Linda and Homer Hickam were in east Tennessee on many of the sets during the actual filming of October Sky.  Linda estimates they were present for about 50% of the shoots.  Homer served as a consultant on the film.  The articles listed below describe this experience.

In addition, if you have the Special Edition DVD of the movie October Sky, Homer does a commentary of the entire movie.  His commentary describes a lot of what happened during the filming.

On the Set of "October Sky"
by Homer Hickam, Jr.
January 1999
Homer described being on various sets of October Sky as the movie was being filmed in early 1998.
www.homerhickam.com/books/other.shtml
(Scroll down to near the bottom of that page for the link.)

Photos of the Set of October Sky.
This newsletter contains a few of the photographs Linda took while on the sets of October Sky in east Tennessee.  (Interesting note: Linda took a lot of photos, and one she took of the Rocket Boys was chosen to be included in the reporter media pack for the movie. She was credited for the photo.)
www.homerhickam.com/newsletters/making_os.shtml