school. Please contact us at www.igniteeducation.org

Carson Dickie, Fredericksburg, Texas (Sent Monday, May 05, 2008 12:17 PM)

Thank you Brian Williams and the gang at NBC for doing this story. Not only is this activity stimulating to future scientists and aspiring astronats, it is also just plain ole FUN! My son and I participate in this as a hobby and such activities were instrumental in his successful quest for a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Texas Tech. Meanwhile, some of our more notorious federal agencies are intent on outlawing such uplifting activities, for the children of course. Maybe you could do a followup story on the NAR/Tripoli vs BATFE lawsuit or the ongoing CPSC inquisition against hobby chemical vendors?

Ted Macklin, Van Alstyne, Texas (Sent Monday, May 05, 2008 12:40 PM)

This is a great story! The program at Fredericksburg High is a success because the community backs the school and the teacher. Science and math skills are taught is a way that is fun for the kids.

Roy Walker, Austin, Texas (Sent Monday, May 05, 2008 5:18 PM)

This is the kind of positive story that is too often lacking in the mainstream media. It isn't often that teachers get recognized for going the extra mile - and science is often given very little attention over more "fundamental" subjects like reading and math. Teaching science in the way that this story illustrated is the way to get students to understand that there are practical benefits to those "fundamental" skills.

Sadly many of the fun aspects of science - like rocketry - are heavily burdened with overbearing regulations. I think Homer Hickham said it best when he wrote in October Sky that most of what they did - is now illegal. When we look back on this era I hope we do not have to realize that we sold our freedoms and our children's future for a pocket full of magic beans.

Let's have more stories like this so that we can teach the politicians and the country what science can do.

Brad Shea, Charlotte NC (Sent Monday, May 05, 2008 8:06 PM)

quote: PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

How does Charles Blaine's comment meet this criteria? It is not at all related to the blog.

John Gamettes (Sent Monday, May 05, 2008 8:12 PM)

Thanks, Tom Costello and Brian Williams, for a great story! As a physics major turned computer programmer, I am happy to see a teacher take such an interest in inspiring teenagers to explore advanced technology. As another poster mentioned above, the hands-on aspect is the best, bridging the gap between theory and practice.

Rocketry is a fun, safe, and educational hobby. Let's hope that the next generation (and the ones to follow) have a chance to learn from it.

Jon Kerfoot, Broken Arrow, OK (Sent Tuesday, May 06, 2008 10:13 AM)

Thanks, Brian, for making a difference with this story. It is refreshing to see articles about motivating the youth of our country to pursue science and physics as a field of study. We need more of this kind of coverage.

James Gartrell, Cleburne, TX (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 6:42 PM)

My father has completed multiple, multiple undertakings in his life. He has accomplished intangible tasks that some people will never know about simply because he is humble. He is one of the greatest people you will ever be blessed to meet. The fact that NBC was willing to research and travel to develop a story on my father was the company choice. My father does not reach out to get public fame or national recognition. He started the Aeroscience Program at FHS, on his own, in hopes of creating a thirst, a drive for his students to enjoy engineering. He has created the company, IGNITE, to headstart and organize the funds and grants given by companies across the world.
As for children launching rockets in a third world country? Good, I am proud for them. Let their national news cover the story.
And so you say you're not impressed? Well personally your ignorant opinion does not matter. We have enough people in our community and across the nation as well as the world who are incredibly impressed.
Thank you for your time.
Have a great day.
-The daughter of The Rocket Man

Marjorie Williams, Fredericksburg, Texas (Sent Thursday, May 08, 2008 7:32 PM)

This is a great story about a wonderful hobby.

Will Hillis
Tripoli Level 2

Will Hillis, Nashville, TN (Sent Wednesday, May 21, 2008 8:38 PM)

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