You might know the movie “October Sky” about a group of small-town
Southern West Virginia
boys who dream of becoming rocket scientists.
Where is October Sky located?
October Sky is based on the lives of four young men who grew up in
Coalwood, West Virginia
. Principal photography took place in rural East Tennessee, including Oliver Springs, Harriman and Kingston in Morgan and Roane counties.
Where is the home of the Rocket Boys?
Cape Coalwood located in Coalwood, West Virginia
, was the launch site for a group of teenagers made famous by the book Rocket Boys and later the movie October Sky. At this site, Homer Hickam Jr. and his friends tested their rockets and used the date they collected to improve their rocket building abilities.
What is wrong with Odell’s leg in October Sky?
Sherman Siers has
a weakened left leg as a result of polio
, but does not let it slow him down. He is also the most observant and practical member of the team.
Where does Homer Hickam currently live?
Hickam resides with his wife, Linda at their home in
Alabama
throughout most of the year, but during his annual trip back to West Virginia, Hickam says he always makes a stop to visit his hometown of Coalwood.
Where did Homer go to show the results of all his hard work?
Where did Homer go to show the results for all his hard work? He goes to
the national science fair in Indiana
.
Who was October Sky based on?
Homer Hadley Hickam Jr.
(born February 19, 1943) is an American author, Vietnam War veteran, and a former NASA engineer who trained the first Japanese astronauts. His 1998 memoir Rocket Boys (also published as October Sky) was a New York Times Best Seller and was the basis for the 1999 film October Sky.
Is the community really behind the Rocket Boys?
Today, the tale of the Rocket Boys is one of West Virginia’s best-known stories. Hickam’s memoir is assigned in high school classes throughout the state. … Equally important: Hickam and his friends realized that
the community of Coalwood and Southern West Virginia was behind them
— encouraging and not hindering.
What is Quentin’s definition of a good rocket?
Quentin’s definition of a good rocket.
One that does precisely what it’s supposed to do
.
The BCMA’s financial solution
.
What happened Jim Hickam?
Near the end of the story, we learn that Jim Hickam has
gone off to college at Virginia Tech on a sports scholarship
. … Jim continues to focus on sports and become a football coach as well as a history teacher, first in Fort Chiswell, Virginia and later at Northside High School in Roanoke.
What happened to Miss Riley during the science fair?
Miss Riley does end up enjoying better health when the cancer goes into remission. Sadly, though, the remission only lasts a few years. Being the dedicated teacher she is, she continues working up until the point she physically can’t.
Miss Riley ends up dying of Hodgkin’s disease in 1969
shortly after turning 32.
Who does Homer end up working for?
Throughout the book, Homer Sr. shows zero interest in his son’s love for
rocketry
, with a few minor exceptions. Repeatedly, he reminds Homer that rocketry is a pipe dream and that he, like the many young men who have come before him, will end up working in the mines.
Which flightless birds did the boys name their rockets after?
The BCMA named its rockets for a flightless bird,
the auk
. Auk I didn’t go into space, but it sent Hickam’s fence skyward, in splinters.
Does Homer Hickam still work for NASA?
Hickam is
currently the board chair of the U. S. Space & Rocket Center (Space Camp)
in Huntsville, Alabama. Prior to his retirement in 1998, Mr. Hickam was the Payload Training Manager for the International Space Station Program.
Do people still live in Coalwood West Virginia?
Most of the people in Coalwood are retired and getting on in age
. A few people live in Coalwood and work in some of the other coal mines in McDowell County. … The Coalwood School burned down and stands in ruins. High school students were bused to Big Creek High School in War.
What is Homer Hickam Jr famous for?
Best known for the
national bestseller Rocket Boys (1998)
, which became the basis for the 1999 film October Sky, Homer Hadley Hickam Jr. (1943- ) has gained both wide recognition as an author and professional respect as an aerospace engineer.
