Are the rocket boys real

Yes, the Rocket Boys, also known as the "Coalwood Boys," are real. They were a group of teenagers from Coalwood, West Virginia, who, inspired by the launch of Sputnik, built and launched rockets in the late 1950s. Their story is famously chronicled in the book "Rocket Boys" by Homer Hickam, which was later adapted into the film "October Sky." The narrative highlights their struggles and successes in pursuing their passion for rocketry against the backdrop of a coal mining community.