Summary On October 4, 1957 the Soviets launched the satellite Sputnik in to orbit. On the night of October 5, 1957 the satellite crosses over the mountains of Coalwood, West Virginia. Inspiring a 14 year old boy named Homer H. Hickam to build rockets. On the day after his friends Roy Lee, Quentin, Sherman, Billy, Odell and him form the BCMA (Big Creek Missile Agency). On their first launch the blow up his mother’s fence. The next launch the almost blow up the Coalwood Mine. They go to a slack dump, the they name it Cape Coal Wood, where they build a launch pad, and a blockhouse for protection. After that for the next 3 years they have successful launches, still some problems but they still worked. They entered the 1960 science fair and won in Welsh, Bluefield, and the National one in Indianapolis.

What happened to the them? Roy Lee became a banker. Odell went into insurance and farming. Quentin, Billy and Sherman became engineers. Sherman died at the age of 26 due to a heart attack. Jim Hickam (His brother) became a successful high-school football coach. His teacher Miss. Riley died at the age of 31 due to Hodgkin's disease.

About The Author Homer “Sonny” H. Hickam Jr. was born on February 19, 1943. He is the second son to Homer and Elsie Hickam. He grew up in the small mining town of Coalwood, West Virginia. He has won the 1960 National Science Fair his study of amateur rocket studies. He served in Vietnam as a First Lieutenant in the 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam in 1967-1968. He has won the Army Commendation and Bronze Star medals. After Vietnam he became an author, his first book was Torpedo Junction. He is also a scuba instructor. He lives with his wife Linda in Huntsville, Alabama.