Rocket man

John Snow, West Wareham,MA — Fri, 02 May 2008 23:10:07 GMT

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.

Rocket man

John Tisdale, Woburn, Mass. — Fri, 02 May 2008 23:38:01 GMT

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.

Rocket man

Drew Mitchell, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX — Sat, 03 May 2008 01:47:52 GMT

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.

Rocket man

robert weinmann — Sat, 03 May 2008 02:19:13 GMT

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!!!

Rocket man

robert weinmann — Sat, 03 May 2008 02:19:43 GMT

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!!!

Rocket man

bjr, Rochester, Michigan — Sat, 03 May 2008 12:37:47 GMT

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.

Rocket man

Doug Liming — Sat, 03 May 2008 13:11:36 GMT

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

Rocket man

Mark Jones, Reno, Nevada — Sat, 03 May 2008 14:53:29 GMT

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.

Rocket man

Sardar inam ul haq inam — Sat, 03 May 2008 18:18:44 GMT

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 ????

Rocket man

Erik Larson, Norwood MA — Sat, 03 May 2008 20:17:01 GMT

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.

Rocket man

Charles Blaine — Sat, 03 May 2008 22:50:58 GMT

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?

Rocket man

Teri Becker, Fredericksburg, Texas — Mon, 05 May 2008 08:33:16 GMT

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.

Rocket man

Carson Dickie, Fredericksburg, Texas — Mon, 05 May 2008 16:17:47 GMT

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

Rocket man

Ted Macklin, Van Alstyne, Texas — Mon, 05 May 2008 16:40:37 GMT

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?

Rocket man

Roy Walker, Austin, Texas — Mon, 05 May 2008 21:18:05 GMT

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.

Rocket man

Brad Shea, Charlotte NC — Tue, 06 May 2008 00:06:59 GMT

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.

Rocket man

John Gamettes — Tue, 06 May 2008 00:12:31 GMT

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.

Rocket man

Jon Kerfoot, Broken Arrow, OK — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:13:18 GMT

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.

Rocket man

James Gartrell, Cleburne, TX — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:42:35 GMT

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.

Rocket man

Marjorie Williams, Fredericksburg, Texas — Thu, 08 May 2008 23:32:15 GMT

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

Rocket man

Will Hillis, Nashville, TN — Thu, 22 May 2008 00:38:03 GMT

This is a great story about a wonderful hobby.

Will Hillis
Tripoli Level 2