September, 2015
Challenger Spotlight
Congratulations to Randi Dotter - Challenger's National Teacher of the Year!

Rae Ann Dotter  has been named the Challenger Learning Center National Teacher of the Year for 2015. She  is a teacher at Cotopaxi Consolidated Schools in Colorado. The award is named for Turner Wiley, the former Chief of NASA's Communication Branch for Engineering at Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.  It honors teachers who perform exemplary work in science education. This award was developed to recognize those educators who are working in classrooms and Challenger Learning Centers to cultivate the next generation of space science explorers. Dotter was presented with the award at STEM BootCamp - a joint effort of Challenger Colorado and the United States Air Force Academy.  
Classroom Supplies
The staff at the Challenger Learning Center has been hard at work cleaning and organizing for the upcoming school year. The Challenger staff has set aside dozens of books, posters, and classroom resources that need a new home.  

The books range from college level astrophysics textbooks to coffee table books containing beautiful photos from the Hubble Telescope.  Posters are space and Earth focused.  All the items are are free, and are available to any educator who can use them. We will have them available at all of our Teacher Training sessions this fall.
Events for Teachers
September 9th - 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!  Learn about the 3D printer in our Space Simulator! This training is for educators who have previously brought their students to a simulator mission.  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.
 
Call to register: (719)-598-9755
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September 12th - New Teacher Training
Who: Teachers new to Challenger Missions 
Time: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Location: Challenger Learning Center of Colorado

This training is for educators new to our simulator missions (Return to the Moon, Rendezvous with a Comet, or Voyage to Mars).  Teachers will be introduced to our Center by participating in a simulator mission.  The purpose of this training is to introduce our new teachers to our simulator and provide them with the materials and training necessary to prepare their students.  Lunch will be provided.
 
Call to register: (719)-598-9755
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October 8th - 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!  Learn about the 3D printer in our Space Simulator! This training is for educators who have previously brought their students to a simulator mission.  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. 
 
Call to register: (719)-598-9755
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TBA - LEGO Design Challenge
Who: K-5th Grade Students
Time: TBA (Late November or early December)

It's never too early to start thinking about our fall semester Design Challenges.  A few weeks of practice with your LEGO kits can make a big difference.  

Our Design Challenges are a great way to introduce elementary students to the engineering design processes. Students will arrive on competition day and use their LEGO kit to build a machine for a mystery challenge. Examples of past mystery challenges include launch system lifters and space junk deflectors.  Stay tuned for more information on our 2015 LEGO Design Challenges.
Our Night Sky
Venus &  Mars
They will be visible in the eastern sky before dawn during September.

Jupiter
At the end of the month our largest planet will be visible just before dawn in the eastern sky.

Saturn
Saturn is visible after dark in the southwestern sky.  It will be near the head of Scorpio.

September 28
Total Lunar Eclipse / Super Moon
Start: 7:07 pm
Max: 8:47 pm
End: 10:27 pm
Our moon will be at its closest approach to Earth.  It will appear slightly brighter and larger than an average full moon.  This night will also be a total Lunar Eclipse.

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
In Case You Were Under a Rock This Summer...

NASA's New Horizons Probe successfully flew by Pluto, collecting stunning images and data.
Featured Free Web Resource
Send Your Students' Name to Mars

The public is invited to submit their names on a mission to Mars.  The next Mars lander (InSight) will be carrying over 50,000 names from all over the world when it launches spring of 2016.  Registration closes September 8th.
Upcoming Global Launches
Sept TBD
China
A Chinese Long March 6 rocket will launch multiple small research satellites for universities. 
 
Sept 2
Kazakhstan
A Russian Soyuz rocket will deliver 3 crew members to the ISS.  This crew includes the first astronaut ever from Denmark.
 
Sept 2
Florida, USA
A ULA Atlas 5 rocket will launch a communication satellite for the US Navy.
 
Sept 10/11
French Guiana
Arianespace will launch two more Galileo satellites for Europe's Galileo navigation satellite system.
 
Sept 14
Kazakhstan
Russia will use a Proton rocket to launch a communications satellite providing TV services for the country.
 
Sept 28
India
India will launch their first astronomical satellite mission.  The Astrosat observatory will study black holes, neutron stars, galactic nuclei and more.
 
Sept 30
French Guiana
An Ariane 5 rocket will launch 2 satellites providing internet and TV services for the Americas.

Oct 1
Kazakhstan
A Russian Soyuz rocket will deliver cargo to the ISS.

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The Challenger Learning Center of Colorado | 719-598-9755
| [email protected] | http://www.clccs.org
10215 Lexington Drive,  Suite 110
Colorado Springs, CO 80920

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