February, 2016
Challenger Spotlight
New Challenger Colorado Website


Challenger Learning Center of Colorado is proud to announce our new website.  The redesign will provide better organization and a professional layout.

Our previous address ( http://www.clccs.org) is still operational, and will automatically redirect to our new location and site.  There are no current plans to disable our old address, so any previous links to our old homepage will remain operational for the foreseeable future.  Challenger asks any organization using our old address to update to our new homepage address.  

Our new website also includes an archive of past Teacher Connection and Community newsletters, so you'll never miss an event!

Check out our new online home!
30th Anniversary Commemoration
The Challenger Learning of Colorado would like to thank the board members, staff, volunteers, industry representatives, military personnel, teachers, and community members who helped us commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Challenger disaster.  Our Challenger Center strives to carry on the mission of STS 51-L and  Christa McAuliffe , by inspiring the next generation adventurers.
A Special Message from Dr. June Scobee Rodgers
Calendar of Events for Teachers
February 4 - LEGO WeDo Design Challenge
Who: 4th & 5th Grade Students
Location: Library 21C
Time: 5:00 - 8:00 pm

Teams of students will work together to build and program a mystery design using their LEGO WeDo kit.  Past mystery challenges have included launch vehicle lifters, asteroid deflectors, and asteroid sample collectors. Registration for this event is now closed .
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February 18 - Returning Teacher Training
Who: Teachers who have participated in Challenger Missions 
Time: 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Location: Challenger Learning Center of Colorado

Check out or remodeled Briefing Room!  The purpose is to highlight any mission changes, answer questions, and provide educators a refresher of our Comet, Mars, or Moon missions. Dinner will be provided. Attending this training will count toward the Professional Development credit offered by Challenger.
Please RSVP so Challenger can provide adequate materials to all attendees: (719)-598-9755
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February 27 - Sea Perch Design Challenge
Who: 6th-12th Grade Students
Location: Coronado High School (Colorado Springs)
Time: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

The SeaPerch Design Challenge event will be divided into two divisions, the Junior Division for grades 6 - 8 and the Senior Division for students in grades 9 - 12. The Design Challenge is comprised of two parts; the Obstacle Course and the Design Challenge. Registration for this event is now closed.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Ron Bush:  [email protected]. 
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February 29 - District 11 & 20 Registration Opens

On February 29th, employees in Colorado Springs Districts 11 and 20 can begin booking their programs for the upcoming 2015-2016 school year. General registration for all schools will open on April 11th.  

If you have any questions concerning scheduling missions, please contact our Registrar, Marty Gantz: [email protected] 
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April 1st - STEM Bootcamp Registration Opens

STEM Bootcamp offers some of the best project-based teacher professional development in the U.S.. Over three days, K-12 educators gather at the Air Force Academy to learn effective ways to engage their students in hands-on, challenging STEM topics.  

This year Bootcamp will take place on July 19th - 21st. Registration fills up quickly.  Last year all elementary educator slots were sold out in less than a week.

Please be patient as more details concerning STEM Bootcamp will follow soon.  We will send them out as soon as they are available.
Our Night Sky
Jan 20 - Feb 20
All Five Planets Visible
 For the first time since 2005, the visible planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter & Saturn) will appear simultaneously, aligned in our sky.  Look outside before dawn.  Mercury will the the lowest on the horizon, followed by Venus and Saturn. Mars will be higher over the southern sky.  Finally, Jupiter will sit high in the southwestern sky.

See the International Space Station!

This website will calculate when and where you need to look to see the ISS in your city.
Space News
Possible New Ninth Planet Discovered 

We have been without a ninth planet since Pluto's demotion. Scientists now have evidence a large planet is lurking far beyond the orbit of Pluto.
Featured Free Web Resource
Universe Sandbox Legacy

Challenger is always asked questions like "What if our Moon crashed into the Earth?" Now you can show your class!  Universe Sandbox allows you to simulate different events in our solar system and galaxy. Universe Sandbox Legacy is the free version. 
Upcoming Global Launches
Feb 3
Florida
A ULA Atlas 5 rocket will launch a navigation satellite, providing GPS services.
 
Feb 4
Russia
A Eurockot Rockot will launch an Earth observation satellite for the European Space Agency.
 
Feb 6
Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a communications satellite providing television services for parts of Asia and Indonesia.
 
Feb 7
Russia
A Russian Soyuz rocket will launch a navigation satellite for the Russian government.
 
Feb 10
California
A ULA Delta 4 rocket will launch a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office.
 
Feb 12
Japan
A H-2A rocket will launch an X-ray observatory satellite for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. It will study supernovas, black holes and galaxy clusters.
 
Feb TBD
India
A Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle will launch a navigation satellite serving India and surrounding regions.

Feb TBD
China
A Chinese Long March 3C rocket will launch navigation satellites for the Chinese government.
Links
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The Challenger Learning Center of Colorado | 719-598-9755
| [email protected] | http://www.challengercolorado.org/
10215 Lexington Drive,  Suite 110
Colorado Springs, CO 80920

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