New Mexico students set sights high at rocket launch

JAL, N.M. (AP) — High school teams from around New Mexico took part in an event this week in which they launched rockets into the sky near the town of Jal, including one that reached 2,400 feet into the air before descending. The Current Argus reports (http://bit.ly/2oMfQU5) participants in Discovery Education System's Go New Mexico rocket launching event included schools from Carlsbad, Loving, Hobbs, Lovington, Jal and Lake Arthur. Each team launched one to three rockets, which stood at a minimum of 5 feet tall and were first inspected to ensure they were ready for takeoff. New Mexico Sen. Gay Kernan attended Thursday's event. She says she's happy to see students engaging in educational activities outside the classroom. The students say they enjoyed the experience and considered the launch of their rockets an accomplishment.